[ Personal Accounts of Exchanges ]
Will Atkins's account of his excnage to Monterey Bay in California.
I think that the NSE is great because the places you can go are pretty much endless. I went to California State University, Northridge. The college was about thirty minutes from Hollywood and thirty minutes from Los Angeles. California State University, Northridge is one of the places that a lot of movies are filmed so while I was there I got to see Bruce Willis and Lindsey Lohan were at the college two months before I got there. While I was there the college hosted many things and I went many places. I was 5 hours from Los Vegas so I went to Vegas, Hollywood, Disneyland, Hearst Castle, Venice Beach, and the famous piers. I also got to see the Broadway show WICKED. It was very cool just having the opportunity to get away from Arkansas for 5 months and go any place that I wanted to. I made lots of friends from California, and I got close to many of the people on the NSE from different colleges. I would say that California is a great place and I did not have enough time to see everything but what I saw was awesome and I had an unbelievable time.
Catherine Bahn's account of her exchange to Western State College.
Last semester I attended a small state college located in Gunnison, Colorado – where the elevation registers higher than the population. Western State College sits tucked away in an arid valley surrounded by miles of mountains. In Gunnison, the local Wal-Mart closes at 9:30pm. Gunnison has no movie theater. And everything lies within walking distance -- even church. Most students there share the same major: recreation. And most actually enjoy the negative 35-degree weather Gunnison records in wintry months. Gunnison's surroundings provide unmatchable hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, and remarkable scenery. For me, NSE provided an opportunity to experience things that the South does not graciously offer… all while others made fun of me for saying "y'all". I lived only a few minutes from amazing rock climbing. 20 minutes from the Blue Mesa Reservoir -- where brave souls jumped off 80 ft. cliffs into the freezing, crystal blue water below. I hiked into the Black Canyon. I floated the peaceful Gunnison River. But more importantly, on the slopes of Monarch, in 10-degree weather, I learned to ski… in a snowstorm. Most say Jonesboro seems small. Venture someplace smaller – and then kick back and watch your impressions dissolve. The NSE program encouraged me to appreciate the little things more and made the unknown easier to explore.
Previous years
The inaugural year of the National Student Exchange at Arkansas State University has seen three of our students placed at universities for a one-year exchange. Undoubtedly, the experiences these students have will make an impact not only on their studies at ASU, but will continue throughout their lives. Those of us working for the NSE at ASU look forward to providing opportunities for more of our students in the coming year.
If you would like to be a part of the rich experience that these students have known, contact us at the coordinator’s office, located in the Honors Program (LIB 103). What are the requirements? If you have at least a 2.5 GPA and have completed most of your freshman year, you’re eligible. The NSE offers more than 170 colleges and universities throughout America, the U.S. Territories, and Canada. You can go as close as the University of Memphis or as far as Guam.
We’ll be pleased to add your name here in a growing list of ASU students who have “experienced their education”: the NSE means cultural experience, learning opportunities, personal growth, and a lifetime of memories.
Kristin Walker's account of her exchange to the Boston area
This year my sister and I decided to go to Bridgewater State College in
Massachusetts thanks to the National Student Exchange program. It has
been an experience that I will treasure forever. After living in Arkansas
all of my life I decided it was time to try living somewhere else. For
some
strange reason I've always had a fascination with Boston and decided to
find the closest school to this awesome city. BSC was a great choice because
there is a commuter rail that runs directly from Bridgewater into South
Station in Boston. Lauren and I usually go into the city once a week except
when the weather makes it impossible. It has very interesting to note
the
differences in our Southern culture compared to those in New England.
Not only have I been ridiculed for my southern accent but I have noticed
that some of our invented words, such as ya'll aren't near as repulsive
as some in their vocabulary, such as, "idears" and "drawr."
It has also been interesting to go to school in a small town but also
have the balance of a big city nearby. I've so enjoyed touring the city
and sightseeing and I know for a fact that I will miss this wonderful
city, but this experience has also helped me to appreciate the things
about Arkansas that I took for granted before. First of all, I never appreciated
our climate as much as I should have. I have managed the low temperatures
very well, or so I'd like to think, but I can't comprehend how anyone
could live in such an environment all of their lives. Bridgewater State
College offers a variety of different activities, programs, and clubs
to get involved in and I have
found these to be very vital in getting a well rounded feel on life in
this part of the country.
I recommend the NSE program to every student! I wouldn't trade the memories/experience for anything!
NSE Students enjoying exchange for the 2001-2002 school year:
To learn about a particular NSE school from the student’s viewpoint, go to the following NSE databank. Enter the college or university you may be considering, and see what others have said about their experiences, their recommendations, and other helpful information they may offer in helping you to decide which school will be your NSE destination.
http://www.oip.lsu.edu/apa/NSE/int/nse_wcdb_search.asp
The NSE at ASU—Experience Your Education!
Credits transfer; Pay tuition to ASU or at the in-state cost at the college
of your choice