UQ Program: Bachelor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
My name is Alicia Ragan and I would consider myself to be an experienced traveller with the stamps on my passport as proof of this- but my exchange at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) was an eye-opening, once-in-a-lifetime experience of no comparison.
As a 3rd year undergraduate Chemical and Biological Engineering student, I was fortunate to have no trouble finding courses; but things at UCSD were vastly different to what I was used to at UQ. Lecturers focused on theory (and provided separate courses for practical components), used blackboards and gave ‘midterm’ exams every 2-4 weeks. As UCSD ran on a quarter system, this meant a 10-week study marathon.
But apart from top-notch education, San Diego is blessed with golden beaches, beautiful national parks and many tourist attractions. For those going to California, make sure that you visit San Diego Zoo, Seaworld and Disneyland; the Box Office at UCSD sells discounted tickets (also, money can be saved on campus at the Food Co-op, where the food is not only cheap, but organic). Also try to explore outside of the state: on spring break, I found myself canoeing and camping surrounded by amazing cliff walls on the Green River, Utah.
The friends I made on that trip became close to me and kept the homesickness at bay. Living away from home was hard at first, but the students I met were friendly and very soon I felt like I belonged in the greater university community.
Looking back, I have learnt that not even a lifetime of travelling can compare to the learning, independence and appreciation that I gained from this exchange.