University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

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.

Don't panic if the courses you want to attend are already full. Students drop a lot of classes within the first few weeks of instruction. It is usually not necessary to attend a class from the first day on.

courses are usually very time-consuming but not very difficult.

it is hard enough to write all final exams within a few days. instructors should think about changing the due dates for term papers and (final) presentations. it is almost impossible to get sleep if these obligations add to the final exams.

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.

Space, privacy, facilities