University of Wisconsin, Madison (UW)

The City and stillwaters are two bars that you dont want to miss - people are probably more eastcoasters than westcoasters - if you are more to dance music there is a place behind capitol toward Lake Mendota (cant remeber the name). Then there is all the sport - Go to Kole center for tickets to ice hockey, football etc. dont miss football - the badgers are awesome and the stadium is always full of happy student (app. 50000 of them!!!). Kole center is also a place for lots of concerts - elton john and back street boys played when i was there.

The distances are short, therefore a car isn't really needed. With the van Galder bus, Chicago is only about 3-4 hours away. The university has a good booklet which gives important advices and intersting information for exchange students.

You learn a lot, even in 1 semester - provided that you get close to native speakers and make friends among them. try to keep distant to international students if you don't want to fall back in their nice and secure crowds with (sometimes) bad english. however, I couldn't achieve my goal to get rid of my Austrian accent..

Use the internet to call home. Skype is a good one. Shop on the internet for just about everything. Amazon.com holds everything you need. Shop at the big warehouses for furniture etc. Target is very cheap.

Book you plane ticket well in advance.