First of all, I would like to emphasize how exciting, eventful and valuable this semester abroad at the University of California San Diego is for my future life and studies. That is why I encourage everyone to do a semester abroad in this great city. Above all, I am also enthusiastic about the active support in everything – from the application process to the stay abroad. The competent help that you get in the whole application jungle is worth gold.
Living
The best thing to do is to look for an apartment on site. And don’t worry: there are ALWAYS plenty of apartment offers in San Diego. It is almost impossible not to find a suitable place to stay. The best thing to do is look at www.craigslist.org. Craigslist has everything from cars to apartments to concert tickets. My recommendation regarding the location is Pacific Beach or La Jolla. It always depends on how you feel about traffic and how to get to the university. Pacific Beach is a very lively district in San Diego with many bars, cafes and just a nice place to live for young people. La Jolla is a bit quieter and more upscale. However, the UCSD is located directly in La Jolla, so there is no long journey to the university.
In general, a car in San Diego is a MUST! San Diego also offers public transport, but the city is already very extensive and a car makes the stay much more pleasant and flexible. Especially if you like to do a lot, I strongly recommend buying a car. Some car rental companies already have good conditions for renting for a longer period (quarter). I have had good experiences with Dirtcheapcarrental and I also know that many other international students have rented their cars there.
University of California San Diego
I am studying business administration and have taken an economics, an extension and an IRPS (International Relations Pacific Studies) course in San Diego. The economics course was the most difficult because many Americans wanted to do this course and I was only lucky enough to get a place through a second replacement process. The level of this course was high and I was able to take a lot with me for my studies in Germany. In contrast, there was the extension course. The demands in this course were quite low and without learning it was possible to get a very good grade, as there were often open-book exams / tests (you can look in your notes, books, etc. to answer questions). The IRPS institute was more of an insider tip for the on-site supervisor. These are mostly graduate courses (you need a permit from the UCSD to participate – it depends on which semester you are in), I took a PHD-level course (doctoral course), which was very demanding. Unfortunately, since my home university does not credit many UCSD courses, I chose this course in order to get it recognized as a main seminar. However, everyone should be aware that this course is a lot of work and can be challenging. But you can still get good grades if you try hard. Unfortunately, since my home university does not credit many UCSD courses, I chose this course in order to get it recognized as a main seminar. However, everyone should be aware that this course is a lot of work and can be challenging. But you can still get good grades if you try hard. Unfortunately, since my home university does not credit many UCSD courses, I chose this course in order to get it recognized as a main seminar. However, everyone should be aware that this course is a lot of work and can be challenging. But you can still get good grades if you try hard.
Travel
I recommend anyone planning to spend a semester abroad in San Diego that they plan plenty of travel time. California is beautiful and there is just so much to see that it would be a shame not to take advantage of it. You should arrive at least 3 weeks before the start of your studies so that you have enough time to look for an apartment, buy a car, etc. My tips are: Trip from San Diego along the west coast to San Francisco, with stops in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, Santa Cruz. There are, of course, dozens of other cities to visit. You must also spend at least one weekend in Las Vegas, because this gaming paradise is simply indescribable if you have never experienced it before. Of course, if time permits, one should
Summary
San Diego is a very beautiful city with numerous attractions. The University of California San Diego is a renowned university with a wide range of courses. You should be flexible in your choice of course, because there is no guarantee that you will get the courses you want. But you can always find interesting courses that are also suitable for the subject! It is also very important that you know from the start that if you want to see and experience a lot, leave a lot of money there. But you also have an unforgettable time!
Have fun in San Diego!
