I came for two semesters from Oregon State University. As a non traditional student (ie. almost 60, first bachelors, full time job, full time seasonal business, full time distance learner at OSU, cats etc), I made the decision to come for a year as the only way I could do this was to close down my life as I knew it in the US. It has been a steep learning curve because this was the first time I had ever set foot on a college campus (I was a 100% distance learner through OSU Ecampus) and I had to relearn an entire new set of study skills.
I will be completing my undergrad at Lincoln in Agricultural Science, Range Management at the end of June 2019. Because of the exposure I got here, I discovered an entire area I was unaware existed and have developed a PhD thesis statement, have backing and interests from several companies as well as university staff, and it doesn't hurt that the company I work for is behind me 100%. But first I have to do a research master's as my undergrad was not research related. My plans are to continue on starting in January 2020 with a master's and then a PhD, working here in New Zealand or moving on to perhaps the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome Italy. None of this would have happened in the US. Something else would have, but not this.
And it all started because I said yes to this opportunity and then took a summer scholarship here at Lincoln no one else wanted.
The only downside is the cost of living is expensive here. Living on campus is very expensive (I was paying more for campus housing than I was paying in the states for a 2 bedroom farm house with a 1/2 acre and utilities). As for the night life, that wasn't really my thing but I have met some great people, gone and seen a lot of great things and am really have a ton of support for my goals.
The only other thing that is an issue is the cost for international students post grad master's. It is why students from the US don't come here, but will come to do a PhD, which is inexpensive. This needs to change if Lincoln wants to attract more US post grads.
Come, have fun, enjoy all that New Zealand has to offer and always say yes.