Details

• United States of America
• BBE-18
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

For the interview I would say, don't really worry so much about it. When you get the list of some possible questions, just go through it and practice a bit with them but you should be fine after that. The interviewer was really nice and it was all in all a nice conversation. For the Visa, just book an appointment as soon as you can because if there is another stop on visas, just like before I could make mine, it is really hard and stressful to get the visa in time. So just to do yourself a favour and do it early.

2. Accommodation

For the accommodation, my recommendation is to search as early as possible and try to find a accommodation with just a semester lease length, if you get one for the whole year like some of my friends did, they really struggled with subletting and some even have to pay for the whole year because they couldn't find one. Search for a sublet or a short lease. I had a sublet in Burnham 310, which is like a student housing but are just actual apartments in a building without like really any other services. I had a nice time there, it was a nice location and there were no safety concerns. Try to find something near Green Street, that is where your whole life is going to be. It was just a short walk of 10-15 mins to the business school, but really close to Green Street which is way more important. My housing was a bit more expensive but the short lease and the close proximity to Green Street was worth it.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is way bigger in comparison to WU, more spread out, like its own little city. Academic culture is generally the same, but you are more connected to your Profs because the classes are smaller and you have more discussions. The courses are in my opinion way better than in WU, because there they are way more based on the actual work experience after you graduate and you get a feeling of what the work will be like in that subject you are studying.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport was ok, only busses, not comparable to Vienna. I had no concerns regarding safety, just one time there was a shooting on Green Street, but that was not in any regards between students. There are 5 main bars in the Campustown but no nightclub at all, that is a bummer but the bars are like Charlie Ps in Vienna. There are many social events there, but most of them I didn't attend. There is a big gym but it's still very full on the main hours. Tennis courts are free, which is very nice and many take advantage of that. In the winter there is not much to do there though, except the gym. And it gets boring pretty quick after going to the same bars every week and doing the same stuff everyday.

6. Testimonial

It was a great experience and I would gladly do it again. If you have the possibility do the exchange, you will not regret it. But I can say if you want the American experience and more warm and more party life and absolutely always be entertained, I would go to California or any other unis near the oceans. But just to travel, it's more than worth it to go to this uni. You are mostly in the centre of the country and you can travel anywhere somewhat cheap. The lectures are really entertaining when you choose the subjects you are interested in.