Tennessee Tech University (USA), 19.08.2012 - 10.01.2013

At a glance

Where, who, when

Full name of the host university: Tennessee Tech University
City, Country: Cookeville, USA
Homepage of the host university:http://www.tntech.edu/
Author of the field report: Jannis Lappe
Degree programme at FH Aachen: Mechanical Engineering, Faculty 8
Start and end of the stay abroad: 19/08/2012 - 10/01/2013
The semester abroad took place in: 5th subject-specific semester

Assessments:

Quality of the programme content: 1,7
Study conditions / facilities at the host university: 1.3
On-site support and assistance: 1.3
Campus: 1.3
Transport links to the campus: 2.0
Food on campus (dining hall (Mensa), etc.): 2,3
Sports facilities: 1.0
Leisure activities: 2.3
Bars / discos / nightlife: 3.7
Quality / cost of living: 3.3
Contact with locals: 2.7

Preparations

When did you start the preparations? About ¾ year before.
How does the application process work and what documents are required? Magellan network, CV, transcript of records, letter of motivation, application fee.
Does the host university require a language test? It depends, the DAAD language certificate can be taken free of charge at FB8. The international coordinator must confirm that you have sufficient language skills. Then there is no further test.
Useful tips or further information on preparation: You should think about alternatives from the outset, as you may not be accepted at the university of your choice. If you want to apply for a scholarship, you sometimes have to do this 1 year before the semester abroad.

Formalities

Do I have to pay fees at the host university? Only if you are studying more than 4 subjects or taking more than 12 credits.
Did you receive a scholarship to finance your stay abroad? Yes, DAAD scholarship.
Which way of travelling to the host university is recommended? It is advisable to book a flight with a rebookable return date. In my case, the flight cost €880 (regardless of the return date). For a further €200, I was able to change the departure point and got a direct flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. A pick-up service is provided on arrival ($80 per person).
Did you have to take out additional health insurance? My private health insurance would have covered all conceivable cases of illness, but as repatriation in the event of death was not covered, I had to take out additional health insurance in the USA ($180). A fellow student took out insurance with the ADAC for 80€, which covered all requirements. This university is no joke when it comes to insurance.
Is further insurance necessary? No.

On site

What formalities have to be completed after arrival? Register, sign the tenancy agreement, submit any missing documents, collect your student card.
Where is the best place to live and what are the average housing costs? The best place to live is on campus, preferably opposite the University Centre, as the walking distances are short. The prices for the cheapest student rooms are $2000 per semester. They are not the nicest, but living off-campus is difficult as the distances are not short and you are at a loss without a car. Flats in "Eagles Landing" are not recommended as they are too far away.
How did the search for accommodation work? Registration for the halls of residence takes place online via a special university portal. You should apply for a room there as soon as possible. If you are too late, you may be accommodated in a hotel for the first few weeks. You can also book flatmates via this portal, but only if you are early enough. Otherwise it's a matter of chance.
What is the average cost of living? The meal plan (which you can't do without as there are no public kitchens) costs depending on how much you eat. I managed well with the 15 meals a week. The next biggest meal plan (21 meals) was actually a lot. Incidentally, the new week starts here on Sunday, when unused meals expire. Unused meals can be exchanged for sweets or drinks in the campus restaurants.
Flexdollars must be purchased with every meal plan. They cannot be exchanged and expire at the end of the semester. You can use the Flexdollars in the campus restaurants to buy food, sweets and drinks (Starbucks on campus).
What is cheap/expensive? All small everyday items are relatively cheap at Wallmart. It is sometimes even cheaper to buy a bed set in the USA, as the extra kilos in your suitcase would be more expensive. You can expect to pay 50-60$ for a complete package. At the end of the semester, I donated this to people in need.
Books are very expensive. Between 500$-1500$ per semester. It is advisable to wait until the first day of class to ask the professor if you really need the latest edition. If this is not the case, you can buy the books at auction on Ebay or from other fellow students. My books were supposed to cost $600. Since I bought them as previous editions on EBay, I only paid 60$ and sold the books at the end of the semester for 50$. If homework is assigned from the book, you can copy it from fellow students with current books.
What are the shopping facilities like? The university has its own supermarket, bookshop and stationery/university supplies (you can also get these at Wallmart for 1/3 of the price). A bus runs directly in front of the Roaden University Centre, which every student can use free of charge. This bus goes to Wallmart and a few other shops. There is not much, but it is sufficient.

About the host university

Briefly describe the host university! Tennessee Tech is huge by German standards. There is a lot to discover at the beginning and it's easy to get lost, but that gets better with time. As soon as you have settled in, boredom can quickly set in as many people go home at the weekend. But with the right people, it's never unbearable.
How was the quality of the events? It was very mixed. I had teachers in some subjects who were simply great. Others, unfortunately, were not.
How are the facilities at the host university? The university offers a lot. The sports facilities and the Library are unbeatable (it is used a lot for studying and is also designed for this with computers, whiteboards, group rooms with projectors or televisions, all of which can be used free of charge). My engineering department had a workshop in the basement, a thermal laboratory and a computer room on the ground floor. Programmes such as CAD or Mathlab could be used here free of charge. There was also a printer for which you got $25 free credit.
What are the opening hours on campus, how are the libraries, are there scripts for the lectures? The restaurants have different opening hours. However, they are all closed later in the evening. The Library is open from morning until midnight. There are very few lecture notes. You usually have to buy books.
How many hours a week did you have on average? I had about 12 hours a week. These few hours were sometimes considerably more due to a lot of homework. The assessment system stipulates that a major subject has 3 credits. These credits are multiplied by the grade A(4), B(3), C(2), D(1). Then all subjects are added together and divided by the total number of credits. This gives the GPA. A GPA of 4 is therefore the best average you can achieve.
The grades are made up differently depending on the subject. Basically, they consist of class work (approx. 4 pieces), tests, homework and partial attendance.
Did the professors prepare you well for exams? Did you also receive help from them outside the lectures? The system itself is very rigid. You are always prepared for the next exam through homework and lessons. If I had any problems, I could always write an email to the professors, which was answered quickly and competently. If I was ill, I could even submit my homework in this way.
Are there special introductory courses for visiting students? There are, but they are less recommended. They usually waste time and/or involve a disproportionate amount of work. (For example, "English for advanced learners") It is advisable to attend a sports class, as this significantly improves the social environment.
What needs to be considered when the certificate is issued at the foreign university? It is important to check all the important documents that are issued or filled out. Mistakes are often made here.
Who was the contact person at the foreign university? Amy Miller, she was the only person who could really help and who you could rely on. If you have any questions after you have been accepted at the university, you should contact her.
What did you like / dislike about the campus?
Pro: The campus offers many opportunities to get involved. You are always around lots of people and almost everyone is helpful.
Cons: The meal plan! You could only have a maximum of 3 meals a day. Some restaurants were closed on public holidays. In unfavourable cases, meals paid for were forfeited. If you weren't travelling over the holidays, you were stuck on campus. Everything was closed and you couldn't cook for yourself, which meant you had to go out to eat and call a taxi or take a bike.
What are the transport links like? What should I bear in mind? Tntech has a bus system. This runs in a circle and the buses travel in both directions. This is free for students to use, but bus times are very limited. Cookeville has 2 taxi companies, both of which operate within the city for $4 each way. Both taxi companies are not really reliable, but one stands out and offers reasonably good service & roadworthy vehicles. Always have enough money with you, as one of the taxi drivers often pretends not to have any change. You can sometimes expect waiting times of between 15 minutes and 1 hour, or not to turn up at all. On the phone it will always say 15 minutes. Do not rely on the taxi for important appointments!
Other: American driving licence: You can request documents from the Tntech International Office to obtain an American driving licence. These documents are free of charge. You can then go to the traffic office and only have to take a theory test there if you already have a German driving licence. American driving licences can only be recognised if you have been in the USA long enough. The advantage is that you now have an American ID. With this you no longer need to carry your passport around with you. If you show your ID you will be treated like a local everywhere! The driving licence costs $16 and is also a great souvenir.

About the courses and lectures attended at TnTech

Course attended: Dynamics
Lecturer: Jeff Foote
Course duration & scope, teaching form: 3 credits, classroom teaching
Keywords for course description: TM 3
Form of assessment: Written examinations, homework
Is the course recommended? Yes
Course attended: Mech. Eng. Analysis
Lecturer: Dr Han
Course duration & scope, teaching form: 3 credits, class teaching
Keywords for the course description: Maths 3
Form of assessment: Written examinations, homework
Is the course recommended? Yes No
Course attended: Thermodynamics 1
Instructor: Jeff Massey
Course duration & scope, teaching format: 3 credits, classroom teaching
Keywords for the course description: Thermodynamics
Form of assessment: Written examinations, homework
Is the course recommended? Yes
Course attended: Energy Systems Laboratory
Lecturer: Dr Han
Course duration & scope, form of instruction: 2 credits, classroom instruction and laboratory experiments
Keywords for the course description: Laboratory experiments of various kinds. Many with measurements.
Form of assessment: Report, homework
Is the course recommended? Yes
Course attended: Energy Research
Lecturer: Dr Han
Course duration & scope, form of instruction: 1 credit, independent laboratory work
Keywords for course description: Laboratory work
Form of proof of achievement: Submission of work
Is the course recommended? Yes

Leisure activities

What is the range of sports facilities on campus like? There is everything imaginable. Football, football, rugby, tennis, squash, gym, cardio equipment, swimming pool, baseball, volleyball, indoor running track, basketball and even quidditch.
Do I have to pay for the sports programmes? Everything that does not take place in courses is free of charge.
What recreational sports facilities are available on campus? The main facilities are on campus. Off-campus there is a shooting range where you can practise sport shooting and where there are also lessons (from the university). However, it is so far away that you definitely need a car.
What sights are there locally? Cookeville has the old town centre, which is very small, and the old town. There is also Rockisland and the waterfalls, where you can go swimming in the summer.
What tourist attractions does the surrounding area have to offer? There are the following in the area:
- Corvette Factory
- Jack Daniels Distillery
- Knoxville
- Nashville
-The largest cave network
- Gatlingburg (highest point in TN)
- Smokey Mountains
- Various lakes for swimming
Are there organised excursions for visiting students? There are, you have to ask for current offers.
Are there many good restaurants and bars nearby? What is recommended? If you get a little homesick in the meantime, you should go to Worldfoods in Cookeville. They offer many dishes and beers from Europe. The meatballs taste almost like home.
If you like it sweet, you can go to Sally's Bakery. They serve cupcakes that are delicious but also very, very sweet. You can also order a coffee at the same time. Ideal if you need a handmade birthday cake. If you want it to be cheap, you should have a look at Wallmart. They have everything... Spankys, a bar right next to the campus, is a great place to eat. The burgers and fries are really good. You can also eat well at Char, in the old city centre. If you want to get an insight into the art scene, you can do so at Poet's. This is a small café that serves very good coffee (rare to find). From time to time there are readings or small concerts.
There is a German restaurant in Cookeville. Unfortunately I didn't manage to eat there. The owners are German. The owner works at the hospital during the day. If you have language problems and an emergency at the hospital, you just have to ask for her.
The pizza you can win at Rodeo Bob's is also very good.
Are there any specialities to bear in mind with the local cuisine? American food is very unusually greasy for us Europeans. Combined with the stress of the first few days, it's a good idea to bring tablets for stomach ache for the first few weeks.
My tip: stay away from the pizza in the dining hall (Mensa)! Papa John's is ok, just not the dining hall.
Alcohol in restaurants is very expensive, if you order a soda, you have endless refills for 2-3$.
Where do you go in the evening (pubs, bars, discos, cinemas) and what do you recommend? There is a club in Cookeville. It's called Rodeo Bob's. Towards the early evening there is a lot of country music and line dancing. With your student card, which you get from the university, you have reduced admission. On certain days (Thirsty Thursday, for example), free beer from 7-11 is included in the entrance fee. Sometimes you have the chance to take part in the lottery for the free beer party. The winner gets free entry for themselves and all their friends, no matter when they arrive. As the name suggests, there's free beer for everyone from 7-11am and pizza to boot. Whoever brings the most guests wins a voucher for the bar.
There is another bar in the old town centre. It's called Char. The welcome here is very friendly and you quickly make friends. It doesn't take long for you to become part of the family.
Spanky's is right next to the campus. This is a small bar where live music is played almost every evening. On Tuesdays there are $1 beers and other offers. It usually gets very crowded around 11 o'clock. You have to be there early.
Are there any special customs/customs among the locals and what is an absolute taboo? If you go to Rush events at the beginning of term and get an invitation to dinner afterwards, this is an invitation to join the student union. You will be asked to wear good clothes and come to the fraternity house for dinner. If you accept, this is basically an answer that you want to join the fraternity and that they should get to know you better.
At house parties, of course you bring your own drinks.
Never walk around on the street with open alcoholic beverages. It only gets worse if you drink in the car. Whether you are the driver or a passenger. It gets very expensive and sometimes ends in prison.
If you have been drinking, order a taxi or look for a lift. Being picked up drunk on the street can quickly turn into a night in prison. The same applies if you have just come out of a bar.
If you go to a restaurant, the prices do not include tax. Taxes vary by state and range from 7-20%. A tip is paid on top of this amount. The tip should be around 20%, unless the service was very poor. Tips are given to every service person in restaurants who serves you, e.g. also bartenders. Exceptions are drink specials and certain restaurant chains (e.g. Starbucks, McDonalds, BurgerKing).

Final considerations - Conclusion

How would you rate your stay abroad overall? Very positively. I gained an insight into what is probably the best-known culture and was able to experience the American way of life. The impressions, experiences and sights were worth it. I have fond memories of every moment.
Did you choose the right time for your semester abroad? In my opinion, it was the perfect choice. The only downside is that the UAS offers a lot of compulsory courses in this semester, which count as exam requirements.
What were the high and low points of your stay ? The first low point was when I moved into the student hall of residence. It was empty, cold and not in the best condition. After the first few days, things went "uphill" and I really liked it. Then came another phase when it wasn't so nice. You think everything is better in Germany. At the end there was a real high and I would have loved to stay at university.
What will you never forget? So many things happened. You experienced so much. It's hard to say what will remain unforgotten. They are all wonderful memories, none of which you want to forget.
What advice would you like to give to other students on your degree programme who decide to spend a semester abroad at this foreign university? Find out what you want in advance. Have enough savings. For me, there would have been nothing worse than just being on campus. Travelling around the USA costs money, but it's worth it. If you can just about afford the flight and living costs, you should consider waiting a little longer.
Any criticism or suggestions? In the end, it's always hard to criticise, as most people have done their best. There are always good and bad things, but in the end it's the overall result that counts. It would be nice if FH Aachen would cover the flights. This is common practice at Tntech for exchange students.