Exchange Report

The visa process took quite a lot of time and should not be underestimated. There are many different websites, documents, and steps involved, so I would recommend starting the process as early as possible. Regarding accommodation, I was lucky to attend the Illinois get-together (UIUC Stammtisch) organized by WU before the exchange. There, I met students who had just returned from UIUC, and through them I was able to find my apartment. I can highly recommend attending these events, as they are very helpful for finding accommodation and getting useful advice. I also received valuable information about course selection from former exchange students. Thanks to their recommendations, I was able to choose courses that were interesting and could be transferred back to WU without any problems. For my journey, I took a direct flight from Vienna to Chicago and then continued by bus to Champaign. The connection was easy, affordable, and worked very well.

I lived in a private apartment only about five minutes away from campus. The location was excellent, and I could easily walk to all my classes, restaurants, bars, and most social activities. I always felt safe in the area. I found my accommodation through former WU exchange students, and the entire process went very smoothly. Communication with the landlord was straightforward, and I did not experience any major issues during my stay. One thing I would definitely clarify beforehand is whether the apartment is fully furnished and equipped. In the pictures, my apartment looked completely furnished, but when I arrived there were no plates, cutlery, pots, blankets, or other basic household items. This seems to be quite common in the US, so I would recommend asking specifically what is included before signing the lease.

One of the biggest advantages of UIUC is the campus itself. It offers a huge variety of sports facilities, and most of them are available to students free of charge. There are also many study spaces, libraries, and student organizations, which makes campus life very active. Academically, I found the courses manageable. This allowed me to enjoy the exchange experience while still earning enough credits. Compared to WU, I had more assignments, quizzes, and small tasks throughout the semester. However, this also meant that there was less pressure on individual exams and less studying required before finals. Overall, the workload was spread more evenly across the semester, which I personally preferred. It allowed me to have plenty of free time while still performing well academically.

Everyday life at UIUC was amazing. There was always something going on, whether it was sports events, parties, student activities, or events organized by the university. It was very easy to meet new people because most students were open, motivated, and friendly. I would highly recommend attending as many sporting events as possible. Basketball, football, baseball, and ice hockey games are a unique part of the American college experience and were some of my favorite memories from the exchange. There are also many bars and restaurants around campus, making it easy to spend time with friends and enjoy student life outside of class. The sports facilities on campus are excellent and included in the student fees, so I would definitely recommend making use of them.

At first, I was a bit disappointed because UIUC was not one of my top choices. Looking back, however, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I could have made. The combination of a great campus, amazing sports culture, lots of travel opportunities, and the people I met made this exchange an unforgettable experience. I would highly recommend UIUC to anyone looking for the full American college experience.