First of all, a few introductory words about the application and preparation process and the support that I received from MicroEDU in this context. In general, I can say that this phase was by far the most unpleasant of the whole undertaking, as a large number of documents and documents have to be obtained and filled out. I would particularly like to highlight the F1 visa, the acquisition of which can mean a expenditure of time that should not be underestimated. Application at the university, international health insurance, TOEFL, overview of grades, search for an apartment etc…, all the necessary aspects that need to be considered when planning and which should therefore be processed as early as possible. Fortunately, in making the decision to contact MicroEDU to help me prepare and contact UCSD, everything done right. All my questions and problems were always answered or solved promptly and completely. I found the checklist provided, which contained critical deadlines and necessary requirements in the preparation process, to be particularly helpful.
Thanks to very personal and extensive support throughout the entire application process, nothing stood in the way of my four-month stay abroad and I could finally start. At this point, once again, many thanks to the MicroEDU team!
When choosing the accommodation, I decided in favor of Anatolia Housing Corp., so that from now on I was to live in the beautiful La Jolla district in the “Costa Verde Village”, which is home to the UCSD. Another good decision. The apartment offered facilities with which I could be completely satisfied. This includes washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, air conditioning and also microwaves. The whole thing came at what I thought was a reasonable price. Free exercise facility, pool, jacuzzi and BBQ area are also on the premises. The bus connection was also very helpful, as all relevant stops can be reached on foot within a short time. Most of the routes can be used free of charge by UCSD students. Otherwise, the day pass costs $ 5 here. However, I can really recommend that you buy a car for the duration of your stay. San Diego really offers a lot of attractive places and sights (Pacific Beach, Coronado, Ocean Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla Cove…, Balboa Park with various museums, the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown, Garnet Avenue with numerous shops and clubs…) I I am sure that sooner or later you will long for German food. So here’s another tip: in Ocean Beach there is the German restaurant “Kaiserhof”, where you can feast heartily and take a break from the countless fast food stalls. the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown, Garnet Avenue with numerous shops and clubs…) I’m sure that sooner or later you will long for German food. So here’s another tip: in Ocean Beach there is the German restaurant “Kaiserhof”, where you can feast heartily and take a break from the countless fast food stalls. the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown, Garnet Avenue with numerous shops and clubs …) I’m sure that sooner or later you will long for German food. So here’s another tip: in Ocean Beach there is the German restaurant “Kaiserhof”, where you can feast heartily and take a break from the countless fast food stalls.
Get a cheap prepaid mobile phone on site and, especially in the first few weeks, write down the numbers of all the people you talk to at parties, barbeques or on campus. Among them there are almost certainly the people with whom you will befriend and stay together for the rest of your stay. In addition, you should quickly get used to always having your passport close at hand. This is the most important piece of advice I can give you.
Regarding UCSD, it can be said that this is an excellent university. The university facilities are excellent and the teaching staff is extremely competent. The campus is very spacious, but orientation is no longer a problem after two or three days. I attended three courses in the economics department (econometrics, decisions under uncertainty, business forecasting). These were also my preferred courses, to which I was admitted despite the initially deterring waiting lists. It worked something like this. After you have already sent a wish list for the courses to UCSD during the application process, you will be asked to follow the waiting lists for the individual courses online and some time after the start of the quarter (I think 2 or 3 weeks), depending on availability. Read more student reviews on Toppharmacyschools.
Compared to German universities, it can certainly be said that the Americans distribute an astonishing amount of homework and it can also happen that you catch a course with two midterms. It is therefore worthwhile to be reasonably careful in class so as not to be distracted too much from the pleasant aspects of your stay by the extensive learning requirements. In my opinion, the whole thing wasn’t too difficult, so I got very good grades without exception. So please don’t worry so much about studying as such, or that your English may be inadequate. As soon as you get used to the prevailing rhythm, the whole thing is child’s play.
I would like to point out that, of course, the time in San Diego wasn’t cheap. Costs for studying, living, groceries, traveling, going to clubs, shopping, etc. should not be underestimated. Food prices in particular are nibbling on the budget. Find a cheap supermarket near you, not the first one you come across. In addition, it is best to get a bonus card there as soon as possible in order to participate in the discount offers, which can save a lot of money!
In conclusion: the time in San Diego was simply great. The initial nervousness is quite natural and quickly disappears. Plenty of sun, various beaches, good clubs, nice people and tempting excursion destinations nearby (Las Vegas, LA, Mexico, San Francisco…) give an idea of why San Diego is known to be “America’s finest city”.
You can be sure that it will be difficult for you to say goodbye!
