Applying for a semester abroad

[herbavore]

Of course I have my reasons for voting for California but I am thinking also that since you have family on the west coast that might be a part of the world you will have easy access to later in life as well, whereas Sydney might not be. Everything I have ever heard about Sydney sounds amazing.

Do you have any way to compare the actual programs that you would be in?

 

[Pagey]

^Haha yes herbie that's one reason why it would be awesome to go to California! But yeah I was also thinking that - opportunities to go to Australia won't come up as often.

Yeah I mean the websites of both schools have some info but it's not all that detailed and the problem with UC is that it changes according to the campus and as I mentioned, I don't get to choose my campus I just put three choices down...and like there's one campus, Santa Barbara I think, where the program is just amazing but then I'm less of a fan on the other two campuses so it's a bit annoying...

 

[herbavore]

UC Berkeley and UCLA have the best reputations out of all nine campuses and their degrees carry a lot more prestige than UC Santa Barbara. UC Santa Barbara is in a famous (infamous!) student town called Isla Vista. Basically it looks like Spring break in Mexico every night. It is in a beautiful but really expensive place--definitely the prettiest of the 3 campuses you would be looking at.

 

[Black Rabbit of Inle]

I wish I got a chance to study abroad. I'm only just getting around to traveling next year.

Australia is a pretty awesome place to visit, although the popular opinion seems to be California. Less animals will try to kill you in the US.

 

[Pagey]

UC Berkeley and UCLA have the best reputations out of all nine campuses and their degrees carry a lot more prestige than UC Santa Barbara. UC Santa Barbara is in a famous (infamous!) student town called Isla Vista. Basically it looks like Spring break in Mexico every night. It is in a beautiful but really expensive place--definitely the prettiest of the 3 campuses you would be looking at.

Yup, I do realize that - I'd really rather be able to go to Berkeley or UCLA, definitely. It kinda sucks they don't let us choose the campus, I was surprised to see that but I guess if Santa Barbara is pretty and fun then that's not too bad either. I'm not sure that's going to be the third campus I apply to though - I could also do UC Davis or UC Riverside instead of Santa Barbara, do you know how good those are in comparison? (UC Santa Cruz doesn't offer my course, how sad is that?!)

I wish I got a chance to study abroad. I'm only just getting around to traveling next year.

Australia is a pretty awesome place to visit, although the popular opinion seems to be California. Less animals will try to kill you in the US.

Yeah, the one thing that's making me especially hesitate is that I feel I'll have more opportunities in my lifetime to visit California as opposed to Australia...hmm. And yes I'm actually taking the animal factor into account, don't want to be worrying about sharks, crocodiles and snakes every time I go to the beach haha.

 

[Black Rabbit of Inle]

Yup, I do realize that - I'd really rather be able to go to Berkeley or UCLA, definitely. It kinda sucks they don't let us choose the campus, I was surprised to see that but I guess if Santa Barbara is pretty and fun then that's not too bad either. I'm not sure that's going to be the third campus I apply to though - I could also do UC Davis or UC Riverside instead of Santa Barbara, do you know how good those are in comparison? (UC Santa Cruz doesn't offer my course, how sad is that?!)

Yeah, the one thing that's making me especially hesitate is that I feel I'll have more opportunities in my lifetime to visit California as opposed to Australia...hmm. And yes I'm actually taking the animal factor into account, don't want to be worrying about sharks, crocodiles and snakes every time I go to the beach haha.

Unfortunately it's not the sharks, crocs or snakes you have to be too worried about. It's the tiny killers. Irukandji jellyfish, blue-ringed octopi and the assortment of spiders. The amount of times I've had to be rushed to hospital for anti-venom, I'd take the worst WD's over that again.

Not trying to scare you off though :D Come visit your convicted cousins down under

 

[Pagey]

^Well you're being convincing :D ironically the one time I had to be rushed to the hospital because of a spider bite was in Seattle of all places. My whole arm turned hard and blue

It's just the possibility of running into a snake really is enough to deter me, haha. Although I suppose that could happen in California as well. *sigh* this is why I chose London!

 

[Black Rabbit of Inle]

^ I've only run into snakes once here and I go out bushwalking all the time. We had a king brown nest in our backyard when I was a kid and that was it.

Sydney is amazing too. It's only a short drive from there to a lush rainforest and beaches all around. And depending on whether you were going to be here during summer or winter doesn't really change much. Our winter would probably compare to the English summer

 

[Pagey]

^Okay that's good to know.

Aah that sounds awesome, I'm really torn...but 'luckily', I guess, the choice is being made for me as my parents want me to put UC first (not quite sure why) and apparently that's my condition for even being allowed to apply for study abroad (ugh). But there's only 2 or 3 spots at UC out of a LOT of applicants so I might end up in Sydney anyway. It's great that I'll be equally happy no matter which one I get into

 

[hthr007]

(bet they're really strict about fake IDs and stuff too aren't they?)

Not that I'm condoning have a fake ID, but I had one for 2 years that a friend of mine "found" and I used it til I hit 21. It slightly resembled me and was expired but that thing got me into so many places. Then when i turned 21 I sent an anonymous letter and note thanking her and mailed it to the address on the ID :D Anways most places like that if they find a fake usually cut it up and trash it. Very few actually pursue it with the law on the "false documents" end unless of course there was something very illegal done using that persons ID..

 

[Pagey]

^Ha yes, I have a 22 year old friend of a friend's driver's license that she doesn't use anymore and she looks exactly like me, never had a single problem with it. Buuut I dunno I've heard a few horror stories about people in the US having to pay phenomenal fines for fake IDs that kinda freaked me out...I don't really mind not being able to go out and drink, I'd just be really annoyed if I couldn't just go out with friends and stuff because I don't want to miss out on stuff. But I can figure that out once I get there, if I get there

 

[Mariposa]

Also a fan of California - I lived in Berkeley and SF for 7 years. I love Santa Barbara and more than tolerate LA as well. Berkeley isn't the radical place it was in the 60s/70s, people are generally very nice and affiliated with the university. It's easy to meet people and there's loads of cheap awesome food. Do note it isn't all that close to Seattle, though. I'd put the drive at 12-14 hours, flight is 2 1/2 or so, usually a little shorter.

I've never been to Sydney. I'd like to.

My best advice is to go with the best program that you can. The UC system is huge and fairly well-respected. There are loads of international students.

And mentally I think you will be OK. The international student or counseling office at whatever school you choose should be able to refer you to a competent therapist/shrink, for meds, therapy or both. UC requires that you have or buy health insurance. I'm pretty sure that you can get birth control and general medical care very easily; mental health stuff requires a referral. Temptation and the opportunity to score drugs will exist wherever you go. I do not recommend trying to score on the street anywhere for anyone, but especially not for an international student. Your travels and the courses you take overseas will bring you a lot of awesome times, new sights, amazing memories. I hope you become excited about this soon! Bon courage.

With regard to the fake ID, my cousin asked to use mine when I was 29 and she was 19. I nixed that idea but since I am not mean, I told her I'd make a run to the liquor store and that I'll look the other way, but no way is my license leaving my possession. Drinking at home is not taboo in my family; facing charges would be.

I think you're going to have a great time.

 

[Volundr]

Is Berlin the only place available through Erasmus, most places tend to offer several different cities across Europe? (If you don't mind me asking which London uni are you at?)

The fact most of my closest friends were met through Erasmus, and of course the idea of life in L'auberge espagnole is far more appealing than a semester in another English speaking country in my eyes.

 

[tackyspiral]

Unfortunately it's not the sharks, crocs or snakes you have to be too worried about. It's the tiny killers. Irukandji jellyfish, blue-ringed octopi and the assortment of spiders. The amount of times I've had to be rushed to hospital for anti-venom, I'd take the worst WD's over that again.

Not trying to scare you off though :D Come visit your convicted cousins down under

I love scuba diving and have never had anything sting/bite me... i also scuba dove while in australia and was fine
like you pagey the one time i had to go to the clinic for this kinda thing was a spider bite i got while sitting on a wood bench in florida...

 

[Pagey]

Also a fan of California - I lived in Berkeley and SF for 7 years. I love Santa Barbara and more than tolerate LA as well. Berkeley isn't the radical place it was in the 60s/70s, people are generally very nice and affiliated with the university. It's easy to meet people and there's loads of cheap awesome food. Do note it isn't all that close to Seattle, though. I'd put the drive at 12-14 hours, flight is 2 1/2 or so, usually a little shorter.

I've never been to Sydney. I'd like to.

My best advice is to go with the best program that you can. The UC system is huge and fairly well-respected. There are loads of international students.

And mentally I think you will be OK. The international student or counseling office at whatever school you choose should be able to refer you to a competent therapist/shrink, for meds, therapy or both. UC requires that you have or buy health insurance. I'm pretty sure that you can get birth control and general medical care very easily; mental health stuff requires a referral. Temptation and the opportunity to score drugs will exist wherever you go. I do not recommend trying to score on the street anywhere for anyone, but especially not for an international student. Your travels and the courses you take overseas will bring you a lot of awesome times, new sights, amazing memories. I hope you become excited about this soon! Bon courage.

With regard to the fake ID, my cousin asked to use mine when I was 29 and she was 19. I nixed that idea but since I am not mean, I told her I'd make a run to the liquor store and that I'll look the other way, but no way is my license leaving my possession. Drinking at home is not taboo in my family; facing charges would be.

I think you're going to have a great time.

California certainly sounds really nice. Yeah I mean I would really really love to go to Sydney just for the experience and stuff but the fact is this is part of my degree so I do need to focus on academics more (sadly) and UC is one of the best unis in the world so I do need to take that into account.
Thanks for the info about doctors and stuff

Is Berlin the only place available through Erasmus, most places tend to offer several different cities across Europe? (If you don't mind me asking which London uni are you at?)

The fact most of my closest friends were met through Erasmus, and of course the idea of life in L'auberge espagnole is far more appealing than a semester in another English speaking country in my eyes.

Yeah Berlin is the only European city I can go to. I'm at King's College London.
To be honest though, I mean since I come from France I was able to travel to lots of countries around there since well you just need to get in a car really and they're only a few hours away - whereas the ones I've got the opportunity to go to through the exchange program, even though they're English-speaking are countries I'm less likely to be able to visit in the future
They probably offer almost onyl english-speaking countries because we're apparently required to speak the language of the country we go to. I do actually speak German but eh, I've been to Germany a few times and it just doesn't appeal to me as much for this program.

 

[tackyspiral]

well Pagey if you do end up in Cali the current plan is for me to move out there in January

 

[Pagey]

I love scuba diving and have never had anything sting/bite me... i also scuba dove while in australia and was fine
like you pagey the one time i had to go to the clinic for this kinda thing was a spider bite i got while sitting on a wood bench in florida...

well Pagey if you do end up in Cali the current plan is for me to move out there in January

Good to know! And well tacky, perhaps we shall meet sometime!

 

[Volundr]

Yeah Berlin is the only European city I can go to. I'm at King's College London.
To be honest though, I mean since I come from France I was able to travel to lots of countries around there since well you just need to get in a car really and they're only a few hours away - whereas the ones I've got the opportunity to go to through the exchange program, even though they're English-speaking are countries I'm less likely to be able to visit in the future
They probably offer almost onyl english-speaking countries because we're apparently required to speak the language of the country we go to. I do actually speak German but eh, I've been to Germany a few times and it just doesn't appeal to me as much for this program.

Ah fair point. One of my friends that currently attends Kings has gone to Barcelona for his Erasmus this year, but that fits due to what he is studying. The other (also a Parisian) I have no idea about.

 

[Pagey]

Yeah it really depends on the course

 

[cutecute]

Hey Pagey!

I am currently a senior at UCSB and it's fucking awesome here! Here is my humble opinion on all of the Cali options.

Berkeley and UCLA are slightly better academically than UCSB; however, the social life in Berkeley is non-existant unless you're a huge hippie and even then it's faded, and UCLA is heavy on the sorority/frat life and is filled with spoiled valley kids. You also live in a city and the campus is always under construction--it sounds like a war zone.

UCSB is super laid back and fun and literally all of the students live in a neighborhood of a square mile radius which is right on the ocean, called Isla Vista (IV). There are constant parties (all of which you can walk to) and people are very outdoorsy and are always up for hiking, surfing, swimming in the ocean, kayaking, etc. The students are very friendly and a lot are more intelligent than you'd think based on their partying habits.

There's also a lot of local music/bands if you dig a little deeper than ragers on Del Playa (the main party street). There's also a decent hippie scene, with housing/food co-ops and huggy hippie orgies every once in a while.

There are a lot of international students as well, though I'd definitely suggest befriending Americans instead of hiding in the comfort of the program. It's very easy making friends here and there's no reason not to try, but I still see a lot of internationals coming away with friends only from their own country.

The negatives would be that if you're not into drinking, you'll take issue with the drinking culture--it's massively prevalent and people at the slightest excuse. Prepare your liver or prepare to die, especially if you're not used to the American college style of drinking, which is drinking beers all day, taking a nap, pre-gaming around 8- 9 pm, going out at 10 pm already hammered, then drinking as much as possible until you black out around 12 or 1 am (generous), then passing out. Rinse and repeat, every day, or at least Friday through Sunday. (not recommending this, just saying that this is normal)

Also, there is a community college in Santa Barbara and many people move from other states or regions of California to attend, and they can tend to be fucking jackasses since many (not all!) relocated here simply to party and don't take school seriously whatsoever. If you meet someone who seems like they belong on a reality show, simply inquire whether they go to the CC and you'll have your explanation. There are also a lot of out of town visitors looking to party who can also be assholes. They can be found wandering looking for parties and getting arrested because they don't know the rules of IV.

PM me if you wanna know more Pagey, I don't wanna ramble and I could go on for days!