Paul's Tip of the Week: Domestic Exchange

Have you ever thought about studying at a different school or college? Want a new experience and new opportunities that you just cannot get at UMass? Don't really want to leave the country to do all this? Domestic Exchange could be a great fit for you. One of the many perks of going to UMass Amherst is our Domestic Exchange program where a student can study at another college/university in the country for a semester or a year. With over 180 universities and colleges in 48 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, you really get an opportunity to explore a new place, culture, and education.

While I personally have never experienced what it's like on Domestic Exchange, I have several friends who have gone to schools around the country, each one of them loving the unique experiences they had. One friend of mine, Mike Smith, spent his entire sophomore year at Montana State University. When asked to reflect on the experience, he explained why domestic exchange was perfect for him:

I might have unique motives compared to the rest of the UMass student body. At MSU I was able to ski every month of the year, and mountain bike nearly every day in the spring and summer. MSU is near some world class ice and rock climbing too. Really, Western Mass just doesn't have big enough hills. And while studying abroad would have been great, I was able to drive myself, two bikes, and some skis to MSU. that wouldn't have been realistic if I were to have studied abroad.

His advice to students thinking about domestic exchange:

My only advice is to just do it. Experiencing another culture and lifestyle was awesome. It's wild how different the culture in Montana is, you don't need to go to a different country to get a different aspect of life.

Now that's just Mike's experience. What do you want to experience? Start planning your Domestic Exchange today!

Check out the Domestic Exchange Website:
http://ualc.umass.edu/domestic_exchange/
AND
attend an info session in 613 Goodell Wednesdays at 4:45 and Thursdays/Fridays at 2:30 to learn more. You cannot apply until you attend one of these info sessions.