Education & Reference Exchange in the US

[Opportunity Cost]

Posted this in the Education thread but there is a lot more traffic here.

So I'm looking to head to the US on exchange for a semester somewhere between early 2012 - to early 2013. I currently work full time in a pretty well payed government job and am studying Business (Accounting/Finance major) part time. So would be looking to do a semester full time. Had a bit of a look at the sister universities of my uni UTAS and the pickings are pretty slim (http://www.international.utas.edu.au...iversities.php). The ones I am interested in a rough order are:

• University of Texas
• University of Virginia
• Colorado State University
• Missouri State University

I'm actually really keen for Texas, a fairly big sporting culture to get into, seems pretty good (Football stadium). As well as being generally a good uni. Austin is known as the "music capital of the world" which also appeals massively to me.

Anyone know anything about those unis? Or even just the cities in general. Or think the other possibilities would be better?

 

[Power King]

Uni of Texas seems pretty good, though I don't know much about the others.

As you mentioned, the sporting culture is very appealing, as is the music if you're into what their known for. A visit to Cowboys Stadium would be a must.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington,_Texas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_in_Texas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Texas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas

A quick look at the above links makes it seem an attractive place to me. Make sure you update us on where you end up deciding to go!

 

[JimDocker]

For the music alone, Texas. South by Southwest must be in the top 5 festivals in the world.

We have Bon Scott in Fremantle. Austin, Texas has Stevie Ray Vaughan !!!!

Good luck either way.

 

[Kaladin Stormblessed]

DO IT DO IT DO IT!!

One of my biggest regrets is not having done the exchange program to the US whilst doing Uni. And I was at Melbourne Uni too so had pretty much the whole country to pick from (not intending to sound arrogant).

Go and have a ball son. *sigh*, apart from working there in the future (which would be a killer given the hours they work in my profession), I've missed the boat.

 

[shibz_1989]

You can do exchanges while at uni?!

 

[Kaladin Stormblessed]

You can do exchanges while at uni?!

notsureifserious.jpeg

When else would you do them?

 

[shibz_1989]

I know you can do high school ones. Actually, I think I may have heared of them...

 

[Opportunity Cost]

DO IT DO IT DO IT!!

One of my biggest regrets is not having done the exchange program to the US whilst doing Uni. And I was at Melbourne Uni too so had pretty much the whole country to pick from (not intending to sound arrogant).

Go and have a ball son. *sigh*, apart from working there in the future (which would be a killer given the hours they work in my profession), I've missed the boat.

I always thought that UTAS would only have crap schools associated with it, but University of Texas especially seems pretty damn good. Is ranked as one of the top Uni's for undergrad Business degrees and has a stadium bigger than the MCG!

A have a pretty good job at the moment and they would be willing to give me 4 months unpaid leave so I don't really see any negatives.

My marks aren't anything special, I do the absolute bare minimum study throughout the year then study pretty hard just before the exams. I have been getting Credits and Distinctions with the odd HD (nothing lower), the Business school seems to be pretty hard to get into which worries me a bit. I doubt I would struggle at all with the work once I get there, but I'm wondering what marks they would require for the exchange?

 

[Power King]

notsureifserious.jpeg

When else would you do them?

I personally don't know much about them. How do they work? I'd imagine that for certain degrees that lead to specific professions (ones where you don't get electives and instead must complete set units) it'd be pretty hard, in fact near on impossible, to complete such exact units at another university (let alone one at an overseas uni). Not a single person from my degree did went to another uni unless it was during the summer holidays.

 

[Plugger35]

I've been to the University of Virginia, didn't study there I was just staying with a friend who lived near there and had a look around there one day.

Quite a nice campus and it's a well regarded University in the states. It's based in Charlottesville which is a medium size town of about 50,000. Nice area in terms of scenery and history but probably not much in the way of nightlife other than a few bars/clubs. It's only about an hours drive from Richmond though and a couple of hours drive from Washington DC.

 

[foley_falcon]

...but I'm wondering what marks they would require for the exchange?

I've been looking into exchange too and I think you have to get about a 70% overall in each of your subjects in the year before you travel. Sometimes it does differ between uni's though.

 

[Opportunity Cost]

I personally don't know much about them. How do they work?

When the University is a sister University to yours, you only have to pay the fees exactly the same as you were to begin with. So instead of paying the $30,000 to go to Texas, the same amount just adds to my HECS. A course like Business has a relatively flexible course, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find subjects I can get credit for.

I've been looking into exchange too and I think you have to get about a 70% overall in each of your subjects in the year before you travel. Sometimes it does differ between uni's though.

My last semester average wasn't quite 70 but if I put in a bit of effort this semester I should easily be able to get a couple of 75-85 scores.