My Exchange at The University of California
I learned about the programme via word of mouth from students who had already completed an exchange with 360 International. When I first arrived in the United States, I was a little bewildered by certain cultural differences, most immediately by how their airports and airport security operated. After seeing parking wardens blowing whistles and carrying guns, I was a little shocked, but settling into the country thereafter was not too difficult. I spent two weeks in Texas before heading to California, and family helped ease me into the experience.
Once I arrived in Santa Barbara, I was greeted by my friendly roommates and they helped to set me up. My accommodation was excellent. Sharing a room with two others was a challenge, since that isn’t so common in New Zealand, but we worked through it and everything ended up going smoothly. We had excellent facilities and were very close to the all-you-can-eat dining hall (premium price, however). Living in Isla Vista was fantastic. Many students were out and about always and the study culture was second to none.
The cost of living in California is extremely high, and the Isla Vista/Santa Barbara area is even worse due to its proximity to the coast and Montecito, where many high-flying American celebrities reside. Thankfully, I had enough saved to carry me through the experience comfortably, even though rent and food were 1.5 times more than Auckland.
I took part in the Excursion Club at UCSB, travelling to three national parks to hike, backpack and camp the beautiful American outdoors. Those experiences were invaluable and taught me a lot about human nature, how to make friends quickly in unfamiliar environments, and when to ask for help when you need it.
The campus life was excellent. The bike-friendly nature of the campus was standout and everybody had a wonderful study-life balance. I think that’s really important to have in the university environment.
The food options at UCSB are fantastic. They have very global options, which is also important for making their high number of exchange and international students feel like home sometimes. I found that with the Indian food they served from time to time. Their Mexican options were brilliant.
Highlights of my exchange include: Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, receiving a private White House tour, doing a solo trip to Boston, and completing a BBQ road trip with two friends from Australia and Ireland that spanned Louisiana and Texas.
Challenges included adjusting to the accent and American sayings, understanding positions on certain social issues, and making friends who were actually American. The exchange students really gravitated toward each other, which was fantastic, but sometimes it made the experience feel less American.
Advice to prospective students: Get a Wise card! It’ll hold you in good stead.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
The world-class and highly-challenging Particle Physics course offered by Professor Richman. It’s designed to mimic researching practice in a unique and rewarding way. I also loved taking Spanish.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
Absolutely! Join the Excursion Club. They offer all kinds of trips, from Costco to Yosemite National Park. You will learn a lot about life, others, and yourself. Best opportunity I took on the exchange by a landslide.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
- Get a Wise card to save on fees and make payments easy.
- Prepare for people to be interested in where you are from and be ready to learn from them about their lives!
- Carefully consider your living situation in the United States. Where you live matters because you will often be sharing one room!
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?
20-25,000 New Zealand dollars. The United States is an expensive destination, especially considering health insurance plans and the high cost of living. This was enough, just. In saying that, I did take several trips around the country, but this was to maximise my experience. I’d recommend future students budget as much as possible to make their money work for them. Ideally, you’d have enough to seize most opportunities that come your way! Back to Excursion Club… they offer some excellent deals when you travel with them. I went to Sequoia National Park for around NZ $150. That included a weekend of accommodation, transport costs, all food, national park fees, equipment, and more.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
- How much I love nature!
- How much others love nature!
- That Americans get a bad and generalised reputation that doesn’t reflect who they are at all. Don’t judge everyone based on what you see on TikTok. It’s common for non-Americans to do this.
Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?
Canada was spectacular. Future students might want to consider travelling here. I did it during my Visa’s 30-day grace period at the end of the exchange and flew back for Vancouver for around the same price as it would have been to fly from LA or San Francisco.
Final Comments
Make the most of it! The exchange may end but the mentality never dies.