Details

• United States of America
• MABizComm-22
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Generally speaking, the Master's exchange application at WU is relatively straightforward (with a few differences, depending on your program) but the evaluation of each application is rather complex. Just put your best effort into all the steps and properly inform yourself about everything surrounding your desired exchange university and destination (including possible accommodations etc.) and you should be fine. Currently, it is well-known that the US visa application is a little more complicated than usual but besides of slightly longer processing times it was not a very big issue. Just be sure to secure a visa appointment in time!

2. Accommodation

Finding accommodation in NYC is not necessarily complicated, as there are a bunch of options but affordability is the biggest issue. Baruch has a student dorm which costs close to $2000 a month and is located in Manhattan but I would not recommend living there, unless you want to have another person with you in the same room (bed-to-bed). Friends who lived there were also not necessarily happy with the dorm's administration. Personally, I searched for shared flats on Airbnb which works similarly to Willhaben in Austria (most listings are actually long-term and not for tourists, as you would expect). There you can find many options that will cost as much as the Baruch student dorm but you will have your own room and possibly even a private bathroom, as in my case. Definitely don't be afraid to search outside of Manhattan for a place, as there are many cool neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens which are perfectly connected to Manhattan. Just be sure to check the ratings and commute times to university. I stayed in Ridgewood, Queens and it was a very quiet and safe neighborhood, but you were also in 20-25 in Manhattan by subway.

3. Academic life at host university

The 'campus' is essentially just one big high-rise building in Manhattan, along with an open-air plaza in front of it, so everything is easy to find (there are a few other Baruch buildings nearby but you are unlikely to end up there, unless it is for some event). I would say that the teaching style is very similar to WU's, so teaching is based on collaboration and participation, and they rarely have final exams but rather various assignments, group works and presentations. All the lecturers I had were very approachable and had a genuine interest in teaching you their subject but I would always recommend to check ratemyprofessors.com first, as this obviously will not apply to all academic staff.

5. Every day life in the host country

I do not think there is any more exciting destination you could choose for your exchange than NYC. The city literally has it all and you can never get bored, unless you choose to. A bunch of events are happening all the time, many of them even for free and outside, during all seasons. Besides of that you can always go to interesting shows, sports events, museums (almost all of them are free as a student!) and more. If you' are a sporty person, you will surely even find the most niche sport possible offered somewhere. And most importantly: NYC has the best food in the world. Whatever food you desire, from whichever corner of the world, you will find it in NYC and it will taste fantastic. Public transport is not cheap but it connects you to pretty much all areas of the city, most of the time by subway. The subway system runs 24/7, all-year-round, and occasionally has some delays or maintenance happening on some lines but that will rarely impact your commutes in a significant matter. Despite what many people will say, NYC is quite a safe city and you usually do not have to worry, even at night. Not once did I feel the need to take an Uber at night because of safety concerns, especially as most subway lines are also relatively full at night (avoid empty subway cars). Of course there are neighborhoods you might rather not visit, especially at night, but those also exist in any other major city (including Vienna) and are definitely not the type of areas you are likely to visit often in NYC. Of course, this does not mean you can walk blindly through the city and you should stay aware of your surroundings nonetheless, as it is a city with more than 8 million inhabitants after all. Just use common sense and you should be fine :D

6. Testimonial

New York City was already my favorite city before I moved there for my exchange but of course I had this slight concern that I might get disappointed if I stay there for longer, and not as a tourist. However, the exact opposite happened and I now love the city more than I did before. Sure, the city is not cheap but you will get your money's worth out of your stay and you will have no regrets. If you want to have a truly special experience, like you will not have it anywhere else in the world, do not hesitate and put NYC as your number 1 on your exchange semester priority list. New York or Nowhere.