Hi, my name is Lili. I am originally from Hamburg, Germany, but I’ve been studying in the Netherlands for the past two years. Right now, I am studying my exchange here at SFSU as a Communication Studies Major. Because I lived in the Netherlands and Germany for
quite a while I see diIerences in both comparisons. Either between Netherlands and USA or Germany and USA. So, I can provide two different perspectives in my future posts.
I did not expect that going to university here would feel so different compared to studying in the Netherlands. I though after all classes are classes and I am learning new things either way. I thought the structure of having lectures, assignments and exams should not be that diIerent. But the reality is that the way universities are structured, the traditions, and even the student culture are not just slightly diIerent, but a whole new experience.
So, in this post, I want to share some of my first impressions of studying in the U.S., specifically at San Francisco State University (SFSU), and how it compares to my experiences back at Erasmus University in Rotterdam.
1. Mascots, Merch, and the Love for Your University
One of the first things I noticed here is how much people love their university identity and how proud they are to go to a certain one. At SFSU, we have a mascot and people really care about it. There is merch and a lot of gators going around. Students, staI and parents all seem so proud to be associated with their school. You’ll see SFSU or their signature colors purple and yellow (gold) at least once a day. And it is everywhere: hoodies, caps, notebooks, water bottles and even plushies wearing SFSU shirts. It feels like being a part of a bigger community not just a place where you happen to study.
Back in the Netherlands, this kind of thing barley exists. Erasmus University doesn’t have a mascot, and if it does, I honestly couldn’t tell you what it is because it’s not something anyone talks about. You won’t see people walking around in university-branded hoodies
or families proudly wearing “Erasmus Parent” shirts. The university is more of an institution than a community identity. Sports teams exist, sure, but they’re not widely funded by the university itself, and there’s no big culture of cheering for them.
When I first walked into the SFSU bookstore and saw an entire wall of purple-and-gold sweatshirts and merch, sponsored by diIerent brands as well, I thought I had stepped into a movie set. And People wear this stuI proudly. Most of the parent might own more merch from the school than their kids. I am lucky if my parents even remember the name of my university. It still creates the question whether this commercialization of a university is good or bad.
On one hand, it creates community spirit and pride. On the other, as already mentioned it feels a bit commercialized. But I must admit, I already bought an SFSU hoodie, and it feels kind of nice to belong. (and it’s a fantastic hoodie as well)
2. The Love for Canvas
There is a certain obsession with Canvas here, ngl. In San Francisco, Canvas isn’t just a side tool, for some courses it’s basically the heart of the entire academic experience. Here, professors post everything: the syllabus, assignments, grades, announcements, quizzes, discussion boards. Some of my courses even require weekly participation on Canvas discussions. It feels like half of the semester takes place online. And every discussion counts into your grade and is important. Some of my courses have 80 people another almost 100. I don’t really want to be the one going through all that discussion material checking whether you firstly posted a repones and additionally posted 2 replies to other students.
In the Netherlands, Canvas is used too, but in a much different way. Usually, it’s just for posting the assignment instructions or lecture slides. You don’t live inside Canvas the way you do here. In Rotterdam, you don’t have constant quizzes or online discussion forums to keep up with. And this detailed syllabus that professors post here, not existent back home. We don’t have specific plan for the semester, well we known what we’re going to talk about and which week which assignment is due but that basically it. I don’t know what I must read in Week 6, but I really like this system. You can work in advance.
Honestly, I love the structure here, it’s super clear, and you know exactly what’s expected of you.
3. Tutorials, Courses, and Attendance Rules
The course structure here is also really diIerent. At SFSU, I’m taking five courses this semester, and one of them is fully online. Each course typically meets once a week for a lecture or discussion. Attendance matters a lot because participation often counts toward your grade. If you miss a class, it can have a direct impact your final score.
In the Netherlands, we usually take three courses per block, and each one has both a lecture and a tutorial. Tutorials are small-group sessions where you actively work on material, and they are mandatory. Lectures, however, are optional, you can skip them if you want. The attendance policy is very strict in tutorials: miss more than twice, and you’re out. But at least lectures are flexible, and no one is subtracting percentages from your grade if you’re sick one day.
Another big difference is the length of the semester. At Erasmus, one block is about 8 weeks long, followed by a 9th week for exams. Then you switch to a new set of courses. Here in San Francisco, the semester runs from mid-August until mid-December. That means you carry the same courses for four months, which feels like forever compared to the shorter, more intense Dutch system.
I’m still adjusting to this rhythm. In Rotterdam, it felt like a lot of work in a few weeks, but I like it that way. I am kinds scared for the exam because I never had to learn so much material.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I can’t even say which system I like better. I enjoy both, but in diIerent ways. The U.S. feels more structured, more community-oriented, and more tied to traditions like mascots and merch. The Netherlands feels more academic, more flexible, and maybe a little less overwhelming, but only because this was my first university experienced, and I got used to it.
Studying in San Francisco is definitely an adventure. I’m grateful I get to experience both worlds.