Type of housing: With a family

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? I like the space and the contact to apartment-mates, but still having my own room to work in and do private stuff. And it´s cheaper...

Personal comments:
Accommodation in the US is generally more expensive than in Europe, so I had to accept it and deal with it. On-campus facilities are more expensive than those off campus. Living off campus isn´t really a problem though since Champaign has an excellent public transport system.

Describe host city: Student life dominates the city

Activities, Nightlife, Travel: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

Personal comments:
nightlife on campus is great, but if you want a bar to sit, drink and talk go "downtown champaign" to "cowboy monkey" or "highdive" for dancing spare yourself the cosmopolitan club! or go there once, so you know why...

Course recommendations:
if you are in the same program i was, don't worry about the choice of courses before you get there. you'll have to take what's left anyway, because locals book their courses about 4 months before you can. you'll find satisfying courses though, so don't worry and be flexible!

Personal comments:
the courses are evaluated in a different way than they do it in austria, but it's probably the better one...

Language of instruction: English

Main source of funding:
Family

Other sources of funding:
Family
Personal savings
Joint Study grant

Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work

Personal spending habits:
In spite of the favorable euro-dollar exchange rate housing is still more expensive than in Austria. The price level at the bars around campus is very low (probably due to the high competition between bars). Wireless telephone systems are backward compared to Europe and rather expensive. Local calls via landphones are free. Calling via the Internet (Skype) becomes an important way of communication (especially for making calls to Europe). The main reason for an overall increase of expenditures compared to the usual way of living is travelling.

Travel, Overall, Housing: was more expensive than at home.

Food: was the same price as at home.

Nightlife, Telephone: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
One semester is not enough time. It takes a few month to become completely familiar with the new environment. By the time one can say he/she is really feeling like home, it is almost time to leave again. If I have the chance to study abroad again, it will be a full academic year.

In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!