Semester abroad in the Golden State: College life in the USA

As part of his degree program in Marketing & Communication Management at the FH Kufstein Tirol, Adrian completed his mandatory semester abroad in the fall of 2024 at San Francisco State University, where he was able to broaden not only his professional but also his cultural horizons. In his report on his time abroad, the student describes how his degree program and courses are structured in the USA, what makes campus life in the States so special, and what challenges Adrian had to overcome.

Degree program and courses

The Digital Marketing course offered particular added value, as the USA is considered a pioneer in the field of marketing and media. For anyone working in the industries or simply interested in this subject area, it is enriching to familiarize oneself with American marketing and advertising tactics.

The courses are interactive – the content of the lectures passed primarily through theoretical knowledge paired with open discussions and group work. The application and associated consolidation always took the form of an assignment that had to be completed during the week and then uploaded.

Unfortunately, choosing courses at the beginning proved to be very difficult and required a lot of initiative on Adrian's part. Even after extensive correspondence and a personal meeting on site, Adrian was unable to enroll in all of the courses he wanted.

Campus life

Campus life was anything but boring. Countless tournaments involving numerous sports teams – from rugby to soccer and baseball to wrestling – as well as parties organized by student fraternities and sororities and other events were just waiting to be attended. However, for those who wanted to do sports on their own, the Masshouf Wellness Center, with its large gym, indoor basketball court, climbing wall, indoor pool, and numerous courses, was the perfect place to go. Meals were also provided in the university's own dining hall, which offered a selection of different dishes every day. If that wasn't enough, there were various fast food spots on campus to choose from.

Adrian himself joined the San Francisco State Gators rugby team, one of his good decisions – tough training but an incredible sense of community and team spirit. Highly recommended for experiencing the full college experience and college community feeling.

Leisure and travel

There was also an incredible amount to discover off campus. During Welcome Week, all international students were invited to take part in a trip to Pier 39 in small groups, followed by a boat trip around the notorious Alcatraz prison to the Golden Gate Bridge. Discovering other parts of America was also on Adrian's bucket list, of course. During his semester abroad, he took trips to Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Lake Tahoe.

But Adrian's highlights were definitely the college football and NFL games – he found the atmosphere in Berkeley at the California Golden Bears to be incredible. The whole city was caught up in football fever, the streets were flooded with blue and yellow, and people were celebrating everywhere. Adrian recounts enthusiastically: “The closer we got to the stadium, the more exuberant the atmosphere became. When we walked past the first fraternity houses, we thought we were in a movie.”

Not only is it worth discovering large parts of America, but attending a college football game is definitely an experience worth having, even if you're not a football fan.

Challenges and lessons learned

Spending months in a foreign country presented a number of challenges. Things we take for granted, such as internet on our cell phones, shopping, and public transportation, were not so easy at first. Not only did our independence grow with the challenges, but our self-confidence also grew when we had to fend for ourselves for a long time and solve problems on our own, Adrian reports.

A few tips to make getting started and campus life easier:

• Set up e-SIM on your cell phone
• Connect with other students quickly
• Use public transportation with your student ID
• Buy a meal card for the dining hall (high food costs)
• Book Uber One as a student (50 percent discount)
• Join a sports program or community
• Plan trips with other international students

Conclusion

Adrian highly recommends a semester abroad at San Francisco State University to all students who want to experience the American Dream for themselves. In addition to the great sense of community on campus, the numerous unforgettable experiences, and the many new friendships, San Francisco is a beautiful, comparatively quiet city with an incredible amount to discover.

“I've taken San Francisco into my heart. The atmosphere, the new friends, and all the experiences – it's been an unforgettable experience,” Adrian concludes.

Links:

• Markting & Communication Management | ft
• San Francisco State University | Partner university