5. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 7. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate

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1 Person 230 Basic Information 1. Name Erik Nilsson 2. Exchange university Illinois State University 3. City Normal, IL 4. Country United States 5. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 6. Academic year 2011/12 7. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 8. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Political Science 9. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 3 Studies 10. Write one or more paragraphs describing the following: The dierences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? The relationship between teachers and students. Examinations. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. During the exchange year I only took classes on undergrad level. The academic level of the studies varied a lot depending on what classes I took. Some of them demanded a lot more studying than back in Uppsala and some of them a lot less. As an advice for experienced students from Uppsala I would recommend to avoid the 100-level classes since they tend to be a bit too easy and to a high extent only covers basic knowledge. A large dierent from my point of view is that you in the US got a lot more small assignments and less big exams. I preferred this style of studying since it always kept you busy although the workload wasn't too heavy during short periods of time, as it often can be in Sweden. When it comes to the teachers I feel like a always had a good communication with them, a big dierent is the formal way that you're supposed to address the teacher with. Calling them Dr. or Professor is not very common in Sweden. Orientation and reception 11. Write one or more paragraphs describing the following: How you were welcomed as an exchange student. Orientation, information, activities. When I rst came to the University I got a warm welcome of the orientation crew which was made up by senior citizens of the community, University sta as well as fellow students. During a week I engaged in dierent activities and got to know the other international students really well, and some of the American students which made the adjustment into the new culture a lot easier. In this week I met the people that would become my closest friends during the stay. We still stay in contact on a daily basis even though we are all back in our native countries.

2 Accommodation 12. Write one or more paragraphs describing your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satised? Do you have any tips for future students? When rst arriving in Normal, I didn't have a place to stay. A few days before departure I therefore booked a hotel room for a week. To a price of about $70/night I received a nice room a short walk away from the University Campus. As a coincidence I met an Australian guy at the hotel who also were looking for a place to stay. Together we decided to search for a place and after seeing some horrible places to stay we found a nice four bedroom apartment only ve minutes walk away from campus. We instantly decided to take it since all of the others were located far away from school and wasn't as nice as this one. My roommates a guy from Australia, a guy from Jerusalem and an American guy are among my best friends today. I would highly recommend future exchange students to stay o campus since it gets you a better experience of the culture. The alternative, living in the dorms of International House, gets you a great location but shared rooms and an expensive rent. Getting to know Americans and the American culture was one of my main reasons for going and I'm quite sure that I wouldn't have got the same experience living with a lot of other international students. Your finances 13. Write one or more paragraphs describing the cost of living. Did you nd 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 nanced my trip almost entirely out of student loans from CSN. The money got me very far and I totally would have been able to live only on that money. However, I decided to make a few trips around the country when I was in the States which ended up costing a lot of money. I had been working up some of that money the summer before, but I also had to borrow some money from my parents. If you want to take the opportunity to travel around the country, which I highly encourage, I would recommend to save up some money before going. The student loans won't be enough to nance this. Free time 14. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on oer? During my free time I went to the University gym a lot. It was a great place to keep myself in shape. Other than that I was hanging out with friends and going on trips. Parties downtown Bloomington was a common occurrence too. It was a nice way to get to know people and to explore the twin cities. I also engaged in a student activity called Talk Time. Created especially for International Students, it was a nice way to get to know the rest of the community and to improve my English. Your exchange on a whole 15. 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 very happy and thankful that I decided and got the opportunity to study abroad for a year. I have learned a lot about other cultures, made a lot of new friends and grown as a person. I would recommend everyone to study abroad at some point of their education.

3 Approval 16. Do you approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University's website? Yes When you are done press Submit. You will then be asked to conrm that you want to submit your answers. Press OK. Thank you for replying to this survey - your input is greatly appreciated.

4 Person 42 Basic Information 1. Name Johanna Pettersson 2. Exchange university Illinois State University 3. City Normal 4. Country USA 5. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 6. Academic year 2011/12 7. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 8. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Juridik 9. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 4 Studies 10. Write one or more paragraphs describing the following: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? The relationship between teachers and students. Examinations. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. En stor skillnad var att på ISU (Illinois State University) hade vi jätte mycket läxor. Det var hela tiden små eller större läxor som skulle göras. Det kunde vara allt från att man skulle ha läst X antal sidor tills nästa gång och skriva diskussionsfrågor om det man läst till att skriva större uppsatser eller ha tentor. I min utbildning i Sverige så har jag mycket att plugga, men det känns som att det är mer eget ansvar pga att jag inte har alla dessa \ små\ läxor hela tiden. Att ha många \ små\ läxor är väldig tidskrävande. Lärarna är mer personliga med än på ISU än i Uppsala. I Uppsala så vet nog knappt hälften av mina lärare ens vem jag är men på ISU så fick man mer en personlig relation till dem. Lite mer liknande den relation man hade till sina lärare i grundskolan. Lärarna är även väldigt hjälpsamma och vill inget hellre än att sina studenter ska klara kursen. Våga bara prata med dem, så kan man tillsammans komma fram till en lösning på problemet. På tentorna så är det ofta \ multiple choice\ vilket jag aldrig har stött på i Sverige. Det gör tyvärr att man kan gissa sig till rätta svar, men man behöver fortfarande plugga till tentorna. Det fanns tillgång till datorer på de flesta ställen men jag rekommenderar att ta med sig sin egen. Då kan man sitta på rummet och plugga osv. Man använder datorn mycket i studierna, för att få tillgång till material osv. Jag tog lätta kurser där, nivå ett och två. Det var tyvärr så att nivån på dessa var ibland skrattretande låg, så det är att rekommendera att ta lite högra nivå. Allt beror på hur din nivå på engelskan är innan du åker dit och vad ditt mål med utbytet är. Orientation and reception 11. Write one or more paragraphs describing the following: How you were welcomed as an exchange student. Orientation, information, activities. Jag blev välkomnad väldigt, väldigt bra, över förväntan för att vara ärlig. Jag har blivit bra bemött under hela min tid på ISU. De har alltid varit väldig mån om sina utbytesstudenter. Första veckan hade de en \ orientation

5 week\ där man fick all info och hjälp man behövde för att komma i ordning med allt. Det fanns även alltid folk att kontakta om man hade frågor, de var där för att hjälpa än. Under hela min tid där så hade skolan väldigt mycket gratis aktiviteter för alla studenter på skolan. Detta är inget man är van vid från Uppsala. På ISU så kändes det som att det var viktigt att studenterna hade saker att aktivera sig med. Accommodation 12. Write one or more paragraphs describing your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? Jag bodde i \ the dorms\. Det var ett enkelt sätt för utbytesstudenter att ordna boende på. Då delade man rum men en annan av samma kön och sen delade man dusch och toalett med runt 25 andra. Jag bodde dock i en suit som var lite dyrare. Men då delade jag rum med en annan och sen delade vi toalett, dusch och en mindre vardagsrum med två andra. Så vi var fyra stycken i en suit. Sedan åt vi en stor matsal. Jag kan rekommendera att bo på campus i the dorms pga att då får man bra kontakt med de andra internationella studenterna. De hade samlat oss alla på en våning. Man var mer delaktig än de som bodde utanför campus. Nackdelen var ju att man inte hade så mycket till privatliv, eftersom man delade rum, toalett och allt med flera stycken andra. Your finances 13. Write one or more paragraphs describing 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 det som dyrt att bo på campus. Man fick inte så mycket som man kan tycka att man skulle ha fått för det man betalade. Men CSN räckte gått och väl. Efter att du har betalt din räkning i början av terminen så hade jag fortfarande pengar kvar från CSN. Sen under terminen så blir det inte så mycket mer utlägg eftersom du redan har betalt hela hyran och betalt för all mat. Det som kostar sedan är allt det som du vill göra på fritiden. Tex resa, gå ut och äta, shoppa osv. Jag upplevde hyran som dyrare än den jag har hemma i Sverige om man jämför vad jag får ut av hyran i tanke på kvalitet på boende och privatliv. Jag arbetade ingenting pga att jag upplevde det som komplicerat att skaffa alla tillstånd osv som behövdes för att arbeta där. Men det gick bra ekonomiskt ändå. Allting beror ju på hur mycket du vill resa osv. Ett tips är ju att spara ihop pengar innan du åker så att du kan göra det som du vill när du är där. Free time 14. 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 fritiden så umgicks jag med mina kompisar och vi gick ofta ut på restauranger och åt mat. Jag reste även en hel del. Universitetet ordnade ofta med aktiviteter för alla studenter på skolan. De som var ansvariga för oss internationella studenter ordnade med flera saker bara för oss också. Man var aldrig uttråkad eller ensam, det fanns alltid saker att göra. För oss internationella studenter så ordnade de även med vissa utflykter till städer i närheten, tex Chicago.

6 Your exchange on a whole 15. 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 ångrar inte en sekund att jag åkte, jag har lärt mig otroligt mycket. Jag har lärt mig mycket om mig själv och fått större förståelse för andra personer och deras kulturer. Mitt självförtroende har stärkt väldigt mycket. Approval 16. Do you approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes

7 Person 104 Basic Information 1. Name Erik Gustafsson 2. Exchange university Illinois State University 3. City Normal 4. Country USA 5. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 6. Academic year 2011/12 7. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 8. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Computer Science 9. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 4 Studies 10. Write one or more paragraphs describing the following: The dierences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? The relationship between teachers and students. Examinations. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. There were substantial dierences between UU and ISU in terms of the classroom environment. Uncomfortable seats with too little space on the desk in front of me, oh. Let me retract that, basically the same then. Otherwise, I didnt notice much dierence except that you do a lot more assignments in Uppsala than at ISU, more like high school home work rather than larger assignments actually, was not amused by that. There is also a lot more tests to take, even if the course ends with nal, students still have to take two to three exams during the progression of the course. Last, but certainly not the least, we had the dreaded scantron, the multiple choice test. Actually, it was not that bad at all since it makes taking exams much easier in the States. All in all, studying in the States will require time and time management because of the never ending assignments, but on the bright side, everything is well adapted to a typical student lifestyle: exams, assignments, course material, everything. Access to computers was more or less the same as UU, a couple of computers here and there, but they did have standing workstations in one building which I hadnt seen before. Orientation and reception 11. Write one or more paragraphs describing the following: How you were welcomed as an exchange student. Orientation, information, activities. On my rst day, a mad Malaysian man was driving me in a red van swirling back and forth on the road while one of the exchange students from Serbia forced me to tell fairy tales in Swedish, and that was kind of how the reception week for exchange students and the day after I arrived in the States looked like. I was delighted to be invited by an American host family to stay at their place for one night since it was free, score! There I met a short, stubby, long haired German guy, my brother (not biological of course but my host brother) who couldn't stop laughing at anything and everything. And so began the best year of life.

8 Accommodation 12. Write one or more paragraphs describing your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satised? Do you have any tips for future students? The year, like every year, had its ups and downs. I lived in the dorms, a place where I met the most interesting and fun people in my life, but with the ups comes the downs, I also met some of the most annoying and frustrating people in my life. And the worst thing of all, the toilets, oh God the toilets, lets just end it at that. The stay became absolutely amazing thanks to the incredible people, my girlfriend most of all. Your finances 13. Write one or more paragraphs describing the cost of living. Did you nd 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 same week as I moved in the dorms, the bills started to come. Actually it was only one bill, but a huge one. Rent for the whole semester. I think I paid around $500 a month to live with another guy in this tiny dorm room. Expensive. Living in the dorms also required me to have a meal plan, where I was forced to buy meals for the whole semester at the dining center, since there was no kitchen in the dorms. This was an additional $2000 for the whole semester. When that was paid, there were no other expenses, so I had still had some money left which I used mostly for travelling. Free time 14. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on oer? After a couple of weeks when things started to settle down, I got in a routine. There was not much to do, since the town was so small all I would was study, read, and hang out with friends. ISU has organized great activities throughout the year, some even geared just towards international students. Your exchange on a whole 15. 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. Best thing I ever did. Before, I was more or less wandering through life looking for somewhere to go or do. Now I know. The exchange was life changing. I met and talked with people from all over the world. I was inspired to do my best and keep developing. I met my amazing girlfriend. I found my purpose. Approval 16. Do you approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University's website? Yes When you are done press Submit. You will then be asked to conrm that you want to submit your answers. Press OK. Thank you for replying to this survey - your input is greatly appreciated.