By: Ethan Pettigrew

My name is Ethan and I’m a second year student studying a Bachelor of Finance, Technology and Banking at the University of Waikato. I chose to go on exchange because I wanted to experience university life in a completely different environment and challenge myself outside of what’s familiar. Florida State University in Tallahassee stood out as my destination due to its strong business and finance faculty, diverse course offerings, and the unique experience of studying at a large American university, something very different from what I’m used to at Waikato.

On an academic level, FSU offers me a way to continue to work at my degree by completing papers across economics and marketing, meaning my time away from Waikato will still help towards my future. Beyond the academics, FSU was a top spot for me due to its campus culture, including NCAA sports, and a huge international student community. Along with many other reasons, FSU is a place I am looking forward to experiencing for myself come August.