Experience report
ANR: 487337
Name: T. Paas
E-mail: t.paas@tilburguniversity.edu
Exchange semester: Fall
Academic year: 2014 - 2015
Host University: Moorse School of Business, University of South Carolina
Country: United States of America
TOPIC: Admission, arrival, housing
How was your arrival organized? Did someone pick you up from the airport/station? Was an
orientation or introduction activity organized? How was accommodation organized? Does the
university provide you with accommodation? What kind of accommodation does the university
provide? Did you have to book your accommodation in advance or did you have to search for a place
to live after you arrived?
I flew to Orlando and took the train to Columbia, because this was way cheaper than flying directly to
Columbia. The train station is very close to the campus so you can easily take a cab or walk.
Immediately after arrival at the university I could ‘check in’ into my room. There were American
students that helped us with activating our USC account and showed us our rooms and soms
important buildings. The same night a welcome dinner was organized, where we met a lot of the other
exchange students that arrived the same day. The first few days where general introduction days and
some basic things were explained about life as an American college student, how to get tickets for the
football games, how a mealplan works, some important things about your visa etc. As an
undergraduate student, living on campus was mandatory. My dorm was really nice but expensive as
well ($4100 for four months). I lived with 3 other, same sex, roommates and had a kitchen, living
room, a bathroom, a separate toilet and a washer+dryer.
TOPIC: Location of university/city
Please describe the city you lived in. Where is the university located in the city? What is the best
place to go to eat/drink/dance/do sports/etc.? What are interesting things to see and do in your host
city? What was different than in Tilburg?
Columbia is the capital of the state South Carolina. However, in my opinion, it’s not a really nice city
except for the university campus, which is located in the city center. There are two areas where you
can go out for eating or going out; Five Points and The Vista. Students generally go out in Five Points,
which has a lot of different bars and some nice restaurants as well. The campus is really nice and
offers all kind of facilities, like restaurants, two sportcentres, a cinema, 24/7 library, coffee shops etc.
The main difference with Tilburg is that everything is really spread out. We are used to getting
everywhere by bike but this is not possible in the US. There is a really small grocery store 5 minutes
walking away and a bigger one 10-15 minutes away, but the big shopping malls are located outside
the city. That’s why almost every college student owns a car. Another main difference is the
importance of sports. American people really like to watch sports and at USC, there are some really
good college teams.
TOPIC: Academics
Which courses did you take and why? Which courses would you recommend? What did the courses
add to your program at Tilburg University? How does the university compare to Tilburg University
concerning the level of the courses, use of extra material, level of English, workload, etc.? Overall,
were you happy with your academic achievements during your exchange? Please describe the
campus of your host university.
I took the following courses; Commercial Bank Practice and Policy, Derivative Securities, Initiation
and Management of New Business Opportunities, Internet Retailing and Law and Economics. All
courses were really good. I would definitely choose a course about entrepreneurship. Where can you
learn more about it than in the USA? I heard some really good stories about the other courses about
entrepreneurship from the other students as well. The courses are not difficult, but you get more
assignments and small tests compared to Tilburg. As long as you participate in class and hand
everything on time you should be able to get an A (9.5 in Tilburg) or a B+ (8.5). In general, the
teachers were really good. Furthermore, the lectures were smaller than in Tilburg, which made them
more interactive. The level of English wasn’t that high, so you shouldn’t worry about that. Besides,
we’re used to write English for academic purposes, which is in advantage as the Americans use a lot
of ‘slang’. The University campus was really nice. Especially the new business building, which had
just opened when we arrived, was amazing. To conclude, I am very happy with the courses I followed
and learned a lot, and the workload allowed me to create a good mix of studying and having fun/make
some trips.
TOPIC: Social life
Which social activities organized by the university or students? Did you have contact with local
students? Did you have contact with other exchange students? How did you get along with the local
students and other exchange students? Did you travel to other places/countries during your
exchange?
I met a lot of both international and American students and I never experienced problems with
anyone. Of course the exchange students are very eager to meet new people, because they generally
don’t know anyone when they arrive. After a few weeks, everyone had their own group and treated
each other like they had been friends for years. The American students all thinks it’s very interesting
and cool that you come from a foreign country and are very eager to learn from you and to help you
get around. The university organized some fun activities, for example a thanksgiving diner. I made
some really nice trips, including Chicago (by plane), Charleston (by car), Washington (by Megabus,
which is really cheap if you book in advance) and Philadelphia (by Megabus). We also made a
roadtrip to New Orleans with some nice stops on the way during the Thanksgiving break. When you
go with a group, it’s really cheap to rent a car/minivan. Also the gas is really cheap, about 2.50$ for a
gallon (almost 4 liters!). After my exchange we went to the Bahamas for a week and Miami, from
which I and two other Dutch students flew back to Brussels.
TOPIC: Living costs
How did you finance your exchange period, apart from the grant you received from Tilburg University?
What were your living expenses abroad like compared to Tilburg? What did you spend most of your
money on? What would you advice future students to spend their money on? Please outline your
approximate monthly budget whilst on exchange: housing, food, textbooks, etc.
I used my savings account to finance my exchange period and worked before I left. I also borrowed
money from the government (DUO), but I didn’t need that money in the end. Housing was quite
expensive; 4100 USD for four months. Cooking was difficult, although I know some students who did,
so I always ate at the campus or elsewhere in Columbia. I wouldn’t recommend a meal plan though,
because it doesn’t save you a lot of money and makes you way less flexible. At the food court, you
pay approximately 8 dollars for diner. The drinks in Five Points were really cheap. Of course a major
expense were my travels, but you can save a lot of money by taking the bus instead of the plane, go
with a group, check airbnb etc. I didn’t pay much for my textbooks. I was able to find some e-books
online and rented a textbook at Amazon, which I can really recommend.
TOPIC: Culture
Did you experience culture shock while on exchange? How would you compare your host culture to
your own culture? What did you learn about your own culture while on exchange? What was different
about your host culture than you expected? What did you like and not like about your host culture? Do
you feel you learned a lot about your host culture, and if not, what would you like to learn more? How
would you describe your host countries culture? If you travelled to other cities/countries during your
exchange, were they different than your host city/country, and how?
I didn’t experience culture shock while on exchange, because the cultures are pretty similar. Of
course there are some differences but you really adapt quickly. I learned about the Netherlands that
we are very distant and individual people. Americans are really open and nice, they are willing to help
you with everything and they are very interested in your home country. One explanation could be that
many Americans hadn’t visited a country outside the US. I also learned that we are pretty direct (and
honest) compared to other cultures. Another difference is that American people eat a lot more out of
home than Dutch people. Food in restaurants is really cheap, especially in fast food restaurants, and
they have a lot of them! Now I understand why so many poor people are fat in the States; it’s way
cheaper to go to McDonalds than to cook diner yourself. Furthermore, I learned that South Carolina is
a typical ‘southern’ State, where people can be really religious and conservative. I general I need to
say that I was surprised about the American culture in a positive way. Besides, during my travels I
learned that every part of America has its own American culture.
TOPIC: Personal development
What did you learn from the people you met during your exchange? Would you do things differently if
you had the chance, and what would you do differently? What was your best experience, and what
was your worst experience? What will you remember for ever about your exchange period? What was
the most important lesson you learned about yourself during your exchange period?
One of the reasons I chose South Carolina was the language. I greatly enhanced my English skills,
especially speaking. Also, but I think this is true for every exchange, I met students from all over the
world and their cultures. Living in another country for a few months is just eye opeing and mind
broadening. It’s so interesting to talk to people from other countries and see what’s on their mind, how
they view your country, how they look at the big things in life. I don’t think I would do anything
different. I would have liked to see more of the country side instead of focusing on the cities, but this
was quite difficult as you can’t rent a car of you’re under 21 like me and many of my friends.
TOPIC: Tips for future students
Would you recommend an exchange period? Would you recommend your host university? What
should prospective students bring with them/leave behind? What preparation is required for going on
exchange to this destination? Was there anything you should have done in preparation that you didn’t
do?
I would definitely recommend an exchange period and I can definitely recommend South Carolina!
Wherever you go, you will have the time of your life. You’ll benefit your whole life from an exchange
period abroad. Besides, it’s the best way to improve your CV. A few tips:
- Make sure to make a financial plan. However, have the time of your life and don’t let money
hold you back. It’s a one in a lifetime experience. Borrowing money from DUO, with the
current interest rate, is definitely an option.
- Consider alternative ways of transportation like Megabus and Greyhound. They can be a little
bit sketchy sometimes, but it’s way cheaper than flying, especially if you book in advance.
- Try not to keep in touch with your friends back home too often. You only have four months
and everything will be the same when you return.
- Make sure to earn some loyalty points so you can go to the football games! These are
amazing.
- Bring clothes for warm weather and buy the winter clothes as it gets colder. I never wore a
winter jacket as it stays warm very long. The pool closes at the end of October, enough said!
- Make sure to start travelling as soon as possible! It’s the best way the experience the country
and to bond with all your new friends. I’ll never forget the trips I made.
TOPIC: A picture is worth a thousand words
If you took any pictures or made any videos that you would like to share with future exchange
students, please include them (or e-mail them separately). Pictures that show your daily life or
symbolize your exchange period are especially interesting for future exchange students.