Introduction:
Now, unfortunately, my time in wonderful California is already over. It really passed too quickly and is linked to incredible memories that will never be forgotten. Hopefully, this field report will give you a good feeling about venturing into the big wide world. But now everything at the beginning.
I decided relatively early on to venture into the USA. The only question was which university to choose. When you have found your way to this page, you will be provided with all the information you need to help you make a decision. If you have any further questions, you can easily ask them by email or by phone. I never had to wait long for an answer myself. You should start preparing 9-10 months earlier in order to have a stress-free process, as there could be problems, especially with the application for a visa or in the case of an application at the student residence. Since you have to prove sufficient financial means, A first step would be to have part of it certified by the Bafög office if you do not have enough funds yourself (approx. 20,000 euros). You also need proof of language proficiency. Personally, I decided to take the DAAD test because it was offered free of charge at my university and the preparation time was not that long (free of charge). If you have these certificates together, you can apply to the university. For me, however, the whole preparation process went smoothly, and so I was able to get on the plane with peace of mind. because it was offered free of charge at my university and the preparation time was not that long (free of charge). If you have these certificates together, you can apply to the university. For me, however, the whole preparation process went smoothly, and so I was able to get on the plane with peace of mind. because it was offered free of charge at my university and the preparation time was not that long (free of charge). If you have these certificates together, you can apply to the university. For me, however, the whole preparation process went smoothly, and so I was able to get on the plane with peace of mind.
Living:
I decided early on for a place in the dormitory in order to have planning security. It’s a relatively expensive option that I don’t necessarily recommend. During this time I shared a room with an American roommate. This means that you should be considerate of your roommate’s own habits, ie study times, sleeping times, etc. The contact with one another was not very strong, as the age difference of 7 years and other interests did not harmonize properly. The way to my teaching building was very short, and I was able to cook food in my apartment without any problems, although the distances to the supermarket are relatively far away on foot.
It is entirely possible to come to San Jose without a place to live. Many of my friends used the couch surfing (via Facebook) and then found a place with an American family, which allows you to experience the cultural customs even more strongly.
University / Courses:
There really is nothing negative to say about the university itself. The campus is relatively large, kept very clean and has a great atmosphere! It really is a very nice campus that lacks nothing, be it an event center, where some concerts etc. take place during the semester and its own fitness studio (only available for a fee) and a pool area.
When you arrive in San Jose, and the lecture period begins, the point is to attend the courses you have chosen beforehand in order to be able to take them.
I want to note that I didn’t get a single course that I envisioned, and it’s also basically impossible to get courses that are infinitely crowded, especially in business studies. That’s why I had to take courses that still had enough places available.
And you could already have guessed that the teaching methodology and the course were not the best if there were several places available. The level is generally much easier than in Germany, so you can easily get traveling on the weekend and going to university during the week under one roof. I recommend taking courses from Monday to Wednesday, so you have the best opportunities to continue driving on the weekend. Check iamaccepted to see more reviews from current students.
Living:
During my time I lived in the CVB dormitory and shared my room with another person. The price for the apartment is not exactly cheap, and the equipment is quite spartan, but for a semester this is completely okay. In general, it is a matter of luck what kind of roommate you get in a double room. Personally, I was able to make friends with my roommate right from the start and speaking every day helps immensely. However, he decided to leave the university for private reasons to choose another course and so after about three weeks I got a new roommate with whom I was not on the same wavelength. Then of course it’s not so pleasant to be with each other on a daily basis. Therefore, there is also the possibility to choose a single room for an additional charge, which I would also recommend,
Around:
San Jose is a very good location to start your travel. Highway 1 in the south towards LA or Yosemite National Park in the east are good destinations for a weekend trip. The location is particularly attractive due to its contact with Silicon Valley and its close proximity to San Francisco. Anyone interested in sports can enjoy all of the popular US sports, be it basketball (Oakland), American football (49ers and Raiders), baseball (Giants and Athletics) and ice hockey (San Jose Sharks).
For those who like to go out in the evening, I especially recommend the Flames directly opposite the Library and 4th Street Pizza, although these bars are more like sit-ins. If you really want to party in clubs, you should go to San Francisco, as the club scene in San Jose is rather spartan. Nevertheless, you will have fun until 1.30 a.m., when all the shops close.
Overall impression:
I can only recommend everyone to take this step. It was the most exciting time in my life so far and all the impressions, contacts and experiences will accompany me in a positive way in my future life. I can’t say anything negative about the San Jose State University or the on-site support.
