UQ Program: Bachelor of Science (Mathematics)
My exchange at University of California, San Diego (UCSD) was short but awesome. Being an international student at UQ (I was born and raised in China) made this “double exchange” an even more unique experience to me.
I went to UCSD as a 2nd year undergraduate Mathematics student. I was there for both Winter and Spring Quarters. I found “quarter system” a lot more intense and compact than UQ's “semester system”. Although maths is supposed to be a universal discipline, I had my struggles during my exchange. I was amazed at how serious some UCSD students were about their study and how competitive they could be. I remember sitting in my first maths class at UCSD and thinking “how could I catch the next flight back home?!” when everyone else seemed to have a very good idea of what the professor was talking about. But surrounded by a bunch of hardworking students, they helped me become one of them easily. And the end result was encouraging – I kept my straight 7 GPA legend going, even on exchange (A’s and A+’s at UCSD). Then in Spring Quarter, I decided to try something new and less stressful. So I took a ballet class and a contemporary dance class. It was the highlight of my exchange – academic-wise. And I was pleased to rediscover how much I love dancing, even though I am a maths nerd too.
If you are interested in meeting friendly locals, get useful survival tips, and sometimes even have free food on campus, a Christian community called “InterVarsity” is the place to be, especially their “International Student Fellowship”. Certainly there are other student clubs and groups too, but I found InterVarsity most helpful. There were all kinds of fun activities, including “Scavenger Hunt Night” (a free San Diego exploration tour), bonfire nights, Disney Trip, and many more. And before I went on this exchange tour, I’ve already had some friends on the East Coast of the States. And I was able to visit them on spring break. They took me to Washington DC, New York City, New Jersey, Virginia Safari Park, and even a caving trip in West Virginia. “Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other is gold!”
UQ Abroad has provided me with a precious opportunity to explore the world, develop friendships, and grow as a person. I highly recommend anyone who is interested in studying overseas to take this opportunity too!