Thinking About Doing a Semester Abroad? Here’s What It’s Like Studying in the USA

Is it actually like the movies?

We’ve all seen Pitch Perfect, right? Campus dorms, fraternities, dining halls, college football, what’s not to love? But is studying in the US actually like the movies?

Here’s a firsthand account from someone who's spent a semester abroad in the United States of America (USA), for six months at least.

I always knew I wanted to experience American College life: whether this was a possibility, I had no idea. It soon became a reality when I accepted a place at the University of Northern Colorado, as part of my Bachelor of Education.

How did I get there?

So how did I do it? It was as simple as applying to my university exchange program. I happened to stumble across the exchange program page on the university website one day, and I applied for the program. The next thing I knew, I was on a plane and on my way to Greely, Colorado.

 What is dorm life like?

Ramen, lofted beds, roommates: Whatever you might think sharing a dorm is like it’s all true, in my experience at least. Sharing a room with four others was a blast, even for my introverted self. My roommates and I would watch new episodes of Game of Thrones every week together. And as I didn’t have any family in the USA, I was invited back to their hometowns to stay with their families on weekends. Living on campus created a sense of community for me, which was especially nice since I was so far away from home.

Not all colleges will be the same. When I first applied to the exchange program, I looked through each partner college to find the right fit for me. I looked at things like the location, did they have campus clubs, did it have a nice vibe? So why did I pick my college? It was literally because they had an outdoor pursuits program. Weekend trips to go skiing, yes please.

Working in a dining hall ended up being so fun.

This was definitely not on the bucket list of things to do while on my exchange program, but it turned into one of my highlights. Funding an exchange program can be a difficult task. I had the help of an OS-HELP loan for my main expenses, but when it came to everyday items, like bagels for breakfast 👀, I needed an extra hand.

The dining halls are a massive part of campus life, and they have a large team of students to operate them. You may think serving food to other college students is a bit boring, but it's where I met a large group of my friends. It was a great way to immerse myself in college life whilst being social and creating lasting memories.

Football.

Did I get to go to any football games? Well, no, because it wasn’t football season. But did I go to other sporting games? Yes. We went to basketball games, lacrosse games, and hockey games. We even went into Denver to watch a pro baseball game. Even if it’s not Football, sports are a large part of college life. So even if you miss football season like I did, don’t worry, there will still be plenty of other college games you can attend with your friends.

Study sessions in the library.

Living on campus was a whole new experience, and it meant that I was always with my friends. We would hang out after classes, before classes, on weekends, at late-night dinners at the local diner, and even at midnight study sessions in the library fishing assignments. There was never a dull moment! I created lasting friendships and memories I will cherish for a long time.

If you’re thinking about doing an exchange or semester abroad, do it. If I could do it all again I would!