NSE Map
1. Where can I get more information about the National Student Exchange (NSE) program?
Simple! Just visit their official site: http://www.nse.org. If your school participates in NSE, try getting into contact with your university’s NSE coordinator to set up an exchange.
2. How long are you on exchange at Towson University?
I am on exchange at Towson University for one semester, but participating students usually have the option to continue an exchange at a participating school of their choice for up to one academic year.
3. What do you hope to gain out of your exchange?
Honestly, I came on this exchange at Towson University to shake things up. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and push my own boundaries, and I’m very thankful I did. I am enjoying my time here, inside and outside the classroom.
4. Would you recommend other students to participate in exchange programs?
Definitely! Exchange programs are great for students who wish to have an alternative educational experience where they are able to branch out, meet new people, see new things, and sometimes become more independent.
5. How do I know if I am ready for an exchange?
I think the most important thing to have for any student exchange is an open mind. To me, the whole point of an exchange program is to experience new and different things, so you really have to be ready and willing to see, try, and possibly even taste new things.
6. What is the hardest part about being on an exchange?
The hardest part about this exchange is probably being away from family, especially during the holidays. The upside, though, is that I’m not alone. There’s a handful of students going through the same thing as me.
7. What is your favorite part about being on an exchange?
I really see this whole experience as a limitless adventure. I like that I could reinvent myself and really focus on who I am and who I want to become. Especially at Towson, I constantly have to explain who I am and even what I am to people (Yapese-German-Norwegian from Guam), and that has reinforced my identity and pride in my culture and ethnicity.
8. What are the requirements to participate in an exchange program?
Generally speaking, most if not all exchange programs have different requirements in order to participate. For my school, we had to at least be a sophomore in good standing with the university and a strong G.P.A. Your school and other programs outside the NSE may have different requirements.
9. When is the best time to participate in an exchange program?
Although myself and most of the exchange students at Towson are Juniors (60+ credits), I’d advise students to try participating during their sophomore because it gets a little trickier to transfer credits back to your home school once you start taking upper-division classes required for your degree program.
