381 reviews
4.10 / 5 based on 381 reviews
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Maximilian F
Student life
Describe host city:
Student life dominates the city
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Nightlife, Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
green street - the center of campus nightlifes. when you get bored, check out the bars in downtown champaign. outside u-c: chicago (great city!), amish country (app. 1hr south of u-c)
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Maximilian F
Housing
Type of housing: On campus
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: On campus
Why?
THE opportunity to meet cool people, other international students, get informed about what's going on etc
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Personal comments
The UIUC offers exchange students the possibility to choose one of their housing facilities, i.e. dorms. I lived in Sherman Hall - a grad hall - which I can highly recommend. In comparision to many undergrad halls, you can be really quiet in your room and the others are more mature than nasty (American) 18-year old freshmen. The location of all dorms is excellent, on campus of course - it took me only 5 minutes to most of my classes. However, dorms are definitely more costly than most appartments, but for one exchange semester it should be worth it!
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Maximilian F
Academic
Course recommendations
If you (as an exchange student) are interested in taking courses of the prestigious accounting program, be tough and consequent when registering! They don't want you there, but if you ask long enough and the right people (Talk directly to the dean!), you have a chance to get into some very interesting courses!
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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Maximilian F
Languages
Language of instruction: English
Was learning English a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my English
How much did you improve your English?
My level before: At ease in most situations
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
Everybody speaks English, so if you go to the US, the language will be more or less familiar. In the first weeks I had difficulties understanding some American students (who actulally don't speak real English), but after a while I even started to think in English. The crucial thing for me was housing: If you live together with students from other countries (like in a dorm), your language skills will definitely improve much more!
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Maximilian F
Overall
I wish I had known...
In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
If you want to experience life on a typical American university campus, in a typical American small town in the countryside and are interested in getting to know especially people from all parts of the world studying together in this microcosmos, Urbana-Champaign is probably one of the best choices you have!
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Fly into Chicago and take a bus from O'Hare to Urbana-Champaign. You have two options (both depart from the bus teriminal behind the Hilton at the airport): Lincolnlandexpress and Bluebird. If you arrive late, stay in the "Illini Union" (center of the university) for the first night: It's quite cheap (ca. 28$) and comfortable!
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Maximilian F
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Government assistance
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
travelling is costly in the US, housing too, other than that i didn't have a phone (okay, therefore i spent less, but the best is that a beer is usually only 2 bucks!
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Overall, Housing, Travel:
was more expensive than at home.
Nightlife, Food:
was the same price as at home.
Telephone:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
If you have an American bank account, never ever use the overdraft! The banks charge enormous amounts for it, even if it's just a day!
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