Student Report
Name of the University: Western Michigan University
Exchange semester: Fall 2014
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway:
I applied before the deadline which was February 1st, and received information about my
acceptance before most other students in March/April, which was early. I received an
information package, where I could find the acceptance letter, information about housing and
health care. This is so that you can best start to prepare to find out where you want to live,
find health care, and other relevant information you will need. The Norwegian health care is
often better, and also cheaper than the American one.
Applying for a visa (if applicable):
You will need to expect using a lot of time filling out documents, so it might be a good idea to
do this early. I got an appointment at the U.S embassy in Oslo, and had to pay $160 for the
visa, and also $180 for the Sevis Fee, which you also need.
Travel:
I ordered my ticket to the US with Norwegian, and flew from Oslo-Florida. From Florida I
traveled with Delta Airlines, and flew from Florida-Detroit-Kalamazoo. I paid about 5500kr
all together. Another option would have been to fly to Chicago and then take train or bus to
Kalamazoo.
Housing:
As an international student you have to live on campus, which means living in a resident hall.
I will strongly recommend applying early since the best ones will fill up quickly. In my
opinion the best hall to live in is with out doubt Davis hall. In Davis hall you will get more
privacy then in the other halls, it has the best rooms, it is also where most international
students live, and it also has a good location. But don`t expect the same standards of living as
in Norway. Other recommendations would be Zimmerman and French Hall, since its part of
the same building as Davis.
Costs:
I had to pay $106 to move in early at the doorm to stay there during orientation week, around
$2200 for housing and $2200 for the mealplan, I choose the gold one(this is the unlimited
one) which mean that you can eat as many time as you want during the week, in any of the
dining halls. I would recommend to get this meal plan, you will not have easy access to a
kitchen, or a nearby groserystoore during your stay. Books are expensive there, so I rented
books for the classes where that was an option, and bought the rest. The books vary a lot in
price, some might cost $50, while others can cost over $200. I also used money on traveling,
so I probably ended up using between 5000-10 000 NOK per month in avrage. With your
student ID you can travel with the bus for free in Kalamazoo.
Culture and language:
I did not experience any language problems with the faculty or other students. In the start it
might feel a little weird speaking English and to understand everything the professor is
saying, since the professors some times also can be from another country. But this will go
over quickly, and your English will improve, eventually I only spoke English to everyone
including the students from Sweden.
There are good possibilities to experience the country and the culture. Kalamazoo is only
about two hours from Chicago and Detroit, Niagara falls and Toronto is also not to far away
to take a weekend trip. You will probably experience that there is more mandatory things to
do during the semester then in Norway, and that participation counts, so you might spend
more time in school during the weeks, but you will also not have the same exam period there
as in Norway since the grading in the courses are spread trough the semester.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The school (location, size, study structure, special academic areas etc.):
Western Michigan University is located in a small city in western Michigan called
Kalamazoo. Tough the city is small, the university is big with around 25 000 students, with
around 1700 international students. I really liked the campus, and the college feeling I
experienced there. They have several librarys, a big football stadium, a good reqreation
center, nice dining halls, outdoor running field, tennis, squash, soccerfield, and etc.
Course registration:
I sent in a list of around 8 courses that could be interesting early on with help from the
international office at BI. However I was only registered for 3 courses when I arrived, but you
will get an appointment with an advisor when you arrive during your first week or so, and I
didn`t experience any difficulties getting in to more classes. You usually get one week of drop
and add of courses.
Academic calendar:
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
23.08.14
01.09.14
05.12.14
08.12.14-12.12.14
Thanksgiving
Arrival:
From Monday 25th til Friday 29th was ISORP orientation week with all the new international
students. This is mandatory, and you need to participate, but it is a really good way to get to
know a lot about the school, the area, and make friends. We had guiding around campus,
different appartments holding presentation about health care, safety, downtown, and a lot of
other information. You will meet all the other exchange students here, and it is a nice way to
make friends. There will also be some field trips and other activities that is not mandatory.
But I will recommend to attend many of these, since they often are more social then the
mandatory ones, thus a good way to meet and get to know people.
The International Office:
I feel I got all the information I needed by the international office, and if there is something
you are unsure about, just ask them.
Promoting BI and Norway:
I did not do any promotional activities during the semester.
Social activities:
I did not have any problems getting to know both native students and exchange students, and
made a lot of good friends during the semester. Since living on campus I experienced the time
I spent there as very social and fun.
There will be a lot of student organizations, gathering, sport teams (serious and non-serious),
and arrangements that an exchange student can join during the semester.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom:
The teaching style is different from the one at BI, the classes usually consists of 30-50
students. They count class participation as a part of your final grade, and you will be given a
lot of mandatory homework that will count on your grade. You will also have 1-2 midterms,
and maybe a presentation, and courses are usually finished with a final exam, but no one of
these will normally count for more then 30% of the final grade. The courses are both practical
and theoretical.
Course materials:
The books are quite expensive, and you will probably need a book in every course. In some
courses you may also need to subscribe for relevant sources like the Wall street journal.
Exams:
Most of the exams were based on both book and lecture notes, but some classes was only
based on lecture notes.
How was the course evaluated:
o Final exam: written.
o Mid-term exam: 1-2 Mid-terms during the semester in each class.
o In-class quizzes throughout semester
o Small assignments and/or papers
o Presentation
o Group work
o Class attendance
o Class participation/debates
Library and technology:
Internet is accessible all over campus. The school has also several libraries, these are nice
facilities. There are also computers located in every building on campus.
Description of courses:
Course code & name
Fin 3100: Intro to
Financial Markets
Master/
Bachelor
Bachelor
Exam form
Prerequisites
2-hour written
exam
None
Approved
as
Elective
Comments
An okay
course, but
the teacher
in this
course is
70years
and
outdated. I
Fin 3200: Business
Finance
Bachelor
2-hour written
exam
Fin 3510: Investment
Analysis
Bachelor
2-hour written
exam
Math 1160: Finite
Math/applic
Bachelor
2-hour written
exam
would
probably
not have
taken this
course
again if I
could go
back in
time. I
would also
recommend
to find a
site where
you can see
which
grade the
teachers
have
received
from the
students
I liked this
course; it is
similar to
the Finans
og
økonomisty
ring
courses at
BI.
A little
hard
course, but
it is also a
course I
learned a
lot from. If
you are in
to finance,
then this is
probably a
course for
you.
You will get
a lot of
small and
mandatory
things to do
in this
course.
There is
also 4-tests,
1final, take
home
quizzes,
MGMT 3530:
Organization
Development
Bachelor
2-hour written
exam
and online
quizzes.
I really
liked the
teacher in
this class,
she is very
nice, and is
also good
to teach the
course
material.
An
interesting
course.
On a final note, how will you sum up the exchange experience?
I will sum up my exchange experience as simple as this: A fantastic experience, and one of
the best periods in my life. I met people from all over the world, who I now consider as good
friends, and whom I will continue to stay in touch with.