UQ Program: Bachelor of Commerce
Going on exchange to UCI has definitely been one of the best decisions of my life thus far! As I was approaching the end of my degree in Bachelors of Commerce (graduating end of 2010), I knew this was the last chance I was able to participate in a student exchange. California turned out to be quite a livable city; the weather was amazing and the people were the nicest you will meet. The courses I took over there were all very interesting. Because I was fulfilling my elective courses, I was able to choose from a wide range of subjects from different departments. One of the courses I chose in my last quarter was cross-cultural gangs. I learned about the different ethnic gangs in LA and the influences in joining a gang.
Living in dorms was the best way to meet people from all over the world and make long-life friends. It was definitely the easiest way to be exposed to a true college lifestyle. I was also fortunate enough to travel with my housemates to many parts of America, including Chicago on the east coast and Seattle on the west. The best traveling experience was going camping and hiking for 4 days with my housemates to Yosemite National Park. Standing on top of the waterfalls after a strenuous hike up and enjoying one of the best views is a feeling I will never forget.
Some top tips for UCI I would recommend
1) Public transport in Irvine is almost nonexistent, so don’t even bother! The best way to go is to meet as many locals as you can. Most of them will have cars.
2) Definitely try Boiling Crab in Garden Grove; best cooked seafood ever! And Phil’s BBQ in San Diego for the best ribs
3) Get on stuhub.com to find tickets to every event around town and
4) Use yelp.com to find the best places/restaurants in America.
Exchange has most certainly changed my life! I have learned more about myself, met some of the most interesting people and traveled some of the most beautiful places in the world!