169 reviews
3.95 / 5 based on 169 reviews
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Floriane D
Overall
I wish I had known...
You have to keep in mind that Troy is very small, without nightlife. At night, it can be unsafe. But cost of life is cheap for US and the location is perfect. Almost every week end I went out : NYC, Boston, Montréal, Niagara falls, Washington, New England ..
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
If you choose this university, stay off campus, meet other exchange, go to the frat parties, travel during the week end and choose quite easy courses ;)
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
For travel, don't forget your driver license it's REALLY important ! If you want to go somewhere else that NYC, you need to rent a car (there is the enterprise company in Troy). For cheap accommodations, I used Airbnb. Choose courses to don't work on Friday afternoon, you will have more time to travel !
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Floriane D
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
Cheaper, opportunities to live with roommates, so you can really feel the exchange program experience.
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Personal comments
Very happy to have the opportunity to live off campus with foreign students. Hard to find. just ask to former exchange to have the name of landlords in Troy.
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Floriane D
Student life
Describe host city:
Student life dominates the city
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Activities, Nightlife: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Parties are all organized by frat. If you are a girl, it's ok you can go everywhere. If you are a boy, you have to know someone in the frat to go. Sometimes it's really annoying. Exchanges, also, meet at the bar on Tuesday night it's cool. But this semester, exchange students stayed by small group so it was a bit disappointing.
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Floriane D
Languages
Language of instruction: English
Was learning English a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my English
How much did you improve your English?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
In class, I didn't speak too much. I was quite shy and even if involvement in class is part of the education in US, professors are not going to force you to speak. But I spoke a lot outside, with my roommates or exchange students. It was difficult because french people are not as good as danish or Finnish people so sometimes I was a bit ashamed to don't understand. But after, you can understand more and more, even americans who speak very fast. When I spoke I made a lot of mistakes because I wanted to answer fast but overall everybody could understand me ... I hope so ! ^^
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Floriane D
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work
Personal spending habits
Food: around $150 per month
Telephone: SMS, calls and 3G = $45 per month
Housing off campus: $550
Nightlife: in frat parties, you pay NOTHING
Travel: $300 per week-end
Cheap accommodations far away the city center ($50 per night just for a room), bike for transportation in the city rather than subway, walk in the city rather than paying the museum, cheap restaurants ...
To travel you can use the bus for NYC ($25 one way) or rent a car for any other destinations ($100 per day if you are under 25)
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Telephone, Travel, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Food, Housing:
was the same price as at home.
Nightlife:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Cost-saving tips: LIVE OFF CAMPUS. It's better, you have more space and you have the opportunity to live with other exchanges or even americans. You save $500 per month !
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Floriane D
Academic
Course recommendations
I chose marketing undergraduate courses. I had work to do but it was really ok and easy to pass. But my roommate chose finance graduate courses. He spent all these days working and tests were very hard. So really think about that before and maybe ask for recommandations. Differences between courses are huge.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
Personally, I was really happy about my courses : interesting, different way to learn, some work but totally acceptable.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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