Thinking of a exchange year

IVIaster · November 4th, 2009, 7:12 PM

So Im now in my third year studing Mechanical Engineering, majoring in Automotive Engineering and im thinking its a good to time to have a half/full year studying abroad.

I have decided on either US or Germany and the choices my university provides are the following:

US
Iowa State University
Michigan Technological University
University of Virginia
University of Toledo
North Carolina State University

GE
Technische Hochschule Aachen
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Technische Universität Ilmenau
Technische Universität München
Universität Stuttgart

If anybody of you are studying in these or just know about them Id would like to know if they are particularry accomplished in the field of automotive or mechanical engineering. Plus any other useful and/or fun information how they are like or if you just want to promote your alma mater.

Planning on going next year or the one after that.

argatoga · November 4th, 2009, 7:15 PM

Things in the US will be cheaper. Though I'd suspect the most important factor would be your language fluency. Is your German better than your English or vice versa?

katwalk · November 4th, 2009, 7:17 PM

^ well if they can write that post they are more fluent in english than most of america is in any other language

thevictor390 · November 4th, 2009, 7:20 PM

^ Case in point: "they" used to refer to a singular person

argatoga · November 4th, 2009, 7:21 PM

Reading and listening though are two different beasts. I can read Latin, but listening to it and understanding it is much harder.

flydiscovery · November 4th, 2009, 7:23 PM

Are you POSITIVE your program will accept credits from an exchange year, especially so far along in your degree? It's extremely rare for any American engineering program to accept transfer credits for degree classes. You can only bring in electives from other schools.

If you're coming all the way to the great US of A, what are you doing looking at so many places with weather WORSE than Finland! UVA and NC State are the warmest places listed. Hit the beach man, although both UVA and NC State are probably only 3-5 hour drives from the coast and will have mild winters. Michigan though? Holy nasty ice and wind, ALL winter. That's no fun. Ohio and Iowa will be the most boring places you've ever been in your entire life.

jeffy777 · November 4th, 2009, 7:30 PM

My brother is a student to Michigan Tech. It's a nice area in the summer. It's right on Lake Superior which is beautiful, though it also means they get a ton of snow in the winter, but you should be used to that since you're from Finland. There are a lot of Finnish families in that part of Michigan. My dad is 100% Finnish and both sides of his families live in that area. There is actually a college in the same town called "Finlandia University.

I'll have to ask my brother what if he knows about their automotive or mechanical engineering.

Dr_Grip · November 4th, 2009, 7:35 PM

Aachen, Darmstadt and Ilmenau are rather small towns where hardly anything ever happens. I don't know if this might count into your descision, but it might be good to know.

Aachen, on the other hand, is close to Holland. So if you have a fondness for certain smokeable products that are legal in Holland, that might be a factor, too.

flydiscovery · November 4th, 2009, 7:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Grip

Aachen, Darmstadt and Ilmenau are rather small towns where hardly anything ever happens. I don't know if this might count into your descision, but it might be good to know.

Aachen, on the other hand, is close to Holland. So if you have a fondness for certain smokeable products that are legal in Holland, that might be a factor, too.

His school must really have a thing for small towns because all the US universities are in tiny places too. REALLY tiny towns, where most of the population is made up of students.

Ladamaha · November 4th, 2009, 7:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flydiscovery

His school must really have a thing for small towns because all the US universities are in tiny places too. REALLY tiny towns, where most of the population is made up of students.

Find me a large town in Finland.

And it says not a dude? Can't be...

flydiscovery · November 4th, 2009, 8:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladamaha

Find me a large town in Finland.

Never been, but I'll take your word for it. I'm just amused that Raleigh, NC is the most "happening city" up there. Now UVA is in Charlottesville, which is a GREAT college town though, just very small. Beautiful, but small.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladamaha

And it says not a dude? Can't be...

Hum. I didn't notice that. Anyway, it's acceptable to use "he" when you're unsure of gender, but I'll be glad to to back and edit that if desired.

IVIaster · November 4th, 2009, 9:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffy777

My brother is a student to Michigan Tech. It's a nice area in the summer. It's right on Lake Superior which is beautiful, though it also means they get a ton of snow in the winter, but you should be used to that since you're from Finland. There are a lot of Finnish families in that part of Michigan. My dad is 100% Finnish and both sides of his families live in that area. There is actually a college in the same town called "Finlandia University.

I'll have to ask my brother what if he knows about their automotive or mechanical engineering.

Aa, a Finnish-American. Yes, Michigan-Minnesota were very popular for Finnish immigrants back in the days. Mind you there was even Finnishtown in New York city, and the term Finnish apartment is still used (maybe).

Quote:

Things in the US will be cheaper. Though I'd suspect the most important factor would be your language fluency. Is your German better than your English or vice versa?

Im fluent in english pretty much. Been studying German also for long. Language wont be an issue in both countires.

Quote:

Are you POSITIVE your program will accept credits from an exchange year, especially so far along in your degree? It's extremely rare for any American engineering program to accept transfer credits for degree classes. You can only bring in electives from other schools.

If you're coming all the way to the great US of A, what are you doing looking at so many places with weather WORSE than Finland! UVA and NC State are the warmest places listed. Hit the beach man, although both UVA and NC State are probably only 3-5 hour drives from the coast and will have mild winters. Michigan though? Holy nasty ice and wind, ALL winter. That's no fun. Ohio and Iowa will be the most boring places you've ever been in your entire life.

Well, Ill have to check the credits with my school probably for each course individually, but I dont worry too much about it. Studying of coarse is half (or even less) of the reasons to go abroad

.

Of coarse I can apply to any university, but these american universities with a bit of luck will let me have the year fro free.

Quote:

Find me a large town in Finland.

Helsinki has over 1mil if we bend the rules slightly

Quote:

And it says not a dude? Can't be...

Its not, but I cant recall why I was labelled

Ladamaha · November 4th, 2009, 9:52 PM

Haahaa - you are in drag.

Que in the spelling nazis in 1..2..

snoro · November 5th, 2009, 2:27 AM

3..4..5..

Jacobfox · November 5th, 2009, 3:26 AM

UVA is far and away the best of those US schools (at least overall).

MadCow809 · November 5th, 2009, 9:00 AM

Germany.

matyas · November 5th, 2009, 9:04 AM

Are you studying in TKK (Aalto perkele for some people)? I am studying Aircraft Engineering in the KONE department, 3rd year as well. If you find out how many opintopiste you can get from the courses abroad, please post it here.

ChrisSRT4 · November 5th, 2009, 5:26 PM

I lived in Raleigh for awhile and hung out around the campus of NC State and its a gorgeous area and there is a lot to do also. I would recommend it for sure. But Germany is Germany.

Clockwerk · November 5th, 2009, 5:51 PM

UVA was in my final four when I was applying for an MBA program (Indiana, UCONN, and UMass were the others) and out of the choices given it is the one I would choose. In my opinion it is tops among the American universities in terms of beauty and prestige. I did a study aboard at Lund university in Sweden and it was one of my favorite expierences, so good luck with the decision.

IVIaster · November 5th, 2009, 9:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSRT4

I lived in Raleigh for awhile and hung out around the campus of NC State and its a gorgeous area and there is a lot to do also. I would recommend it for sure. But Germany is Germany.

More like America is America. In theory, when I still at the beginning of my studies I shouldnt go to Germany cause I cant attend their excellent Automotive courses. Yet again in america they dont offer anything specifig only just plain, universal mechanical engineering courses(?).

November 4th, 2009, 7:12 PM	#1
IVIaster Not a dude. Joined: Dec 10th, 2005 Last Online: 11:07 AM Location: Finland Posts: 738 Car: 1990 Volvo 740 Rep Power: 17	Thinking of a exchange year So Im now in my third year studing Mechanical Engineering, majoring in Automotive Engineering and im thinking its a good to time to have a half/full year studying abroad. I have decided on either US or Germany and the choices my university provides are the following: US Iowa State University Michigan Technological University University of Virginia University of Toledo North Carolina State University GE Technische Hochschule Aachen Technische Universität Darmstadt Technische Universität Ilmenau Technische Universität München Universität Stuttgart If anybody of you are studying in these or just know about them Id would like to know if they are particularry accomplished in the field of automotive or mechanical engineering. Plus any other useful and/or fun information how they are like or if you just want to promote your alma mater. Planning on going next year or the one after that.

November 4th, 2009, 7:15 PM	#2
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 4:33 PM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,794 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	Things in the US will be cheaper. Though I'd suspect the most important factor would be your language fluency. Is your German better than your English or vice versa? __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

November 4th, 2009, 7:17 PM	#3
katwalk Not A Dude Joined: Apr 1st, 2008 Last Online: 2:20 PM Location: Massastupid Age: 20 Posts: 3,774 Car: 2003 volkswagen beetle Cabriolet Rep Power: 166	^ well if they can write that post they are more fluent in english than most of america is in any other language __________________ Warning: user may make lewd comments about your penis. Please excuse the estrogen overdose and have a bear.

November 4th, 2009, 7:21 PM	#5
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 4:33 PM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,794 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	Reading and listening though are two different beasts. I can read Latin, but listening to it and understanding it is much harder. __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

November 4th, 2009, 7:23 PM	#6
flydiscovery Joined: Jan 24th, 2009 Last Online: 4:47 PM Location: US Posts: 2,315 Car: 02 Passat Rep Power: 103	Are you POSITIVE your program will accept credits from an exchange year, especially so far along in your degree? It's extremely rare for any American engineering program to accept transfer credits for degree classes. You can only bring in electives from other schools. If you're coming all the way to the great US of A, what are you doing looking at so many places with weather WORSE than Finland! UVA and NC State are the warmest places listed. Hit the beach man, although both UVA and NC State are probably only 3-5 hour drives from the coast and will have mild winters. Michigan though? Holy nasty ice and wind, ALL winter. That's no fun. Ohio and Iowa will be the most boring places you've ever been in your entire life. Last edited by flydiscovery; November 4th, 2009 at 7:26 PM. Reason: NC State != UNC aka I'm an idiot

November 4th, 2009, 7:20 PM	#4
thevictor390 Joined: Mar 9th, 2007 Last Online: 4:02 PM Location: Massachusetts Age: 19 Posts: 1,999 Car: 2006 RX-8 Rep Power: 65	^ Case in point: "they" used to refer to a singular person

November 4th, 2009, 7:30 PM	#7
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: 7:55 AM Location: US Age: 28 Posts: 6,295 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 91	My brother is a student to Michigan Tech. It's a nice area in the summer. It's right on Lake Superior which is beautiful, though it also means they get a ton of snow in the winter, but you should be used to that since you're from Finland. There are a lot of Finnish families in that part of Michigan. My dad is 100% Finnish and both sides of his families live in that area. There is actually a college in the same town called "Finlandia University. I'll have to ask my brother what if he knows about their automotive or mechanical engineering. __________________ A man named Jeffy once said, "If laziness is craziness, then I've lost my marbles...and I don't feel like trying to find them." Last edited by jeffy777; November 4th, 2009 at 7:33 PM.

November 4th, 2009, 7:35 PM	#8
Dr_Grip Joined: Jul 8th, 2008 Last Online: 1:39 PM Location: Germany Posts: 1,467 Car: 1979 Opel Kadett (Oliver's Son) Rep Power: 70	Aachen, Darmstadt and Ilmenau are rather small towns where hardly anything ever happens. I don't know if this might count into your descision, but it might be good to know. Aachen, on the other hand, is close to Holland. So if you have a fondness for certain smokeable products that are legal in Holland, that might be a factor, too. __________________ I got a Rolls-Royce 'Cause it's good for my voice (Mark Bolan/T-Rex)

November 4th, 2009, 9:52 PM	#13
Ladamaha Joined: May 16th, 2009 Last Online: 1:45 PM Age: 21 Posts: 535 Rep Power: 25	Haahaa - you are in drag. Que in the spelling nazis in 1..2.. __________________ I edit a lot. Last edited by Ladamaha; November 4th, 2009 at 9:54 PM.

November 5th, 2009, 2:27 AM	#14
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Jacobfox Joined: May 24th, 2005 Last Online: 8:05 AM Location: Sacramento, CA/Chicago, IL Age: 20 Posts: 3,174 Car: Audi S6, Armada, F430, BMW M3 Rep Power: 79	UVA is far and away the best of those US schools (at least overall). __________________ 2007 Ferrari F430 (Rosso Rubino Micalizzato, Cuoio Interior, Carbon Upper Dash & wheel, Stradale Rims) Jake- Priest of the Prancing Horse, Archbishop of the four rings. Blaro, No Boss and Jacobfox- RickRolling since 1989.

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November 5th, 2009, 9:04 AM	#17
matyas Joined: Dec 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 1:35 PM Location: Espoo, Finland Age: 22 Posts: 244 Car: 1984 Mercedes 280SE - sold Rep Power: 14	Are you studying in TKK (Aalto perkele for some people)? I am studying Aircraft Engineering in the KONE department, 3rd year as well. If you find out how many opintopiste you can get from the courses abroad, please post it here.

November 5th, 2009, 5:26 PM	#18
ChrisSRT4 Joined: Apr 24th, 2008 Last Online: 4:11 PM Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 209 Car: Subaru! Rep Power: 13	I lived in Raleigh for awhile and hung out around the campus of NC State and its a gorgeous area and there is a lot to do also. I would recommend it for sure. But Germany is Germany.

November 5th, 2009, 5:51 PM	#19
Clockwerk Joined: Apr 11th, 2008 Last Online: 4:38 PM Location: Awesomelahoma Age: 26 Posts: 1,456 Rep Power: 142	UVA was in my final four when I was applying for an MBA program (Indiana, UCONN, and UMass were the others) and out of the choices given it is the one I would choose. In my opinion it is tops among the American universities in terms of beauty and prestige. I did a study aboard at Lund university in Sweden and it was one of my favorite expierences, so good luck with the decision. __________________ "I'm not always on the internet, but when I am, I prefer finalgear.com forums."

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