<p>I'm an Australian high school student (going to start seinor year in 2 months) and at the university i plan on going to (University of Western Australia) there is an exchange program set up with numerous universities, including all of the university of cal, the uni of vermont, penn state uni, uni of michigan and a few more. (the exchange program is easy to get into)</p>
<pre><code>I've been researching alot and am very interested in attending berkeley but i thought it would be good to get a few more opinion's - not just on berkeley but the rest of the uni's. I would be really gratful if anyone here could give me some advice on a city/uni to go to to have a great time and experience as well as earn credit towards my degree and a reseptable reference on my cv.
it would be really great if anyone here has met someone who went on exchange and could share their expereience or even if your just at one of these uni's and could give me an insight into your experience in that city/town.
i'm not quite sure what i would study as of yet but im leaning towards something like a law/environmental science degree (you have to do a double degree with law at uwa).
also i could come for a year or just a semester im leaning towards a year, any thoughts? The only cost i would have to pay is the accomadaiton because it is set up that we just pay our uwa fee's so tuition is not a factor.
all opinions/insights/expertise are extremley welcome
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<p>i know someone who's a junior and an exchange student from australia. he seems to like it.
looking at the choices you have though, UC berkeley would be the best weather; michigan, vermont, and penn all have really cold winters, which you may not be used to.<br>
But speaking from berkeley, you'd have just a good a time here as anywhere, and it's definately got the name recognition. Also the weather's great and so's the social life.
Be wary though, australia definately has a more enlightened drinking policy, you all are lucky and the drinking age is 18, in this backward country its 21, so there's more binge drinking, and the cops are (insert expletive here).
good luck.</p>
<p>thanks!
when your at berkeley do you get many oppertunities to go into SF, or is it more self contained? and how long does it take to get there?</p>
<p>it takes....about half an hour to get to the city. people go often, it costs upwards of 6-7 dollars round trip. But there's plenty to do in berkeley and the east bay as well, and you can take the bus (which is free for cal students). SF is fun, can be expensive though.
actually, you can take a bus to the city, which is free, but it takes much longer. the BART can get you all around the bay area.
Most people stick around berkeley on the weekends though, there's plenty to do.</p>
<p>ok, on a different note, how is the sport there at berkeley aside from footabll? like feild hockey and basketball do they have social teams that i could play in or is it all varsity? if it is are those varsity teams a really high standard?</p>
<p>varsity athletics are division IA, athletes are recruited by teams and given scholarships. you could try and walk on, but its tough, and it takes a lot of time.</p>
<p>but for less popular sports there are club teams and intramurals. they are less competitive, there's soccer intramurals and club teams. there's also flag football, and a nationally ranked rugby club team. its all competitive, but if you want to play a sport, there's a bunch on the intramural leagues, where anyone can play. look it up on berkeley.edu</p>
<p>thanks, can i also ask, is their anywhere sort of nearby that in winter you could go skiing (during a break) do students do that? or is their not much time for that?</p>
<p>lake tahoe,....and mamoth, i'm sure u can go with friends or find some sort of program...there's a snowboarding club that does that sort of stuff. it's california man....the greatest place on earth....you can do anythign, anytime...with anyone....</p>
<p>sounds pretty good! yeh berkeley has definatley been my favourate option but on my uni's website it said that housing is really hard to get there, if i didnt get any housing would it be horrible to live off campus? its it much more expensive?</p>
<p>off campus is probably cheaper than on campus. you could board in a frat, or get an apt, or live in a co-op, there's lots of options. dorms are a drag because there are so many rules and you feel a bit restricted and what not, but they're more convenient</p>
<p>do you know if they came for the year or the semester? i think i want to do a full year so i can travell in the breaks. how long are the summer/winter holidays?</p>