By Queen Mary Economics student, and Turing Scheme grant recipient, Paulina.

My time at UC Berkeley was full of great experiences and amazing people. I was lucky to receive an offer for university accommodation – however, that is not guaranteed for exchange students and depends on availability. The process of finding housing in Berkeley can be extremely challenging, so I recommend that you start as soon as possible. California is an expensive place to live and the Turing Scheme was a massive help. My trip home during the winter break would not have been possible without the grant. However, if you are looking for some extra money, there are plenty of opportunities to work on campus for up to 20 hours a week. I quickly found a job as a Food Service Worker at university dining halls and after one semester I got promoted to a Crew Leader. I loved my job as it allowed me to develop my communication and leadership skills, and helped me save some money because I got a free meal for every shift worked. Moreover, the schedule was flexible and it did not conflict with my classes and exams. Finally, I worked with people from all around the world and greatly improved my Spanish.

When it comes to my academic experience, I would definitely recommend the PE classes. I took Salsa 1 and Salsa 2 which were led by the International Latin Dance Champion. it was a great way to relieve stress and meet fantastic friends. If you are looking for a class that will enhance your critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills, I would strongly advise you to check out courses from Berkeley Changemaker. Finally, the course that both challenged and gave me the most was Theory and Practice of Public Speech and I would recommend it to all of you regardless of your major.

In terms of social life and meeting new friends, the Golden Bears Orientation during the first week is a great way to start off your experience at UC Berkeley. Moreover, during the semester there are multiple events for exchange students such as hikes or museum visits. Lastly, if you want to try water sports in the Bay, I  recommend you check out the Cal Adventures website. I took classes in sea kayaking and paddle-boarding and I loved them both!