Study abroad in the USA

Westcliff University

Dream of Studying in the USA

I have always dreamed of studying in the USA. You get to see so much in movies about American college life and how different it is from the European college experience. I was also fascinated by the country itself when I traveled there with my family. That's why it was already clear to me years before that studying abroad would be something I would absolutely love to do. Finally, I fulfilled my dream and studied at Westcliff University in Irvine. Moving so far away from home is of course scary, but I can already say that I am very happy that I didn't let that stop me and that I took this step.

Teaching System at Westcliff University

The teaching system at Westcliff is completely different than in Germany. There are no overcrowded lecture halls with 500 students, but rather you sit in a room with 30 of your peers. You know the professors personally and they are always open for questions. In addition, participation in class is required and you have to make several submissions, which means that the exams do not make up 100% of the grade. This system suited me very well, and I especially liked the fact that everything is a bit more personal. All the courses I took were hands-on and practice-based, which I loved. You get to know what the real-life business world is going to be, rather than only theoretical teaching. And the great fact about the grading system is also, that you are studying throughout your term, instead of having to learn everything again in the final two weeks before the exam. Improving the English is of course very useful, and the best way to learn is to live in the country itself. Since there are many large companies in California and especially in Irvine, I was able to learn a lot in my business studies. Furthermore, it was great to meet many people from all over the world. For example, good friends of mine were French, Brazilian and Japanese. I am still in touch with many of them.

Experiences in Irvine, California

California and Irvine itself are an absolute dream. The weather is perfect all year round. You can be at different beautiful beaches in about 20 minutes. Furthermore, you are very close to famous and impressive cities like Los Angeles and San Diego. If you have a little more time, San Francisco and Las Vegas are also realistically within reach. Life in Irvine and the Californian lifestyle are just fantastic. There are palm trees everywhere, the sun is always shining, the sky is blue, and you can lie on the beach any time. The weather and the opportunities in Orange County are just great - there is always something to do for everyone! I already miss living the California lifestyle!

Sports Opportunities in Irvine

For those who are sports enthusiasts, Irvine is also the perfect city. There are endless public places where you can play all kinds of sports. I played a lot of tennis, soccer and went to the gym. And if you want to watch college sports, the Warriors from Westcliff University have great teams and it’s always fun to watch and cheer them on. A typical American college experience! All in all, my studies at Westcliff University were an absolute dream and so far, the best time of my life. It was the perfect combination of continuing education, sports, and free time. The most important thing was that I was able to experience all these aspects together with incredibly great people from all over the world. This is a time of my life I will never forget.

Concluding Thoughts

I really enjoyed my time at Westcliff University. It was an incredible experience that brought me not only academic but also personal growth. The decision to go abroad and study at a prestigious university like Westcliff was definitely one of the best decisions of my life.