You have done all the hard work of getting things organised and ready for exchange. Now lets dive into some of the key aspects of everyday college life. Click on one of the following categories to learn more:

There are similarities between the USA schooling system and the Australian one, but there are some differences too. Some important things to note about USA classes:

• Pay attention to your marking weights for each subject – e.g. the mark weightings from assignments vs. exams
• Classes begin and finish on time (literally to the second the bell rings)
• Grading: In the USA, there is no such thing as 'credit' or 'distinction'. Instead, it's purely graded as a % and contributes to your Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Marking is a lot more lenient than Australia, which means higher marks are quite achievable. A score of 90% and above is considered high
• Exams are a bit more manageable with some of them being multiple choice / true false questions
• Class scheduling is sometimes done on multiple days during the week. For example, you may have multiple lectures during the week (e.g. 1 on Monday and 1 on Wednesday)
• Try have Friday off – this gives you opportunity to travel on weekends
• Speak in a very Australian accent: as trivial as this seriously sounds, Americans love hearing the accent! You will find yourself being a bit of a prized possession in the lecture with many people being interested in you
• Try sit next to someone new every class – this gives you chance to meet new people instead of hanging with the same clique

You have probably seen through pop culture films what goes on in a fraternity (guys) or sorority (girls) house. This is a pretty accurate depiction, but there is more than just non-stop partying by being involved in greek life.

The first biggest caveat for exchange students is that it is extremely difficult to be part of greek life. This is due to a number of reasons:

• • You are only going for a short stay (either a semester or 2), where as most fraternity and sorority members are involved for 3-4 years
  • To join a fraternity or sorority, you will need to go through a 'rush' process. This could involve some hazing – involving harassment, abuse or humiliation as part of the initiation process
  • As exchange students, it is tough to get invited to fraternity and sorority events. Greeks are a tight bunch and may not take too kindly to international students

Source: The Fraternity Advisor

Hot Tip

When it comes to partying at college, you have 2 main options – Bars/Clubs and House Parties.

Many colleges have a decent combination of bars and house parties, however it is very dependent on what city you are in. E.g. University of Arizona is predominantly house party oriented as opposed to University of Texas which has the main strip of bars on a local street downtown.

Partying is a huge part of college life, so it's important that as an exchange student, you get amongst it and show those Americans how we do it down under! For example, introduce them to the "True Blue Drinking Song"!

Bars and Clubs

• Ask locals where some of their favourite bars are – whether it be local country music, dirty college student bars, or more trendy/hipster venues. There is something for everyone!
• Take advantage of local bars that do student nights (e.g. Thursday)
• Most bars close at 2am
• Bars generally have minimum age requirement of 21 (although some venues do allow 18 year olds inside)
• Don't forget to take your ID to venues. Some places are pretty laid back and will be happy to see your driver's license, whereas some are more strict and need your passport

House Parties

• Some colleges may lack the physical infrastructure of bars/clubs and hence will be reliant on having a predominant house party scene
• Fraternities throw some pretty wild parties, but as mentioned above it can be hard for exchange students to get invited to these
• The international student unions on campus usually put on parties and events for exchange students - try and get along to these!
• If you get invited to a house party, remember to be a good guest and respect the host's house – treat it like it was your own place
• Use these house parties as an avenue to make new connections. If a classic game of beer pong or flip cup is going on, get involved! Remember, you have a limited number of weeks on exchange, so make the most of it!

Hot Tip

College and alcohol go hand in hand together. Below are some tips guiding you through the alcoholic formalities of college life:

Always drink responsibly

Much like your Australian university has societies and student clubs you can join during orientation week, American colleges are no different. This can be a great way to meet people and get involved in activities you enjoy.

Every university will have their own breadth of societies and student clubs – everything from ultimate frisbee to photography. Speak to the student centre on campus or attend the orientation week to find out what societies spark your interest.

Adopt the role of being a 'Yes student'. Say Yes to any opportunity that presents itself (within reason of course).

This is like no other thing you have ever experienced. Forget uni games! The collegiate sport system in America is superior to any other university sporting system in the world! The patriotism, passion and camaraderie is what makes it so unique.

College football is a religion in the USA. As an exchange student, you should definitely get involved as much as possible by going to the live games, learning the sporting rules, buying your college's colours, and cheering your mighty team on.

To attend the live sporting events, most colleges have a special 'Student Ticket' which you will need to purchase when you get to your college. Just ask your college's sport department for information how to get one. 

Tailgating is one of the particular highlights of college sports. Tailgating is a large social event, usually held in a carpark before a football game, that involves a combination of BBQ, alcoholic beverages, dancing to music, and playing lawn games. This event caters to almost everyone who loves college sport, from exchange students to even families.

College sport is not all about football. There are plenty of other sports to go and witness including basketball, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, volleyball etc.

Many American workers rely on tipping as their main source of income. As an exchange student, it is important for you to acknowledge the traditional behaviour and common practice that is tipping. The practice of tipping is done at many service based places of business including restaurants, bars, taxis and hairdressers. For example, it is customary to tip $1 per drink at a bar (unless the bar tender is extremely slow or rude). Common practice for tipping at restaurants is providing a 15% tip.

Additionally, many advertised prices for goods and services do not include tax. So don't be surprised when you order a $5 burger and the cashier asks for $5.65. It is unlike Australia which includes GST in all their prices. Don't be too overwhelmed by all the taxes – e.g when booking accommodation it is not uncommon for their to be a local council tax, city tax, state tax and national tax all combined into one.

Eating those American-sized portion food combined with drinking excessively will no doubt take its toll on your health (and give your liver a good belting). Therefore, it is very important to have a healthy active lifestyle to balance this out!

Your college should have some great gym facilities which you should take advantage of. Many colleges offer the gym to be used at no extra cost for all students (that's right - free gym membership!). Try join some social sporting activities and be sure to do as much walking as possible around campus and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Remember: healthy body = healthy mind!