GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
Student Report
Name of the University: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Exchange semester: Spring, 2013
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
When and how did you receive information from the exchange university?
Through the exchange office I received an envelope from the university at the beginning of October, containing important documents as your DS-160 form, “note of admission”, login information to the university’s learning platform, map of the campus, important deadlines, contact information etc.
Any difficulties in preparing (application, housing, contact, courses, etc)?
The application process went very well. It was easy to contact the university, and they were helpful. The only minor difficulty I had was related to housing. I was not pleased with the information about the different options for housing (i.e. where does usually exchange students live, where is the preferred area to live in regarding social life, what area is close to the business facility (where I had all my classes), what is to expect when living in dorms. The university only provided information about the different dorms to live in, but it’s a good option to find and rent an apartment on campus if you like more privacy, want to have friends over and cook your own food.
Applying for a visa (if applicable)
How did you apply for your visa?
I applied for my visa late November/beg. December. There is an online process on beforehand of an appointment at the embassy. This process is quite cumbersome and takes some time, but it’s just a routine with questions to answer yes/no and fill out information about family, address, your purpose for the visa etc. Then you make an appointment online and get a date in which you have to show up on the embassy. It was an easy process at the embassy if you’re prepared and have the documents you need (I received a good “step-by-step” guide on what to do and which documents I had to bring). They take only cash, so bring at least 1000-1100 NOK. If you don’t have the correct amount you have to reschedule an appointment.
What problems, if any, did you encounter?
The online process requires uploading a profile picture of that has some strict measurements. This was a little annoying, and took some time.
How much did the visa cost?
The visa cost approximately 950 NOK, and you had to buy an envelope and stamp.
Travel
How did you travel to your destination? Any problems?
It went very well. I took a plane through Reykjavik, landing in New York, stayed a night and flew to Chicago the next day. Then I took the plane from Chicago to the

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT airport in Urbana-Champaign on the same day. Alternatively you can take the train or bus from Chicago ( http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak , https://www.busline.com
)
Housing
Was housing provided by the university, or did you have to find your own housing?
I lived in Ikenberry Commons, also known as the “six-pack”, a dorm building provided by the university.
What support did you receive from the school in locating housing?
I was not pleased with the information about the different options for housing. I.e. where does the exchange students usually live, where is the preferred area to live in regarding social life, what area is close to the business facility (where I had all my classes), what is to expect when living in dorms. The university only provided information about the different dorms to live in, but it’s a good option to find and rent an apartment on campus if you prefer more privacy, want to have friends over or cook your own food.
Any special issues or good ideas for prospective students?
If you are interested in knowing more about possibilities for renting an apartment (or other), contact UIUC’s Business International Exchange Network for information
( bien@bus.illinois.edu
).
Costs
Approximately how much per month did you spend on rent, books, food, transportation, and other personal expenses?
Rent + food NOK 30.000
Books NOK 3.000-4.000
Transport
Other
NOK 5.000
NOK 40.000-50.000
Culture and language
Did you have any language problems with the faculty or other students?
No, very little language problems.
How were the possibilities to experience the country and the culture?
BIEN arranged for a couple of outings, nearby cities, you have good opportunities to travel during the weekends (long weekend) in the beginning of the semester. And in mid march there’s a spring break that lasts a week where many went to Florida,
California, New York, Mexico and central America.
Cultural and social effects from the exchange experience
How do you think the exchange experience will affect you from a cultural and social point of view?
It’s a very social university, and you’re surrounded by social happenings all the time if you are eager to socialize. Culturally I got a better understanding about the differences between Norway and USA. You might not notice it while you’re having your day-today life, but it is tremendous, and really exciting to experience. I got a different perspective on both Norway and USA, for the better and the worse.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
How do you think the exchange experience influences your future career possibilities?
Being on exchange is definitely a benefit. And studying in America gives your future employer the impression of you being an independent, curious and bold student. You will improve your English skills, and enquire lots of experiences that will perhaps change your vision on things. You will learn different ways about yourself, and maybe get inspired by your surroundings.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Please describe:
The school and its surroundings (give a short summary)
It’s a huge university with over 40.000 students. There are 17 different colleges, I attended college of business. The business facility is modern, and impressive. The campus is large and connects two cities, Urbana and Champaign (each with different laws and rules). Nearly 50% of the students is part of a fraternity or sorority, making this university the highest number of fraternities and sororities in the US. The campus consists of instructional facilities, dorms, apartment buildings, fraternity and sorority houses, cafes, one main street with bars, restaurants, shops etc.
Current faculty divisions and special areas
Business facility is impressive. The dining halls are ok with decent food, but not as impressive. The outdoor areas are beautiful, and lots of opportunities to be outside in a quad or green space. There is two huge gyms with all you need of equipment such as fitness equipment, a running track, inside basketball fields, inside volleyball fields, swimming pool, lockers etc.
Approx. number of students (graduate and undergraduate) and number of exchange students
In total just above 40.000. In my business exchange group we were a total of 50-60 people. During fall it’s up to a 100. But usually 40-50% or so are not as involved.
Study structure
The courses require you to study for every class during the whole semester. Some courses has two exams and a final exam, others has one midterm and a final exam.
Regular and large workload throughout the semester.
Course registration
Were you able to register for courses before arrival?
Yes, I was handed an option for courses in the first envelope and could choose among the courses. It went easy.
If not, when did you register? Any difficulties?
If the school has a lottery or bidding system, describe this system and your experience in detail.
When and how long was the period for adding/dropping courses?
To change your class, the deadline was in the beginning of February. To drop a class it was mid march.
Academic calendar
Arrival date: Januray 9 th

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
First day of the semester:
Other:
January 14 th
Last day of classes: May 10th
Examination period: May 3 rd – May 10 th
Any special events/holidays: March 15 th – March
24 th spring break.
A couple single day holidays.
Arrival
Was the administration and faculty well-prepared for your arrival?
Yes. You attended a welcome and information meeting the 10 th
of January with all exchange students of business and BIEN (student organization that arranges happenings and social events). Was taken to get your student ID, and register at your housing desk.
-
Did the school’s students participate in the reception of the exchange students?
Yes, BIEN showed the exchange students around on campus, and arranged for a social event the same day.
Describe the introduction week?
Welcome meeting and get to know everyone the first day. Happenings with the BIEN several days. Some trips to the mall (market place) to buy the necessary, such as a duvet, pillow, sheets, subscription to an American phone (T-mobile is the only company that provides with a subscription for a semester, but it’s poor), towels etc.
The International Office
Is there an international office?
I believe so, but I never went. I used the e-mail.
As an exchange student, did you receive sufficient and relevant information? In
English?
Yes, I was pleased by the information from the exchange office, except regarding housing. (I contacted an exchange student at BI from UIUC to get the necessary information)
Promoting BI and Norway
What kind of activities were you involved in to promote exchange to Norway at your exchange university?
None.
Social activities
How was your relationship with native students?
I got to know the native students in class and for school projects, other than this you did not get to know the native students unless they were involved in BIEN or knew someone in BIEN and participated on events.
How was the relationship among the exchange students?
It was great. We were many different nationalities that became good friends, we arranged gatherings and went on trips many of us.
Is there a student organization, and if so, are the exchange students a part of it?

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
Yes, Business Instructional Exchange Network, BIEN. The exchange students are not a part of planning processes, but participates in events that BIEN arranges.
Are there any special activities and gatherings for exchange students?
With BIEN there are trips, dinners, parties and attendings at different happenings on campus (basketball game, bar-crawls, and other events arranged by other organizations).
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
Describe the teaching style.
Small classes from 30-80 people. School projects in groups of 4-5, presentations, participating in class, the teacher primarily uses power points, exercises in class, homework etc. Devoted teachers.
Language of instruction? Any problems?
English, it went very well.
How would you evaluate the level of study in relationship to the level at BI?
It’s at the same, a little high, level the whole semester, a bigger workload before finals, but not as much. It feels completely different from BI, but I had a great experience with it. At times I thought it was a little too much, given I was on exchange and wanted to experience more than just studying, but I learned a nice balance.
Is the teaching primarily practical or theoretical?
A good mix, I would say 50-50.
Did professors use cases, group work or lectures (or a combination)?
In large scale. I had at one-three cases or presentations and group work in each class.
How is the workload compared to that at BI?
You have a bigger workload with often daily homework/quizzes, a few cases and big projects, one or two exams and finals. But the finals period doesn’t have as much workload at UIUC since you have gained a solid knowledge in the courses throughout the semester. The exams and finals are easier at UIUC.
Describe the relationship between professors and students.
In four of my classes the teachers knew me by name shortly after the beginning of the semester. There are small classes (40-60, one course with over 100), and the teachers care about your learning and support you. There were several meetings with the teachers regarding group projects or cases.
Describe the relationship between the students in the classroom.
The students were hardworking and devoted for study. Easy to get to know each other when there was arranges group exercises. They were very outgoing and easy to talk and cooperate with.
Course materials

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
Describe the course materials used (books/literature, online articles, Powerpoint, etc).
Each course had a textbook (not in every class these textbooks was necessary), powerpoints, cases and articles provided by Harvard Business School, online short movies (youtube etc),
In which language were the course materials?
English.
How do you estimate the level of the course materials in comparison to BI?
Broader use of materials than at BI.
Were materials used for detailed knowledge or a broad overview of a subject?
Both.
Exams
Was the exam based on the course materials or on the lectures?
Except from one course that was heavily based on the textbook and course materials, the exams were most often based on homework/cases and lectures. The course materials served as supplementary information.
How was the course evaluated (include all that apply)? o Final exam (include form: written, home assignment, presentation) o Mid-term exam o In-class quizzes throughout semester o Small assignments and/or papers o Presentations o Group work o Class attendance o Class participation/debates o Activities outside of the classroom (online assignments and quizzes)
Library and technology
Do students have easy access to the library and its resources?
Yes, both to visit in person and online.
Were computers provided around campus/in the library?
Yes, in each dorm building, library, there were computer labs in most facilities. In every UIUC building there were Wi-Fi to connect to.
How is technology used in teaching or to distribute information?
In a larger scale. You are almost never given hand outs, only mail or announcements on the learning platform www.compass2g.illinois.edu
(make notice of this link, this has the same purpose as “It’s Learning”). We experimented with a school in Beijing to to cross-country collaboration in a group project in a course.
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.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
Course code & name Master/
Bachelor
Example:FIN123
Finance
Bachelor
Exam form
4-hour written exam
FIN221 – corporate finance
Bachelor 3 multiple choice exams, with 1 optional make-up final. 2 hours.
FIN241 –
Fundamentals of Real
Estate
BADM313 – Human
Resource
Management
Bachelor 1 written midterm 2 hours. 1 combined written and multiple-choice final 3 hours. 1 oral presentation.
Bachelor 1 multiple choice midterm
2, 1.5 hour, 1 multiple choice final 1,5 hour. 1 written/online group project.
Prerequisites Approved as
None Elective
None
None
None
Elective
Elective
Elective
Comments and group projects.
Not as relevant to my studies, and was solely based on the
American real estate market, but it was interesting and fun.
Moderate workload.
Both practical and theoretical.
High workload, but basic finance.
Very relevant to my studies.
This was a very theroteical course.
Online assignment s and homework.
Quizzes
Relevant to my studies.
Use of technology in large scale. High workload.
Online assingment s and quizzes.
50-50 practical/th eoretical.

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BADM375 – Business
Process Management
BADM380 –
International business
Bachelor 2 written exams,
1,5 hour. 1 written final 3 hours. 3 group projects/cases.
Bachelor 1 written midterm 2 hours. 1 oral presentation. 1 written final 2 hours.
Statistics
None
Non elective
Elective
Any other experiences/comments about your exchange experience?:

It was very difficult in the beginning to understand all the different online platform the university uses. Make sure that the two most important ones are: www.compass2g.illinois.edu
and https://apps.uillinois.edu

student self-service and
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

During spring break you cannot live in a dorm if this is your housing option. But there is an alternative dorm you can stay in during these days for 26$ per night. Further, you cannot move into your dorm before one week before school starts, and have to move out only a few days after the last day of finals (you can apply for a longer stay if necessary).

If you move into a dorm, the furniture that is provided for you is: a bed and a madrass, a desk, a chair, a closet, and a wardrobe. You have only cable Ethernet in your room.
 Don’t buy all your textbooks immediately, they are very expensive and they aren’t used in every course. Make sure that you can buy them online on amazon.com much cheaper, or you can ask the teacher/students on where to get them.
Very relevant to my studies.
Interesting.
Moderate workload.
50-50 practical/th eoretical.
Many cases and power point presentatio ns.
Very relevant to my studies.
High workload and very interesting.
Use of different course materials.
Powerpoint presentatio n, in class activites, homework and assignment s. More theoretical.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT

I recommend applying for housing in Ikenberry Commons north or south, og Sherman hall if you choose university housing dorms. I believe renting an apartment would be my first choice if I were to apply again. Students living in dorms are usually younger freshmen or sophmore, 1 and 2 year (18/19 years old). If you rent an apartment, you can get an apartment with a random person usually American junior or senior I believe. An option is to choose university housing, get to know some exchange students and go together on renting an apartment and disclaim your university housing. As I wrote before, contact BIEN, either they know where you can apply for apartment, or maybe a member is looking for a roommate!


Further, the teachers and students are very devoted, and easy-going. In example we had a student project where the teacher met with us on both a Saturday and Sunday afternoon. You can expect a lot from these teachers, but in return they expect from you too. I believe almost all of the students I worked with was very friendly and very cooperative. The experience of studying at UIUC was really impressive and inspirational, and great.

The social life on campus is really good. UIUC is known to be a very good school, but also a very sociable one with festive mood all weekdays. There are approximately 10 different big bars with their own themes and “days”.

Its really easy to get to Chicago with either train or different busses, and takes 2,5 hours. There are some very nice hotels downtown, but if you want a cheap and a great experience (in my opinion), stay at IHSP Chicago Hostel (doesn’t seem like a trashy hostel) ( http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/IHSP-Chicago-Hostel-at-
Damen-CTA/Chicago/57277 ) This hostel is solely for students traveling through
Chicago (non-Chicago students only) from all over the world, mostly Europe.
Location is great, vintage/retro area.