6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT)

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1 Person 143 Basic Information 1. Name Anna Larsson 2. address: anna.larsson 3. Exchange university University of Colorado at Boulder 4. City Boulder 5. Country USA 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 7. Academic year 2014/ What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Political Science, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies and Feminist Theories 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Politices Kandidatprogram 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 2 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... Before going to CU Boulder I thought it was going to be hard to find good classes within the field of Political Science since it is not the field that the university is known for, but I was proven wrong when I started looking through their class catalogue. Compared to Uppsala they have a much broader set of classes to choose from and the classes are a lot more specific. I find this a great thing since this, in combination with studying multiple classes at once, enables you to really make your own program. I only took upper level classes (around level), since I found those classes to be more stimulating and challenging. I also did not want to take classes with only freshmen students. I have to admit that I felt too old when I tried some of the lower level classes! In the beginning of each semester the university has a dropping and adding period. This is when you can go and try out the classes you are interested in before you decide for sure which classes to take. I found this pretty helpful and I was able to make some better choices. However, it can be hard sometimes if the class is popular and you want to register for it during this period because there might not be enough spaces. To be sure that you get the classes you want, it can be good to have registered for more classes than you are planning to take. I really enjoyed my classes at CU Boulder. The content was interesting and I felt challenged in my studies. You usually study 4-5 classes at the same time. This means that the workload for each class is not that much, but combined it becomes quite a lot. This, of course, depends on what level you have on your classes, and it depends on how much you study. The big difference from Uppsala when it comes to homework and exams is that ALL assignments are Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 419 av 616

2 a lot smaller at CU Boulder. However, with the 4 or 5 classes I thought that it became quite a lot during midterm weeks or finals weeks. And something that was hard for me to handle was that there was never really a break between tough study periods. After an intense exam week, you might have had exams or papers due in other classes the next week. This was hard for me to handle since I am used to Uppsala where we tend to have a bit more of an easy time after an exam period. My professors were all really good! They were very passionate about what they were teaching and they genuinely cared about the students learning. In all of my classes we were only about students which improved the work environment and it demanded everyone to be active and engaged in the class discussion. Being in such small classes made the class environment friendlier and the professors always knew our names. It is definitely a huge difference from Uppsala when it comes to the student - Professor relationship. In Boulder all of my professors invited (and expected) us to step by their office during their office hours. I usually went to all of my professors in the beginning of the semesters just to say hello and to get to know them briefly. Then, later on in the semesters, I only went to the office hours if I had a specific question regarding an assignment or so. I did find it very helpful that I went to their office hours in the beginning of the semesters, since then they had a picture of who I was and what I was interested in which was nice during the classes. It is pretty common for students to become friends with their professors. I am still in contact with a few of mine! Also, some professors/doctors prefer to be addressed by their title (Prof or Dr ) but some of them just prefer being addressed by their first name. I found it the easiest just to ask them about their preference in the beginning of the semester. Another difference from Uppsala is that you have a lot more classes to go to. I managed to set my schedule up so that I only had classes Monday-Thursday, but I know many people that only had two days of classes a week! I enjoyed my four-day week because I was able to go skiing, hiking or do other activities on Fridays! Anyhow, regarding the classes, compared to Uppsala it is mandatory to attend classes. In some ways it felt like I was back in High School but it ended up being good in the end. Usually you did not have to read as much outside of classes since the professors covered and explained a lot of the readings during classes. The campus is huge and it is all connected, compared to Uppsala. During the breaks (between the classes) there were people everywhere on bikes, skateboards and on foot. It can be hard to make your way through there sometimes. Therefore, it can be good to double-check where your classes are so that you dont have to run across all over campus to get to your next class. There are also plenty of spaces where you can sit and study. I usually studied on campus, in the library or in one of the cafes. There are computers and printers everywhere on campus and you can use your student card to print! Something I would recommend during hectic study weeks is to study in the food court area (C4C). It costs 7 $ to get in and then you can stay for the whole day! Some of the other Swedes and I used to go there at 8 am and then we had three meals there while studying! This was definitely the best alternative during the finals weeks when you didnt have the energy to cook. Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. In general, CU Boulder is very good at welcoming international students. In the beginning they have a welcome/orientation week where they show everyone around campus and international students, that have been there for a while, are there to help out and answer questions. Throughout the year the office for international students was always open if you had any questions and they would organize a lot of activities. I signed up for something called a student guide and I also signed up for a Boulder family. I am very happy I signed up for both. The student guide is a CU Boulder student that you get in contact with that helps you figure things out regarding the university Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 420 av 616

3 the first few weeks. I became really good friends with my student guide and we met up for food, hikes etc. during the rest of the year. Through the Boulder family CU wants their international students to get to know more about the local area, and specifically, people from outside of the university. My Boulder family was an old lady that lived up in a miners cabin in the mountain. I met up with her a lot during the year, we cooked together, went snow-shoe hiking together, went to concerts together, and basically, she became a very good friend of mine. I would definitely recommend people to sign up for these things since you have the opportunity to meet some really cool people that are excited to get to know you as well! Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? When it comes to my accommodation, I lived off campus and I arranged it myself. I simply contacted the Swedes that were in Boulder the year before me and managed to find housing in that way. I was very lucky and got to rent a house together with two American girls. Living in a house, with my own backyard, felt like a dream after having spent the last couple of years living in the student corridors in Uppsala. The only downside with our house was that the quality was not the greatest. For instance, our windows were only one-layered, and yes, Colorado does get a lot of snow during the winters... This meant that the winter was super cold! It was manageable though, and I just had to wear a few extra layers of clothes indoors. My rent was good though, when comparing with the other Swedes I realized that I got a good deal. I paid 587 $ a month plus 25 $ for internet. My house was only a 5 minute bike ride from campus. The rent is definitely more expensive than in Uppsala, but Boulder is a very popular place to live in which shows in the prices of everything. Food and clothes were slightly cheaper, but not a lot, compared to Sweden. Something that I would recommend regarding housing for future Boulder exchange students is: Go live with Americans! I found that I got to know the culture a lot better, I got to practice my English, and I made friends that I am excited to visit/have visiting in the future. Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? I had the full loan and grant from CSN, and I found it okay to live off of. I was fortunate to be granted a scholarship before going and this meant that I was able to do a lot more activities that I wouldnt have been able to otherwise. For instance, the ski pass for the season was not super cheap, so my scholarship helped me with that. I was also able to do some more traveling thanks to the scholarship. I got to travel to Boston and to Hawaii during my year! The advice I would give to someone who wants to go skiing during the year is to do a season rent of skis at Christy Sports. Some of the other Swedes and I did this since it was a great deal! Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? There are endless of possibilities for spare time activities in Boulder! For being a fairly small city (in US standards) there are so many things happening in Boulder all the time! I appreciate music and dancing a lot, and there were a lot of live gigs happening in local cafes Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 421 av 616

4 or bars every day of the week. We also went to Red Rocks once to see the Arctic Monkeys! Many bars/restaurants also have free dance nights where you can come and learn swing or other types of dances. Moreover, Boulder is amazing if you like being active! You will see people RUNNING with strollers everywhere, people walk around with rolled up yoga mats on their backs on campus and a lot of people come to Boulder to train professionally because of the high altitude. The campus has a new gym and it is the biggest gym I have ever seen! You can spend A LOT of time in there since there are so many things to do (for instance you can: do normal gym, ice-skate, climb, play basketball, play tennis, play ping pong, swim, play soccer, etc.) Unfortunately, their classes were not my favorite but you can see for yourself what you think! It is free for students to access the gym but you have to pay extra to use some of their equipment/ go to classes. Also, the mountains are always close when you are in Boulder, it only took me ten minutes by bike to get there from my house. So we ended up doing a lot of hikes throughout the year, both in in Boulder but also in other areas. And of course, the skiing. The season starts in November and sometimes it lasts up until June! We were skiing mostly from November until the end of April. I had never skied outside of Sweden before I came to Colorado, so it was definitely a big change! Since Colorado has so much sun, it was almost always sunny when we skied. The snow is also different, we had a lot of powder days and it was very rare that we saw any ice in the slopes. With other words: Perfect skiing! We usually skied in the mountains that were about two hours away from Boulder so you will have to have a car/ know someone with a car to get there. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. Overall, my year in Boulder has been a great experience! I feel like I am inspired academically, personally, and regarding health and fitness. The academia in Boulder has deepened my interests and I know more now where I want to go with my future studies and in my future work. Personally, I have developed and become more confident. Having done a year abroad like this definitely broadens your perspectives and it gives you the courage to take on new adventures. Finally, having been in one of the healthiest cities in the US has had an impact on me. I was interested in health and fitness before going, but I feel even more inspired now. Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s Publishing of pictures - Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 422 av 616

5 Person 134 Basic Information 1. Name Carl Christian Kirchmann 2. address: 3. Exchange university University of Colorado Boulder 4. City Boulder 5. Country USA 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 7. Academic year 2014/ What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Programming, electronics, engineering management 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Mixed undergrad/postgrad 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Civilingenjör i Teknisk Fysik 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 3 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... To start with one of the main differences between studying at CU and Uppsala is the amount of homework. In every class I had one or several assignments due every week. Though it seems tough in the beginning it really makes it easier to learn and you are well prepared for the exams. I never had to study as intense as in Uppsala for my exams at CU since I had learnt the course materal during the entire semester, rather than learning it the last week... The relationship to the professors is much more personal, many of the professors took the time to learn the students names and they had office hours where you could sit down one on one with the professor and go over material you needed help with. Whatever you study I really think you should take the class COMM Public Speaking. You will become better at english and also a better public speaker which is essential in whatever field of study you are working with. I and several other students from Uppsala took it and we all felt like we learnt alot. The quality of the courses was a lot higher than Uppsala, the professors all took pride in their work and wanted the students to understand and participate in their classes. The level of the classes seems lower than Uppsala but that is probably because you learn so much during the semester instead of learning everything the last week before the exam like in Uppsala. Examintions were in general much shorter than in Uppsala and many of the exams were open book and multiple choice. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 391 av 616

6 Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. I arrived two weeks before school started. Me and my girlfriend were able to arrange housing with the help of a friend in the US before our arrival. So the first two weeks we just went furniture shopping and checking out Boulder. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? Check craigslist for accommodation, it s tough but it always works out if you really try. You should preferably go to boulder a week or two before school starts to settle in. In the school dorms mostly freshmen live (first year students) so I think it s better to get housing somewhere else. Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? Rent is more expensive than in Uppsala so some extra money can definitely come in handy. I did not have to work extra but I had saved some money before leaving to the US. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? I spent a lot of time skiing in the winter and during the fall I went hiking and climbing. There were lots of activites for exchange students and students at the University overall. If you want to, you ll have plenty of things to do. Since the weather is almost always good you can do lots of outdoorsy things! In general people are very active and like doing things outdoors. Be sure to check all the CU clubs and organizations, there are a lot of them, ranging from Super Smash Brothers Clubs to Climbing Clubs. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. I am so glad I went on this amazing exchange year, I strongly encourage anyone who is hesitating to just do it. You will grow as a person, make new connections worldwide and have a lot of fun! Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. - Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 392 av 616

7 21. Publishing of pictures - Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 393 av 616

8 Person 28 Basic Information 1. Name Joakim 2. address: 3. Exchange university University of Colorado 4. City Boulder 5. Country USA 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 7. Academic year 2014/ What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Computer Science, Entrepreneurship and Public Speaking 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Mixed undergrad/postgrad 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Computer Science 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 3 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... I feel like the classes I took in the US were at a lower academic level than in Sweden but they required much more work. In almost all of my classes there were mandatory assignments that were due each week. The assignments were not hard but took some time. Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. I shared an apartment with a former student who just graduated so he introduced me to campus, the town and to a lot of his friends. It was very easy for me to feel comfortable and at home. I didn t go to all of the orientation events organized by the school so I didn t meet that many other international students. My goal wasn t to become friends with people from all over the world but instead to find american friends. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? I lived with a former student who just graduated. We shared an apartment in the middle of Boulder. It was a really nice place and I liked it a lot. It was on the top of my budget but I am really glad I took the chance to live Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 81 av 616

9 with an american instead of with other exchange students. For future students I can highly recommend trying to find housing with some americans instead of exchange students, because even if it cost more, you will get so much back. More friends faster, bigger network and more opportunities to learn about their culture and tag along on different events and activities. Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? The SEK lost value compared to the USD with about 30% during my year. I felt that CSN was enough to survive on in the beginning but was not nearly enough if you want to do stuff (such as travel, go to hockey games or drink a lot of beer). I would encourage any future exchange student to apply for extra loans at CSN or save a butt load of money that he/she can spend. It is not fun being too poor to do things. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? I played broomball, inner tube water polo and soccer on my free time. There were leagues organized by the university and I was fortune enough to have a team. I also went climbing, skiing, partying and a lot of other thing. I didn t go to any of the activities arranged by the university for exchange students because I had enough activities to attend. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. IT WAS AWESOME! I did t wanna go home :( My best advice to anyone going to america is to live with an american! My second best advice is to spend money and do everything, you don t want to go home with regrets. Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? No 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s Publishing of pictures - Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 82 av 616

10 Person 29 Basic Information 1. Name Amanda Bucht 2. address: 3. Exchange university Universidad de Deusto 4. City Bilbao 5. Country Spain 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish spring semester (VT) 7. Academic year 2014/ What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? International Relations 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Samhällsvetarprogrammet 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 2 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... Jag kom till Bilbao innan skolstarten för att gå en intensivkurs i spanska. Kursen kan jag verkligen rekommendera då det är ett jättebra tillfälle att få ett sammanhang i staden, lära känna andra utbytesstudenter och komma igång med spanskan. Skillnaderna mellan studierna i Uppsala och Bilbao är rätt många. I Bilbao är alla föreläsningar obligatoriska och man har ungefär 6 timmars lektion per dag. Det som också bör nämnas är att föreläsningar i Spanien är mer som lektioner i gymnasiet än föreläsningar på svenska universitet. Mindre klasser och mer interaktiva arbeten. Lärarna är bra och de allra flesta rätt strukturerade. Det finns en studieplattform som är bra för att se studiekriterier, kursplaner etc. Nära universitetet finns ett stort bilbliotek där man kan sitta och studera. I centrum finns ett kulturcentrum (Alhondiga) med bio, restauranger, gym och bibliotek där man också kan studera. Jag skulle nog säga att den akademiska nivån är lägre i Bilbao i jämförelse med Uppsala Universitet. Man har mindre att läsa och kriterierna är väldigt tydliga - det som krävs inför proven är i princip att skriva vad läraren sagt på föreläsningarna. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 83 av 616

11 Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. Välkomnandet var superbra på universitetet. Erasmus arrangerar många evenemang i början och skolan har många tydliga informationsmöten de första veckorna. Byråkratin är rätt krånglig i Spanien så det är viktigt att man får rätt papper utskrivna och signerade av rätt person de första veckorna. Det är ganska mycket spring mellan de olika koordinaterna på skolan. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? Jag bodde i en delad lägenhet i området Urribarri tillsammans med två andra tjejer. Själva lägeheten var väldigt fin och fräsch men lägenheten låg lite långt ifrån stadens kärna. Om man vill bo nära skolan är det bra att bo i Deusto eller Indautxtu. Det man måste ha i åtanke är att kolla lägenhetens standard rätt noga på bilderna. Generellt är köken och badrummen rätt sunkiga i jämförelse med den svenska standarden. De lägenheterna som är lite mer ruffiga tenderar också att ha problem med el, wifi och varmvatten. Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? Jag skulle nog säga att livet är billigare i Bilbao. Maten är generellt billigare och man har råd att äta ute på restauranger rätt ofta. Min hyra var 3500 kronor/månad - inklusive el och wifi vilket ungefär motsvarar hyran för ett studentrum i Uppsala. Jag arbetade inte extra under studietiden. Det är inget jag skulle rekommendera då jag tror att det är bättre att satsa på att lära sig språket, komma in i kulturen och lära känna spanska kompisar och andra Erasmus-studenter. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? Då det var fint väder åkte jag till stranden, många gick surfkurser som Erasmus arrangerar. Jag reste också en hel del, det finns många fina städer här i närheten. För att nämna några: Biarritz, Pamplona, San Sebastian och San Juan de Luz. Ett tips är att hålla koll på vad som händer i stan på olika sociala medier. Ofta så är det olika marknader, festivaler och evenemang runtom i stan. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. Ett tips är att komma igång med spanskan direkt. Vissa lärare kan inte engelska och då är det enklare att kommunicera Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 84 av 616

12 om man har dammat av sin spanska lite. Det är även lättare att få spanska kompisar från Bilbao vilket kan vara kul! Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. Olika miljöer i Bilbao. 21. Publishing of pictures I approve of my pictures being published and used in Uppsala University s marketing of international exchanges Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 85 av 616

13 Person 62 Basic Information 1. Name Johanna Salmi 2. address: 3. Exchange university University of Colorado Boulder 4. City Boulder 5. Country USA 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 7. Academic year 2014/ What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Psychology, sociology, philosophy and communication 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Bachelor program in Behavioral Science 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 3 years Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... I really enjoyed the classes that I enrolled in at the University of Colorado Boulder. I only enrolled in undergraduate courses, and at that level it felt a little bit like being back in high school again: many of the teachers take attendance and you get homework. The academic level of the courses that I enrolled in were lower, but it still takes a lot of studying because of the homework. Most of my examinations were multiple choice, which is very different from the examinations in Uppsala. All my teachers were really engaged and inspiring. I was really happy with all my courses, but my favorites were: Clinical judgment and decision making with Natalie Smutzler, Abnormal psychology with Samantha Strife, and gender and communication with Karen Lee Ashcraft. I also really recommend future exchange students to enroll in public speaking, it is terrifying, but it is so useful! Fall 2014: Clinical judgment and decision making (PSYC) Abnormal psychology (PSYC) Interpersonal communication (COMM) Crime and society (SOCY) Spring 2015: Philosophy and psychology (PHIL) Human emotion (PSYC) Gender and communication (COMM) Public speaking (COMM) If anyone has any questions about these classes, feel free to me! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 183 av 616

14 Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. The university arranged activities for the exchange students, for example guided tours of the campus, lawn games and hikes to the Flatirons. I went to a few of the activities, but not all of them. I signed up for the International Student Guide (ISG) program, which means you get assigned to a student at the university that you can meet up with and that can help you with your questions. I also signed up for the Boulder Friends of International Students (BFIS) which means that you get assigned to a family in Boulder to meet up with. I really enjoyed both the ISG and the BFIS program. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? I would recommend future exchange students to look at craigslist and ralphieslist in order to find a place to stay, and to look at these websites regularly, because new ads gets posted often and the good ones are leased fast. I lived off campus together with my boyfriend during my stay in Boulder. First we lived in an apartment at 1155 Marine Street. It was a really good location, close to the university, the Hill and pearl street. The rent was 1200 usd. But the apartment complex changed owner during our stay and the new owners wanted to renovate the whole building, so we decided to move. The newly renovated apartments are REALLY expensive (around 1650 usd a month) so I would recommend future exchange students to live somewhere else. The second apartment was located at 3009 Madison Avenue. Not as close to the Hill and pearl street but the apartment was nice. The rent was 1100 usd. The landlord is really nice so if anyone wants to get in contact with him, feel free to send me an . Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? For me CSN was adequate, but I also had money saved just in case. Even though I think CSN was adequate, I think it is good to have money saved just in case something happens. For example, my computer broke down during my stay, so I had to buy a new computer, an expense that I did not expect. Unexpected expenses always happens, so it is good to have some extra money in those situations. Living is really expensive in Boulder, you can pay around 500 all the way up to 900 usd for a room in a house. I would definitely recommend future exchange students to start an american bank account while in the U.S. We had to start an account because we payed our rent with checks, but I think it is good to start an account even if you don t have to. I had an Wells Fargo account, because I think that is the only bank that does not require a social security number. When you start an account you will probably get an offer that you will get 100 usd when you start your account, just be prepared that you will probably not receive the 100 usd! I did not undertake any part-time job in addition to my studies. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? Boulder is a really good place for outdoor activities. I tried to ski a lot in my free time. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 184 av 616

15 I bought the epic local pass for skiing, and I would recommend future exchange students that enjoy skiing to buy a pass and try to ski a lot during their stay in Colorado, because the skiing is amazing! There is also really good hiking in the area so that is something that I would recommend as well. I also went on road trips during my exchange year, for example to Yellowstone together with the other Swedish exchange students, and also to the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde and the Great Sand Dunes National Park. I would recommend future exchange students to go on roadtrips, because there is sooo much to see in and around Colorado. The university also arranged activities, for example Cu Wednesday and International Coffee hour, and I think both of these activities are good ways to meet other international students. I also went on a trip to the Rocky mountain national park that was arranged by the university. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. My exchange year in Boulder was a really amazing experience! Boulder is a really nice place to live in, close to the mountains with skiing and hiking. The university campus is beautiful, and I really enjoyed my classes as the university. If you want to go on an exchange year abroad, I would really recommend the University of Colorado Boulder!! Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s Publishing of pictures - Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 185 av 616

16 Person 48 Basic Information 1. Name Maja Nordstrand 2. address: 3. Exchange university University of Colorado at Boulder 4. City Boulder 5. Country USA 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 7. Academic year 2014/ What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Business 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Civilingenjörsprogrammet i Energisystem 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 3 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... Jag har trivts jättebra som student på University of Colorado i Boulder. Skillnader mellan att studera i USA och i Sverige som jag upplever: - I USA är lärarna mer engagerade. (Kanske hade jag bara tur, men alla professorer var trevliga, kunde mitt namn och verkade brinna för sitt ämne som de lärde ut.) - I USA är det lättare att klara kurserna. (Då undervisningen påminner mer om gymnasiet, man får poäng för varje uppsats/läxa/redovisning man gör, är det lättare för lärarna att fånga upp elever som inte är på väg att klara kursen) - I USA är det viktigt att vara involverad i undervisning. (Man får betyg i participation(!) vilket innebär att lektionerna ofta blir mer levande) På University of Colorado i Boulder tog jag följande kurser: Höstterminen 2014: - INBU 3300, International Business. Väldigt bra kurs! Det var kul att vara utbytesstudent när man läste om internationell business då jag ofta blev frågad om mina erfarenheter från Sverige. Tillgodoräknas som: Fek C - MGMT 3200, Business Analytics. Denna kurs handlade om hur man utnyttjar och kan använda big data inom business. Intressant men ganska svår. Dock tror jag att kunskaperna från denna kurs är väldigt användbara. Tillgodoräknas som: Fek C - MGMT 4150, International Operation Management. Lätt kurs och bra men inget speciellt. Tillgodoräknas som: Fek C - MKTG 3250, Buyer Behavior. Jätteintressant kurs! Mycket psykologi om hur vi människor fungerar i ett konsumtionssamhälle. Rekommenderas!! Tillgodoräknas som: Fek B - MKTG 3350, Marketing Research. Också en bra kurs! Dock lite mer krävande då det är en del statistik inblandat. Men vi fick göra givande projekt där vi själva gjorde marknadsundersökningar åt lokala företag. Tillgodoräknas som: Fek C Vårterminen 2015: - MGMT 3030, Critical Leadership Skills. Superbra kurs! Läraren är toppenbra (han har jobbat åt amerikanska presidenten) och ämnena man diskuterar är verkligen intressanta. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 138 av 616

17 Dock krävs det mycket participation från studenterna då lektionerna är uppbyggda kring diskussion. Jag var i början väldigt nervös över att behöva prata så mycket i klassrummet, men det var verkligen nyttigt för min språkliga utveckling! Tillgodoräknas som: Fek C - MGMT 4040, Team, Organization, and Personal Development. Helt okej kurs, lätt, men inget jag rekommenderar. Tillgodoräknas som: Fek C - MGMT 4140, Project Management. Lätt och roligt. Ganska seg lärare men då man jobbar med ett grupprojekt hela terminen får man bra kontakt med vissa klasskamrater. Tillgodoräknas som: Fek C - MKTG 4550, Advertising and Promotion. Jättebra kurs med en väldigt bra lärare (han har läst både på Harvard och Yale). Jag lärde mig jättemycket om marknadsföring. Dock kräver kursen en del från studenten. Tillgodoräknas som: Fek C Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. Smidigt! Boulder är en såååå trevlig stad som påminner om Sverige på många sätt. Det är lätt att ta sig runt med cykel och med kollektivtrafik. Då kan även gå runt och upptäcka stan till fots vilket känns ovanligt för en amerikansk stad. Stan är även rätt liten. Detta gjorde det lätt för mig att känna mig hemma i Boulder! Vi fick skjuts av amerikaner som hade varit utbytesstudenter i Uppsala från flygplatsen till Boulder (det är sju mil). Men det finns även bra bussar att ta som går drygt en gång i timmen och kostar 13 dollar (du måste betala kontant och ha jämna pengar). När du väl är student i Boulder får du en busskort så att du kan åka alla bussar GRATIS! Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? Vi hade ett hur bra boende som helst!! Vi hyrde ett radhus som låg 1 km från campus, 4 km från stan på Colorado Avenue. Området var mycket trevligt och huset var verkligen fräscht. Jag delade bostad med tre andra svenskar och vi betalade 2000 dollar tillsammans, 9 månaders hyra. Vi hittade bostaden på ralphieslist.colorado.edu vilket är en hemsida där man kan lägga ut och hitta bostäder (anpassat för studenter). Jag skulle verkligen rekommendera att bo off-campus och om det går, gärna i ett hus som du delar med andra människor. Det är både socialt och roligt! Innan vi åkte iväg pratade alla om att the Hill var det bästa området att bo i. Det är där alla fester är och där bor de flesta studenter. Men då Boulder är så pass litet går det även ypperligt att bo på andra ställen och cykla till the Hill på nätterna om du vill ta del av studentfesterna Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? Jag upplevde att det kostar lika mycket att bo i Boulder som att bo i Uppsala. Jag betalade 500 dollar i hyra, 40 dollar för el och gas i huset, 40 dollar i mobilräkning och drygt 200 dollar i mat varje vecka. Utöver det köpte jag väldigt lite kläder men istället köpte jag bil (delade med tre andra svenskar) och flygresor till platser utöver hela USA. Jag har använt upp allt CSN och lite av mina sparpengar (ca 5000 kr). Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 139 av 616

18 Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? På min fria tid åkte jag mycket skidor i Klippiga bergen, hikeade, cyklade mountain bike, tränade, gick på studentfester, reste till en massa (bland annat till Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Miami, New York och Kalifornien). Det erbjöds aktiviteter för utbytesstudenter men då vi var 15 svenskar som åkte, och det fanns drygt 10 amerikaner som bodde i Boulder som hade varit i Uppsala på utbyte, hade jag gott om vänner att umgås med från dag 1. Detta innebar att jag inte deltog i så många aktiviteter som ordnades av universitetet. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. Jag är så glad att jag åkte på utbyte! Jag tror absolut att jag alltid kommer att kolla tillbaka på detta år och tänka mitt livs bästa år! Min rekommendation är att åka iväg. Jag tror att vart du än åker så kommer du få ut så mycket av ditt år/halvår. Både språkligt, socialt och i form av nya upplevelser. Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. Bild 1: University of Colorado at Boulder med de fantastiska bergen Flatirons i bakgrunden. Bild 2: Pearl Street, huvudgatan i Boulder. Bild 3: Vintertid på campus. Leeds School of Business. Bild 4: Vintertid på campus. Dining Hall. Bild 5: Skidorten Vail, 2 timmar från Boulder 21. Publishing of pictures I approve of my pictures being published and used in Uppsala University s marketing of international exchanges Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 140 av 616

19 Person 20 Basic Information 1. Name Markus Rylander 2. address: 3. Exchange university University of Colorado at Boulder 4. City Boulder 5. Country United States 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 7. Academic year 2014/ What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Business and management 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Law 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 3 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... The courses were interesting and mostly well organized. However, they were easier than what I am used to in Uppsala. Professors were in general more pedagogic than in Uppsala and managed to inspire students. But they are also more controlling and make sure that the students do all their homework. There is more personal freedom in Sweden to choose when and what to study. Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. It was very helpful to have met the American students who went to Uppsala prior to our exchange. They picked us up at the airport and helped us with a great many things. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? We found off-campus housing, which can be recommended. None of the Swedish exchange students who went this year lived on campus. We had a very clean house with nice landlords and low rent. We were four Swedes who lived together in a townhouse one mile east of campus. We were very satisfied. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 59 av 616

20 Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? I used a lot more money than what I do in Uppsala. Boulder is expensive to live in. We had low rent in comparison to others but still slightly more than in Uppsala. On average I think people pay $ /month per person, but it is possible to find cheaper if you are willing to live a little bit away from campus and the city center. CSN was not enough for me because I traveled a lot and also bought a new bike, skis and a laptop. If you are able to find housing with low rent CSN goes a long way. CSN is more than enough for what it is intended for (rent, food, books, trips etc.) Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? I did a lot of outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, climbing and mountain biking. I did not take part in the activities that the university offered. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. I had high expectations for this year, yet everything turned out better than I could have imagined. I am very grateful for the opportunity to see a new country and get to meet new friends. I highly recommend going to Boulder on exchange studies. Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. I am sitting on campus studying in the end of October 21. Publishing of pictures I approve of my pictures being published only in this exchange report (web/printed) Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 60 av 616