Exchange Report

After receiving my nomination from WU, I began preparing immediately for the administrative steps required for the exchange. Since all visa documents were available early in the year, I scheduled my appointment at the U.S. Consulate in Vienna well in advance. I brought all necessary paperwork to the interview, and my visa was issued within a week, so I already had it by April. Completing the visa process early made the rest of the preparation much more relaxed, especially once the exam phase at WU started. The fall term at the University of Michigan usually begins either on the last Monday of August or the first Monday of September, with exchange orientation events taking place during the week prior. To prepare academically, I looked up older syllabi for the courses I intended to take. Because the number of finance and accounting electives suitable for exchange students is somewhat limited, I started the course recognition process in May. This allowed me to have nearly all my courses pre-approved before classes began, ensuring a smooth registration and add/drop period. Whenever I needed additional course details for the WU recognition process, the professors at Michigan were very responsive over email and provided all necessary clarifications. To get a better feel for campus life, I followed Michigan’s social media channels and connected with Michigan students who were studying abroad at WU during the spring. Their recommendations on classes, campus routines, and student life were extremely helpful. From a practical standpoint, securing a U.S. phone number is very useful. Many loyalty programs and mobile apps from food chains require a U.S. number to register and receive discounts. I used a Tello eSIM, which cost around $25 per month for calls and data and worked reliably during my entire stay. After arriving in Ann Arbor, I also opened a student bank account. This made everyday life easier, especially for using Venmo to send and receive money between friends. Traveling to Ann Arbor is convenient because Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is a major U.S. hub with frequent international flights. From DTW, Ann Arbor is only about 30 minutes away, and the Michigan Flyer bus offers a comfortable and affordable connection directly into downtown. Since the fall semester is also football season, and attending a game at the Big House is a must. We applied for Michigan student season tickets in early June (about $29 per home game). Regarding weather preparation, the fall in Michigan starts off with surprisingly beautiful weather. September and October are usually warm and sunny, sometimes better than central Europe at that time of year. However, by mid-November temperatures begin to drop significantly, and around Thanksgiving the first –10°C days typically appear. It is important to bring a warm winter coat, proper boots, and layers—even if it feels early when packing in August.

Finding accommodation for the fall semester in Ann Arbor can be challenging, largely because most U.S. leases run for 12 months. Many landlords either do not offer short-term leases or charge a significant premium for anything shorter. While it is usually easier for exchange students in the spring term, since many Michigan students go abroad during the spring, fall term demand is very high, as nearly all domestic students are on campus. My group solved this by renting a private Airbnb located about 3 miles (5 km) from campus. We shared the house among four WU students and paid roughly €4,000 per month in total. The home was a typical American single-family house with five bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and both a front and backyard. While not directly on campus, it offered far more living space than most student housing options and was relatively affordable compared to many of the new private student residence complexes. A bus stop was conveniently located nearby, and Ann Arbor city buses are free of charge for students once you have your M-Card. The bus system runs frequently throughout the day, with only a short break late at night, so commuting to campus was easy and reliable. However, after arriving in Ann Arbor, we learned that several private student housing complexes do offer semester-only leases for exchange students, even though they rarely advertise this online. Many exchange students successfully secured 4–5 month contracts simply by emailing the leasing offices, explaining their situation, and asking about short-term availability. Based on this, I would actually recommend reaching out to these buildings early, even if it means paying around $500 more per month. Living on or near campus gives you immediate access to bars, restaurants, student events, and makes it much easier to build a social circle with local students. Many of the students living in these complexes had an easier time integrating than those of us who lived further away. One tip I wish I had known beforehand: avoid signing a 12-month lease. Prices in Ann Arbor, already high and sometimes close to major U.S. city levels, drop significantly in January because many students leave for their own study-abroad semester. This creates a surplus of sublets, and 12-month leases can often be taken over for less than the original monthly rent. Despite being off campus, our living situation had its benefits. The house was spacious, comfortable, and ideal for hosting visiting friends and family. The extra bedroom and large common areas were very convenient, and the quieter residential environment was a nice break from the busy campus life.

Academic life at the University of Michigan differs noticeably from WU, even though both universities follow a structured, high-workload teaching model. My Master’s program at WU already includes weekly quizzes, homework, case studies, and group assignments, but Michigan takes the interactive aspect one step further. Classes, especially in the Ross School of Business, are highly discussion-driven, and professors frequently cold-call students or invite open debate. Participation is a formal part of the grade in most courses, and the overall expectation is that you contribute actively during every session. One major academic advantage at Michigan is the opportunity to take courses outside your usual specialization. At WU, electives tend to stay within the Finance & Accounting pathway, but at Michigan I was able to explore subjects far beyond my typical scope. I took a Real Estate Development course and a Negotiations course, both of which brought together students from different backgrounds, engineering, policy, architecture, and other majors. Working with such a diverse group of students added perspectives that you would rarely encounter in business-only programs. It also made group work particularly enriching because everyone brought a different analytical style and professional experience. Ross professors were extremely engaged and often pushed students to connect theoretical content with real-world applications. Interaction levels were especially high in MBA-level courses, where many classmates had several years of industry experience across consulting, tech, finance, healthcare, and engineering. This created a very dynamic classroom environment, discussions often continued after class and felt more like professional problem-solving sessions than traditional lectures. Campus facilities at Michigan are outstanding. The Ross building is modern, spacious, and full of study lounges, breakout rooms, coffee bars, and open spaces that encourage teamwork. At Michigan, the culture is more campus-centered: students study, meet friends, and attend club meetings in the same cluster of buildings. This makes it much easier to interact with classmates throughout the day and naturally become part of the academic community. Overall, the academic atmosphere at Michigan is highly collaborative, discussion-heavy, and strongly influenced by the diverse professional backgrounds of your classmates. Combined with the flexibility to take classes outside your specialization, this makes the exchange academically rewarding and very different from my experience at WU Vienna.

Everyday life in Ann Arbor is shaped by its identity as a vibrant, student-centered college town that offers a high quality of life, great safety, and plenty of opportunities to stay active. The atmosphere is welcoming, easy to navigate, and very oriented toward student needs. Public Transport: Ann Arbor’s transport system works very well for a mid-sized American city. City buses are free with your M-Card and connect all major neighborhoods with campus throughout the day. The university bus network also runs long hours and is especially useful for getting between Central and North Campus. Many students cycle during the first months of the semester, and Ann Arbor is extremely bike-friendly, with well-developed bike lanes across most main streets. Safety: Ann Arbor is consistently ranked as one of the safest college towns in the United States. Campus and downtown are well-lit, student-heavy, and feel secure even at night. The university offers late-night ride services and safety escorts, which add another layer of comfort for students returning from evening classes or events. Social life & leisure activities: Ann Arbor has a lively and engaging student culture. The city center is full of cafés, bars, restaurants, microbreweries, bookstores, and live-music venues, all popular with students. Campus life itself is extremely active—club events, speaker series, cultural nights, concerts, and organization fairs happen constantly. Fall semester also brings Michigan Football, which transforms the entire city on game days. Tailgates, packed stadiums, and the energy around the Big House make it an unforgettable experience and a major highlight of studying at Michigan. Sports events & weekend trips: We frequently drove to Detroit to watch major sports, NFL, NBA, and NHL games, which are easily accessible and always fun. While some friends used the direct Amtrak connection from Ann Arbor to Chicago (about four hours), we usually preferred driving, which made it easy to plan spontaneous trips for weekends or fall break. During fall break, we explored Northern Michigan, and later on we also visited Niagara Falls and Toronto—all reachable by car and great additions to the exchange semester experience. Fitness, parks & recreation: Ann Arbor is also known for being one of the fittest and healthiest cities in the U.S. The town is full of parks, trails, and outdoor spaces, and it’s incredibly easy to stay active. Running routes along the Huron River, the Arboretum, and through residential neighborhoods are very popular, especially in September and October. The city’s extensive bike-lane network also makes cycling safe and enjoyable. The University of Michigan’s recreational facilities add to this, multiple gyms, fitness centers, swimming pools, courts, and indoor tracks are available to all students, usually included in student fees. Overall quality of life: Ann Arbor offers an ideal balance of safety, convenience, outdoor activity, social life, and access to major sports and cities. Combined with an energetic campus atmosphere and the strong athletic culture, everyday life during the exchange is both enjoyable and incredibly enriching.

My semester at the University of Michigan was one of the best experiences of my life. The combination of an engaging academic environment, an energetic campus culture, and the countless social and travel opportunities made every week memorable. I especially loved the sense of community, from football games to spontaneous road trips with friends. Even now, I’m still seriously considering returning one day because the experience was that impactful.