The University of West Florida is in the town of Pensacola, which is a rather small town in the Panhandle. Once the international students arrive, there is a 2-day orientation, where teacher and students from the University tell the internationals everything important to know.
From the university to downtown it’s about 25 minutes by car. The really nice Pensacola Beach is a 35 minutes’ drive from campus, but definitely wort it. The city is in a good location for road trips across states, New Orleans, LA is only a couple hours driving, as well as Atlanta, GA or Orlando, FL. But most of the time here you will spend on campus, since there is a lot of activities and things to do. The university has a fully equipped gym, a pool, tennis courts and much more fun things to do.
The preparations for the semester aboard begin approx. 1/2 year before the classes start. You should find out on the website of the International office of your home university about the terms for the application. There are requirements, which take more time in advance like the TOEFL‐Test, where students need to reach a minimum of point to attend UWF.
Another important point is the American VISA, which can be a hustle to gather all the needed information like transcripts and immunization. Here it is important as well to start early, since you will need an appointment at an American embassy in your home country. At the embassy, you must have an interview with an official, who will evaluate your documents and if you’re eligible for a student visa. The official asks primarily only where you go and how you want to finance it (scholarship, parents etc.). Another important part is the insurance, which you can directly purchase from the UWF.
Before your arrival you have to apply for student housing, which is expensive compared to Europe, but also a great experience since you will share an apartment with regular American students. Important to know is that there are strict rules from the University when living on campus like no hard liquor or no smoking. So, living off-campus is worth a thought. You can find rooms or houses for rent and share it with other international students. I would advise you to get a Florida drivers license, so you don’t have to carry your passport around with you at all times. Moreover, it makes sense to get an American bank account for that time, where you can transfer money from your home country.
In regard of choosing classes, it is necessary to align the classes with the course manual from the home institution to make your credit count. You should be in touch with the board of examination to find out which classes you can attend and that you don’t have a bad surprise in the end. You have to register yourself online on the UWF website and coordinate the classes and times.
The class loads differ from home and you have to get used to a lot of homework, reading, tests and assignments. There is not a lot of actual contact hours, but a lot of self-study time.
Overall, I am very glad that I got to make this experience and got to know a different University and the life on campus. I met many new interesting people I will keep in touch with! This experience gives you another outlook on life and makes you proud after mastering all the challenges of living in a different country.
If you’re interested in a semester abroad check out the UWF website for more information: https://uwf.edu/graduate/apply/international-students/
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