Field of study in Wageningen: Bachelor Food Technology (BFT)
Study period exchange: 03/01/2024 – 26/04/2024
Country (exchange): USA
City (exchange): East Lansing, Michigan
University (exchange): Michigan State University
Faculty (exchange): Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE)
2. Motivation for exchange
Why did you choose to go on study exchange?
I really wanted to experience a new culture and meet more people from different countries. Thereby, I wanted to challenge myself to live in a new environment on my own and see how I would handle the challenges while being abroad.
What is the reason you chose for this country?
Since I was little I was always watching videos of people at American universities decorating their dorm rooms and showing the campus they were on. This inspired me to one day also live in the dorms, so that’s why I wanted to go to the United States.
What is the reason you chose for this university?
From the universities that were available in the United States this one had courses that seemed the most interesting to me and when I did some more research on the atmosphere it also looked really fun.
3. Accessibility to reach destination
Do you have any advice about reaching your exchange destination?
Prepare well with all the right documents and pay careful attention to the process of applying for a Visa.
4. University and studying
Could you provide some general information about the followed courses?
I had sufficient possibilities to select suitable courses that were taught in English:
Yes, all the courses were taught in English.
I had sufficient possibilities to select suitable courses in my field of interest:
Yes, even though quite some were ruled out I still managed to find more than enough possibilities. Thereby, I heard from friends that in the first weeks they talked with a lot of professors and managed to get into courses that were denied at first, so as soon as you arrive they are likely to be more flexible.
I am satisfied with the level of the courses that I followed:
Yes, even though the general level of courses is lower in the United States, I still had enough of a challenge as I chose courses not really in my field of study so the level suited me.
I am satisfied, in the end, with the selection of courses I followed:
Yes, I enjoyed most of them and learned a lot.
What is it like to study there?
For me it was a bit more similar to high school, your classes are only 80 minutes and lecturers often finish early. However, you have multiple assignments due for all your courses every week and because of that your finals count way less than I was used to. Most of my quizzes and exams were online, open-book and without any monitoring.
What is the culture of the university?
The lecturers were super approachable, you can always talk to them after class and they have designated office hours were you can ask them for advice on your classes and the materials. I found that the local students were a bit harder to reach, the most friends I made were also exchange students. You are not in class often and people are not really interested in talking during that time, the best way to meet them is to join clubs and be really active there. All in all my biggest tip is join the clubs and invest time in them, they have over 1000 different clubs so there is something for everyone and it is not obligatory every week but I think if you are really active there it is a good way to make friends. Normally you also have your roommate from the dorms, but I did not have one so I cannot talk about that.
What does the university offer students additionally?
Everything you could possibly need is available on campus, if you live in the dorms there are laundry rooms and gyms in most buildings there is also additional separate sports buildings and in every “neighborhood” there is at least one dining hall and every building has a little supermarket where you can get snacks in exchange for combo points you get every week.
5. Housing-traveling-living
What are the possibilities for housing?
I would really recommend to live in the dorms on campus, when you sign up for this you are immediately in a community and have access to a big amount of resources.
What is the culture like?
The dining halls do not offer the best food of the world, but for the fact that it is a dining hall it was actually quite okay. I did not really experience a culture shock to be honest, everything was quite similar to back home. The only thing is that the campus is super big so I walked a lot every day.
Could you give some information about public transport infrastructure?
On campus there are free buses, but I never took them I walked everywhere. There is also the possibility to rent a bike for a certain amount of time, there was quite a lot of people biking around campus. From the airport I would recommend taking a lyft because American public transport is not great, this is a bit expensive but the only reasonable way to get there except for the Michigan flyer. This is a bus you have to reserve beforehand.
6. Expenses
Can you give an indication of your expenses for/during your exchange?
The price levels were in general [higher; lower; equal] in comparison to in the Netherlands:
It is hard to compare as you pay for housing and groceries at the beginning of the semester, so after everything you eat kind of feels free, but the times I was in an actual grocery store the prices were quite similar a little higher I would say.
7. Free time
What are must-sees in the area?
The upper peninsula is really pretty with a lot of nature, but besides that Michigan is not the most interesting state. The exchange team of MSU always organises some trips so I would recommend those. Besides that I travelled to Toronto and Chicago and for Spring Break I went to Florida.
8. Challenges & best moment abroad
Any challenges? How did you deal with them?
Sometimes I struggled with the time difference and the loss of contact with my friends back home but just send them a message and schedule a call and it’ll be fine.
Best memory?
Difficult question, I have a lot of good memories but the best one would probably be the graduation ceremony the exchange team organised where we were together with all the exchange students and had a little party after.
8. Contact Details
Would you like to ask Annefleur more questions about her exchange?
Send her a mail: annefleur.kooi@wur.nl
