Lynn (Sem 1, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of Stony Brook

I attended Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York for the local spring semester. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at SBU and had some great experiences here. I’ve loved visiting New York City. Stepping off the plane and realising I was in New York for the first time, I just felt this incredible awe at being in the city. That feeling has decreased over time, but NYC will always have a special place in my heart.

The SBU campus itself is located about halfway up Long Island. To get there takes a 1.5-2 hour train ride from central Manhattan. I did not find this to be a terrible issue – trains run frequently apart from the early morning, and I would make the trip a few times a week. The campus itself is huge, and can be quite beautiful – you will see plenty of deer, geese, and squirrels among the trees. When I arrived it was fairly empty, but it filled quickly once winter break was over.

There’s no other way to say this: Stony Brook had a terrible orientation. We had half a day of presentations, and then a quick lunch. Following this, there were essentially no activities or events for the exchange students to get to know each other. The international department at SBU is horribly understaffed. Expect to have to do all the hard work of meeting other exchange students yourself. I only got to know the others slowly, throughout the semester.

Most exchange students were placed in West Apartments, some of the best dorms on campus (YMMV depending on exact dorms and suitemates). There are six people per apartment, with two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. There is a small chance of being placed in a shared room. The dorms are about a 10 minute walk from campus. I didn’t know any exchange students who lived off-campus, as commuting is very difficult without a car.

While I’m on the subject, I’d strongly recommend getting to know someone with a car. Without one, even simple tasks like getting groceries or going to the beach can prove challenging – the public transport is almost non-existent. On the subject of food, you can choose whether to make your own, or purchase one of the university meal plans (or don’t. If you’re not planning to be at university a lot, it’s easier to just purchase what you need). There are two dining halls, multiple on campus restaurants, and some off-campus fast food chains within walking distance.

Lastly, I wanted to mention campus life at Stony Brook. I had a great time there. Many days I would simply be walking to class and find free food on campus, or live dance and music, or bouncy castles, or students smashing a car as stress relief before exams. However, to get the most out of life at Stony Brook, I strongly recommend getting involved with activities and groups on campus. Many of the local students think Stony Brook is antisocial, and it will be, unless you make an effort. If you get involved, go to events, join clubs or sports teams, you will have one of the best times of your life.

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

University in the US is much less standardised than in New Zealand. Undergraduate students frequently take part in advanced research with professors and post-grads. I even had some exchange student friends who wrote a chapter in a textbook and are possibly getting published!

I would recommend that students who seek to be intellectually challenged should stick to STEM courses at Stony Brook.

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

Get involved with sports clubs/teams! College sports are a huge business in the US. Even students who are part of the most obscure club will receive funded trips to play sport in different parts of the country. The university rugby club received a free trip to play in Bermuda (and rugby is not a big sport in the US). Moreover, you’ll make many local and international friends. Non-sports clubs have many of the same opportunities and trips.

Moreover, I’d recommend anyone to go see some of the major sports teams play. I went to basketball and baseball games, and although I’m not a huge fan, the atmosphere is still amazing.

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. Get involved at with clubs and teams at university. It doesn’t matter what you do, but this is the best way to meet people from the US, which is a huge part of your exchange.

2. SBU has a huge number of events on campus. These typically come with free food, performances, or other goodies, and are a good chance to meet local and exchange students. I loved the casino night where they brought in professional dealers for poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette games.

3. Go in the fall semester. The weather will be nicer, there’ll be more university events, it’s football season, and there’ll be more exchange students than in the spring semester.

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

The US is a very expensive country, especially when you live in New York or Long Island. You will be charged for everything – including access to some beaches. Expect a 50% increase in the price of most items compared to back home. I would often see food priced the same amount as in NZ – except it was in US dollars. Housing and mandatory university fees alone were close to 9000USD. With a lot of traveling, your total expenses could reach double that or more.

However, in the end, how much you should budget depends on what you do and where and how you want to travel. Book ahead, use trains and busses rather than planes and if you do fly, use budget airlines and travel light. Stay in hostels and travel with friends to reduce costs further. If you don’t eat out much, and only do a few trips, your expenses can easily be much lower.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

I think any exchange will give you three important insights:

– An appreciation for your host country – living in the US has been amazing in so many ways, and I wish I could stay longer

– A better understanding of your host country and its culture as well as the cultures of your fellow exchange students. I’ve learned so much about the cultures of my friends.

– An appreciation for your home country. Ironically, I have to say that my most significant takeaway from this journey has been my realisation of what an incredible place New Zealand really is.

Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?

New York City is very well connected to the rest of the country. The city has three major airports, and is a major bus and train hub which connects to cities all over the East Coast – Boston, Philadelphia, DC are just a few. Each of these cities is amazing and has so much to see. The US is a country full of things to do, from theme parks to the national parks, beaches and mountains to some of the biggest cities and best food in the world. Personally, I am a big of the national parks – I can strongly recommend seeing Yosemite and the Grand Canyon for anyone who loves the outdoors. There’s also some of the best snowboarding/skiing in the world in Utah and Colorado, and there are plenty of ski fields closer to home in New York, just four hours drive from SBU. Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean islands are relatively affordable and easy to reach, and require no visa for NZ citizens.