Exchange Report University of Southern California, Usa

EXCHANGE REPORT

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA

MARSHALL BUSINESS SCHOOL

ISABELLE CHAN

GLOBAL BUSINESS, INFORMATION SYSTEM

FALL 2018

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1 – Monthly activity log ………………………..….P. 3-5 Part 2 – General exchange information ………. .………P. 6-8 Part 3 – Items to bring …………………………………..P. 9 Part 4 – Useful links and contacts ………………………P. 10

2 PART 1 – MONTHLY ACTIVITY LOG

I arrived LA on the 10th of August with my family. I moved into my dorm on the 16th of August (which was also the earliest day that you could move-in so make sure you check the dates beforehand!) You can basically buy everything in Target (e.g. pillows, kitchenware, napkins etc.) However, since it was the beginning of the school year, the on-campus Target was super crowded, and most things were out of stock. Therefore, I recommend you to go to another Target in downtown LA (FiGat7th). LA weather is always nice and sunny, but you should still bring an umbrella (just in case). Back-to-school events are great ways to meet new friends and experience the whole US-college culture! But always stay safe and sensible!

SEPTEMBER 2018 Universal Studio | Citadel Outlets | Korea Town | The Grove | Vegetarian Food Fest

Classes “officially began” (the first 2 classes were mainly students and professors introducing themselves, talking about class rules and the syllabus). The learning vibe in USC was different from HKUST’s as people were more active in class. Classes were also extremely interactive so don't be afraid to ask questions. If you are a vegetarian/ fan of a green/organic diet, you should visit the Vegetarian Food Fest. There were many free food samples with exciting products that you would not have imagined. I also went to the Universal Studio with my friends because we got discounted tickets for the Halloween Horror Nights in the USC tickets office. Citadel Outlets was a great place to shop. I went there 3 times throughout the whole semester. I also joined a dance club – Illionaire and made it to the team (Audition and contract-signing required). They usually practice three times per week).

3 OCTOBER 2018 Halloween parties | Mexico | APASA Night Market | Football Game | DJ Snake Concert

Midterms started to kick in, so everyone was busy studying. I travelled out of the country for the first time and went to Tijuana (Mexico) with 3 friends. Be sure to bring your DS-2019 whenever you travel out of the country because you need it to re-enter the USA. USC has on- campus events from time-to-time with free food and performances so make sure to check them out. The football game is one of the most significant events in the year. All exchange students got one free football game ticket. I went to both the tailgates and after-parties too. Students usually wear red, gold or USC t-shirts to the game (USC has a powerful school spirit! Especially during football season). You should also keep a close eye to USC’s events and its discounted promotions on Facebook because they are usually first-come-first-serve and that is how you know about the upcoming events. (That was how I got my tickets to DJ Snake’s concert and Halloween parties.)

This is the month where I travelled the most because of Thanksgiving holiday and the end of midterms. I went to Las Vegas by shuttle bus and visited Grand Canyon. Shuttle bus is a cheaper option if you wish to travel around the west coast (e.g. Greyhound, Flixbus). My friends and I celebrated Thanksgiving (In this case, “Friendsgiving”) in the dormitory. Since we all from different places, the local students prepared some traditional dishes while other exchange students prepared some exotic dishes from their hometowns. I also went to San Francisco during Black Friday. We went to the Premium Outlets. But I would suggest you go early because all the good stuff would be gone if you go too late (People usually arrive before 9:00am). We also went to Disneyland as the Christmas decorations were already up by the end of November.

Exams and projects deadlines were tight, but I still managed to strike a balance between studying and enjoying my last month of exchange. Right after our exams, my friends and I visited some touristy places in LA (e.g. museums and beaches). In downtown LA, there are also different events going on (as Christmas was right around the corner). We went ice-skating in LA Live. I also participated in a street performance with my dance team in Santa Monica! It was my last performance with the team, and I truly enjoyed all the practises and performances! The director of the exchange program also hosted a farewell dinner. I then visited the East Coast before I headed back to Hong Kong. I went to New York and D.C. Washington. It was cloudy and rainy. Do remember to bring some winter clothes if you plan to visit the East coast or Canada etc. because the temperature is much colder.

5 PART 2 – GENERAL EXCHANGE INFORMATION Visa Procedures The exchange program director would send you all the information you need to know and remind you constantly. To receive the visa documents from USC, you need first to prepare your transcript, CV, a copy of transport and proof of English proficiency (only TOEFL iBT or IELTS are accepted). And lastly, with your proof of funds. When you receive the documents, you will need to make an appointment with the US Consulate to apply for a J-1Visa. It typically takes 2-3 weeks for the visa process. Summer tends to be a busy season for the US consulate, so having everything prepared in advance can serve to be useful. You should be applying for the J-1 Visa. Your visa will be valid for the length of the program of study with 30 days of grace period before and after the program. Please beware that if you arrive before the 30 day grace period, you will enter the US as a tourist and will need to leave and re-enter to validate your visa before you can attend classes. So unless you plan on doing a lot of travelling back and forth, please arrange to arrive within the specified period. Orientation Activities The Exchange Orientation is mandatory for ALL students, and Passport Verification is compulsory for those on the J-1 visa – so US citizens do not need to attend this portion. You would get know other exchange students from other countries. There is also another orientation for business students. Since it is an orientation event for all new incoming business students, so you would meet not only business students in the exchange program but also freshmen and transfer students. It is not mandatory, but I highly recommend you all to join because I did meet some local business students and ended up doing group projects with them. International Services & Activities If you have any questions, you could seek help by emailing the exchange program director or seeking help in person (the office is in Marshall). Accommodations I stayed in Troy Hall (part of the Troy Complex). It is next to the USC village, so it only takes a 2-min walk to Trader Joes and Target and a 15-min walk to the Marshall. I stayed in a 2- people. My roommate and I shared one bedroom and one bathroom. We have our own living room and kitchen. You could rent a TV if you wish to. There are quiet hours in Troy Hall, so you don't have to worry too much about your quality of sleep. Course Registration You will receive instructions from the exchange program department. Everything should be pretty straightforward. However, if you wish to take a language course, you should first email the language department and seek for their approval (they might need you to take a quiz). Same as HKUST, you can make changes to your courses during the add/drop period. But after that, you are now allowed to make any further changes. Teaching & Assessment Methods I would say the biggest difference between HKUST and USC is the way they assess you. Take my major – Information System as an example. We do have quizzes, homework and exams

6 too, but they focus a lot more on application and projects rather than memorisation. Classes are extremely interactive so don't be afraid to ask questions and try to be active too.

Sports & Recreation Facilities There is a gym room in Troy hall, and it was usually empty, and I loved it. However, I have also been to two other gym rooms, one in the Lyon Centre and the other one in the USC Village. They were usually more crowded, but they also had better equipment.

Finance & Banking I opened my bank account in USC Credit Union. You just need to deposit USD10 when you first opened your bank account, and you can get your debit card right after you register in their office. I highly encourage anyone going to USC or USA, in general, to get a debit/ credit card because people rarely use cash there. However, if you wish to get cash, you can go to Target or Trader Joes to get cash (most convenient for me).

Social Clubs & Networking Opportunities There are plenty of societies and clubs in USC including sports teams, career clubs, frats and sororities etc. You could know more about them in the involvement fairs (at the beginning of the semester). Since I wish to experience the USC culture fully, I have joint different clubs and societies, such as HKSA (Hong Kong Student Association), CASA (Chinese American Student Association) and Illionaire (dance team). I also participated in events organised by KCM (Korean-American Campus Missions), KASA (Korean American Student Association) and SoulCal (dance team). Might sound overwhelming but I have made many great friends through these clubs. So be sure to stay active in those clubs and societies!

Health & Safety There is a hospital on campus, and you need to get your shots upon arrival (if you have not fulfilled their requirement). All exchange students are required to purchase health insurance. It would cover most expenses in the Engemann Student Health Center, including your shots. You would receive reports from the DPS through email whenever there are any incidents, warnings or reminders. Avoid walking home alone and make good use of the free Lyft service at 7pm-2am.

Food If you are a vegan/ vegetarian, then you are in luck! If you are interested in organic food or healthy diet, you are going to enjoy the food in USC as they provide many healthy and vegetarian options. Most of the food is also highly customizable. Food is absolutely one of my favourite things about USC. To recommend some restaurants, I would say CAVA (Mediterranean cuisine), Sunlife Organic (smoothies and açai bowls) and Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop (health food restaurant). But if you wish to cook yourself, there are still plenty of options in Target and Trader Joes.

Transportation Throughout my exchange, I mostly travelled by Lyft because it is free between 7am – 2am (only within a certain distance from USC). I have also travelled by bus and metro a few times. You can buy the metro card at the metro station.

Climate The weather in LA is always nice. It is always sunny, and it rarely rains so be sure always to stay hydrated. However, starting from mid-October, the temperature would decrease, and it gets pretty cold when the sun goes down so always remember to bring a coat if you know you are going to be outdoors at night.

Communication Regarding telecommunication network providers, there are several options such as AT&T, Verizon and T-mobile. I got a T-mobile family plan with my friends. You should download the app so it would be most convenient for your monthly payment. (The app is only available in the US app store).

Cautionary Measures Since LA is a sketchy place in general, you should not go out alone, especially at night. If some strangers try to approach you for money or just talking to you, avoid eye contact and just walk away. (I once accidentally had eye-contact with a homeless man, and he followed my friends and me until we went into a restaurant.)

8 PART 3 – ITEMS TO BRING

CHECKLIST 1 Adapter

2 Charger

3 Medicine

4 Laptop

5 Water bottle

6 Some cash

7 Power bank

8 Business suits

9 Passport, DS-2019 form

10 Swimsuits

11 Winter clothes (it gets cold at night and you might travel to colder places)

9 PART 4 – USEFUL LINKS AND CONTACTS

USC Department of Public Safety +1 213-740-6000

If more information is needed, get my contact from SBM Exchange Team by emailing at [email protected].