Welcome to The Exchange Guide’s College Deep Dives! An opportunity to get a personal insight into a previous exchange student’s experience on studying abroad in the USA.
Meet Marc, a UNSW commerce student, who went on exchange to University of Florida in 2016.
1. Why did you want to go on exchange to America?
I wanted to go on exchange to America to get the real college experience. I wanted to live with my friends in the dorm rooms, meet new people from all around the world, go to the college football games, experience the crazy college parties and most importantly just to get out of my comfort zone and try something new. American college gives you the opportunity to do all of these things and so much more. It was an absolutely phenomenal experience!
2. What attracted you to The University of Florida?
There were a few key considerations that made University of Florida the ideal option for me:
- I really wanted to go to a college town like Gainesville as this gives you the real quintessential college experience
- I wanted to go somewhere that had a big college football team and was really into their college sports.
University of Florida is one of the best sporting schools in the country! - I wanted to go somewhere with warm weather
- The University of Florida had a lot of events and pre-organised cool trips for exchange students
- I had multiple people that I knew who had gone on exchange to The University of Florida before me. They all said positive things and raved about the experience they had!
- I wanted to go somewhere where I could live with both international students and Americans and I knew from previous students, who went to the University of Florida (UF), that UF offered this
So, the University of Florida essentially ticked all the boxes for me!
3. What was the toughest part of getting organised for exchange?
For me, it was definitely getting my subjects that I was going to do on exchange approved by both University of New South Wales and the University of Florida. Matching exact courses to one another is difficult as you must fulfil your home universities demands yet also enrol in the American university courses which are often quite different and unfamiliar and they also open much later in the year. However, in the end both universities were quite accommodating and the University of Florida were really on the ball when it came to helping international students choose their subjects. One tip I would give prospective exchanges students is to do as many general education subjects on exchange as possible as these are easy to match up with the American subjects.
4. How did you organise and find your accommodation?
The University of Florida e-mailed the exchange students and told us about a dorm, Weaver Hall, with both international students and Americans staying there. They told us to apply for accommodation there as soon as possible. So, as soon as I got the e-mail I applied as this was exactly what I wanted! Within a few weeks, I received confirmation that I had secured a room at Weaver. I would absolutely recommend Weaver for any student going to the University of Florida, many of my best exchange friends were the international students and Americans I met there. The accommodation was a minute away from the football stadium, there was always something fun happening, and there were plenty of people that wanted to go out at night.
5. What was your favourite moment of exchange?
My favourite moment was the first football game. The whole experience was incredible. People from all over the state come flood the campus the morning of the game to tailgate. People come with their whole family along with their mini vans, their tents, their barbecues and their TV’s and they make watching the football game a day-long event. My accommodation (Weaver Hall) put on our own tailgate, and it was awesome to be with our whole dorm at the same time. Then a few of the international boys went to a fraternity tailgate which was absolutely unreal. It literally feels like you’re in an American movie! The actual football game itself also had an amazing atmosphere, there were 90,000 screaming college students and alumni screaming for the Florida Gators. It was a really unique American college experience. The Gators went on to have a huge win and everyone went out to celebrate at the bars in Gainesville that night. It was an unbelievable day – one I will never forget!
6. As an exchange student, how did you immerse yourself in the university culture, meet Americans and become a “true University of Florida Gator”?
As an exchange student, I cannot tell you enough how important it is to embrace the culture of the university. Some of the things I did to get amongst the college culture include:
- Getting a season football ticket and attending all the college football games
- Going out to the bars and clubs packed with college students
- Getting a social bid to a fraternity with my international student friends
- Making friends with the Americans in my classes
- Buying heaps of Florida gator merchandise
- Living with Americans in my dorms
- Spending Thanksgiving with an American friend’s family which was an awesome experience
- Going on day trips (to places like the local natural springs) organised by the University of Florida with both international students and Americans
7. What are some of the differences you noticed between university life in Australia and college life in America?
- There is a lot more college spirit and patriotism at American universities compared to Australia
- Most people at American college live on campus or in close proximity to the college. Whereas in Australia very few people live near campus with majority living a reasonable distance away from the university
- The Australian university experience is very academically focused whilst the American college experience is well rounded and holistic
- There is a huge emphasis on college sport in America which does not happen in Australia
- The student life in America is a lot more prominent than at Australian universities
- American college has a big fraternity and sorority scene which doesn’t really exist in Australia
8. What advice would you give to prospective students looking to go on exchange to the USA?
- Organise your accommodation and student visa early
- Live with both international students and Americans
- Make sure you do through research on each university that you preference in your application as you want to go to a university that is right for you
- Try do as many general education subjects as you can on exchange, this makes choosing subjects at the American university a lot easier
- Be open to trying new things
- Get into the college sports scene
- Say yes to everything and take every opportunity
Most importantly, I would say to relax and enjoy – you’re going to have the time of your life!
Now it’s your turn!
Keen to begin the journey of a lifetime just like Marc? Click here to explore the Exchange Guide.
What do you think of Marc’s experiences? Do you have any further questions you want to ask him about the University of Florida? Comment below or Contact us for more information.
