STUDENT REPORT
Student Report
Name of the University: Texas A&M
Exchange semester: Fall 2012
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
I remember I was so exciting and happy when I got accepted into Texas A&M, and I don’t
regret going. It was an amazing experience, and here are some of my tips for you.
I received the information from the school in May (I think). There are some papers that need
to be filled out before you can go to the States, but I don’t find it any difficult. Just be sure to
do everything some time before you go, and you will be fine. You will need some of the
papers when you get to Texas, so make sure to save all papers and documents, and take them
with you to Texas. You will also need the paper in the Visa process.
Texas A&M has there own person that helps the exchange students, and he was always very
helpful. His name and dumber are on the information sheets, and do not hesitate to contact
him if you have any questions.
I think Texas A&M is one of the schools were you need to do a lot prior to the arrival, but all
is done online, and even though it takes some time you get a lot of useful information from it.
Applying for a visa (if applicable)
I started the Visa application in the beginning of June, and it took a couple of weeks after my
meeting before I got my Visa. I would recommend to start the Visa process as soon as
possible, that is, when you get the papers from Texas A&M. I paid around 1000 nok for my
visa. It is VERY important that you bring your Visa papers with you, and that you always
have them together with your passport the whole time in the States.
Travel
I booked all my tickets through Kilroy Travels. They helped me to get the best price! I only
booked one-way ticket when I was in Norway, as you don’t know when your finals are. I also
travelled more after my finals to see more aspects of the US.
Housing
I think I started to search for houses already in March, and had signed the paper with the
leasing company in April. I lived at “Parkway Place” together with four other people, but I
had my own room and bathroom. It also had a private shuttle to school. It was a bit expensive,
700 $ per month, but there was a gym and swimming pool there. The swimming pool was
great, and I used it a lot. Since it is so warm there, I would definitely recommend to live a
place where there is a pool.
If I had gone back I definitely could stay at Parkway again, but it is far from grocery stores
and that was a bit frustrating. If possible, live close to HEB in town!! If you plan to rent a car
or buy a car, you can live anywhere!
STUDENT REPORT
I would also recommend “Reville Ranch”. It is a nice place, and you can walk (15 minutes) to
school and Northgate (where all the bars are).
Important places to live close to are: the school (make sure that there are busses running or
private shuttles), Northgate, HEB or WalMart.
Costs
I don’t know how much I spend. In general, Texas is cheap. I used some money on travel, but
when I was in College Station I mainly used money on food and social activities.
Rent
Books
Food
Transport
Other
4000
2000
1500
pr.month
300 (taxi
)mnd
2000
Culture and language
I LOVED being in Texas, and the people there are so warm and friendly. They helps you
whenever you needed, and they always wanted to drive me to the grocery, etc. However, there
were some culture “shocks” and Texas really is Texas! People were cowboy boots and
cowboy hats, have guns, and think Norway is a town in the Netherlands. Other than that, they
are just fine, and I got a lot of American friends.
Since they speak English, there are no language barriers, and they love the Norwegian accent!
;) Their accent are really cool, and I am now saying y’all and not you all! 
Cultural and social effects from the exchange experience
The exchange period gave me a lot of new friends, and a broad network. I also think it is
important to have it on your resume as companies love to see that you are seeking to learn
about different countries.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Please describe:
The school is huge, and I haven’t seen it all. Luckily, BI student will exchange to the business
part of A&M, called Mays, so we are only in one building.
There are free busses going to campus, and around campus. The campus has also a gym with
all facilities and a swimming pool.
The classes I took, had around 40 students, so you got to know a lot of people. The professors
learn your name, and they are all so nice and welcoming.
STUDENT REPORT
Course registration
I registered online from Norway, or found the classes I liked, but when I got to the school I
could only take two of the courses I had found prior to my arrival. I therefore had to find two
new classes (since I needed to take 4 classes), but the school helped me with that, so it worked
out fine even though I did not get the classes I wanted. Many of the classes I thought was
offered, but was not, so the courses you sign up for in Norway are very tentative.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
15 Aug.
27 aug.
11 Dec
Dec
Thanksgiving, late
Nov
Other:
Arrival
When you go to the school the first day, there are a lot of things you need to do, but
everything went very smoothly. Make sure that you bring all the documents you got from
Texas A&M prior to your arrival.
There were some activities for the exchange students, but after joining the first “party” I think
all of the European exchange students skipped all activities held by the school.
NB!! Mays Business School has its own exchange group (Americans that have activities with
exchange students), called IBA. I joined them, and would recommend you to do the same, as
you would know all going-on at Mays from them! 
The International Office
There is an International office at school that can answer your questions.
Promoting BI and Norway
There was no promoting of BI or Norway at the school, so other than me talking positively
about BI and Norway, I did not participate in any promoting efforts.
Social activities
Before the school started, I was mostly together with the other Norwegians from BI and
NTNU. We were 5 Norwegians in CS. When the school started I got a lot of American
friends, and I spent a lot of my time with Americans. They are all very friendly and nice.
With regard to exchange students, we started a Facebook group for all exchange students at
Mays, and used this group to arrange events. Further, IBA (mentioned above) arranged
dinners and other events for the exchange students.
There were no problem getting friends in CS, both natives and other exchange students.
STUDENT REPORT
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
There were between 30 and 40 students in every class. The teaching style is traditional, with
the professor doing most of the work. However, all of the classes had participation grade, so it
is important to contribute to the discussions in class.
All of the professors were very friendly, and learned your name. All classes had cases and
group works. I experienced that the teaching was mostly practical, and the professors were
very good.
In comparison with BI the workload is much less. I had a lot of time to hang out with friends,
chill out by the pool and travel. Of course, there are sometimes when you need to work long
days, both those days are limited only to midterms and finals.
The relationship between both the professors and students was very good, and very informal.
Since there is a lot of group work at Mays, you will get to know your co-students very well.
On important thing to notice is that when you have presentation you need to dress businessprofessional, so make sure to bring appropriate business clothes.
Course materials
We used books in two out of four classes. In the other classes we used hand-outs and cases.
The books are very expensive in US, so try to buy used ones.
Exams
The exams were based on course materials and the lectures, and were mostly multiple choice.
We also had final term-papers and presentations. All of the classes had midterms in October,
and finals in December.
Library and technology
Mays has its own library with group rooms, computer labs, and silent reading areas. The
library also had a café where you could buy drinks and food.
Description of courses
Please list below all the courses you took while on exchange, including as many details as
possible. Your comments are extremely useful for BI and for future exchange students,
include information on the level of difficulty, relevance to your studies, if the course was
practical/theoretical, any enrolment issues, etc.
Course code &
name
Product
Innovation
Brand
Management and
communication
Master/
Bachelo
r
Master
Master
Exam form
Prerequ
isites
Approved
as
Comments
1 hour midterm,
2 hour final.
Term-paper
(group work)
1 hour mid-term
2 hour finals
5 small group
None
Elective
I would recommend
this course
None
Elective
I would recommend
this course. I thought
the professor and class
STUDENT REPORT
Human Recourse
Development
Master
Entrepreneurship
Master
cases
Presentation
Midterm case
Term paper (only
PP-presentation
and a oral
presentation)
1 hour midterm,
2 hour final
2 term.papers
Assignments
every week.
was fun!
None
Elective
Best professor ever!
Light work-load, but
very good lectures.
None
Elective
I would not
recommend this class.
Too much group-work,
and heavy workload
Any other experiences/comments about your exchange experience?:
I loved being on exchange and would recommend everyone to go on exchange to Texas
A&M!