The application process was relatively straightforward thanks to the support of the FHDW International Office and GOstrilia!-GOmerica! After sending off all the documents, which included a letter of motivation and my certificate, I soon received confirmation from SDSU and was able to organize everything else. A visa is required for the stay in the USA, which can be obtained relatively easily after completing an online questionnaire and making an appointment at the consulate. GOstrilia!-GOmerica! also provided advice on the subject of insurance and the recommended insurance policies are definitely sufficient.

I flew via Frankfurt via Portland to San Diego about two weeks before the start of my studies and used the first time to settle in, get to know people and organize a few little things.

For the first month, I rented an Airbnb together with another German who I met via a WhatsApp group with German internationals. After 10 days, we moved into a house in the college area that Eli, a real estate agent for international students who can be reached via Facebook, had arranged for us. We got to know him through other internationals who also found a house through him. I recommend organizing accommodation for the semester while you are still in Germany. If that doesn’t work out, two weeks is definitely enough time to find accommodation locally.

In the first few days, there were some information events in which everything important was explained to us. The degree program at SDSU is demanding and extensive, but definitely doable. I took the courses Financial Accounting Fundamentals, Communication in Professional Settings, Intermediate Microeconomic Theory and Project Management for Events. The FHDW International Office also helps you to choose your courses. The grades are made up of weekly assignments, projects, presentations and up to three written exams.

SDSU has an extremely beautiful campus where you enjoy spending a lot of time. In the mornings, I went to the library to study before going to lectures or to my own outdoor pool. At lunchtime I regularly ate in one of the countless restaurants on campus and in the evening I went to the university’s own gym. The campus also has a bowling alley, for example, and the Aztecs basketball games and regular concerts take place in the arena on campus.

As everyone was actually very open and sociable, it wasn’t difficult to get to know people and I was able to make some real friends during my time. In our free time, we often went to the beach or watched the football or basketball games of the university teams, which all play in the top college league. I was also able to make good use of the time to go on a few trips, including to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Hawaii.

Even though the public transportation network in San Diego is well developed and the campus can be easily reached on foot from the college area, a rental car is definitely an advantage, especially if trips are planned or if you want to go to the beach spontaneously.