Norway was a great experience, expensive and sometimes different, but awesome at the same time!! Past Review
By Joshua A (Civil Engineer, University of Texas - Arlington) for
Norwegian School of Management: Oslo - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Everything was worthwile to do, even getting to do not so fun things or experience. I believe that any experience, either good or bad, will stay as memories that are going to be with you for ever. If I have would have the chance to go again in an exchange program, I would do it no questions asked. Probably since I already was in Norway I would pick some other place, to get to know something else. Assuming that I didn't knew anything about Norway, I would gladly go again, and do everything again, but planning even more trips this time!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The teaching methods and workload were somewhat the same as in my home university. What I found different was the grading system. Even within the host university the grading system was different from one course to other. In my case, some of the courses had several marks in order to complete the overall grade, but one; this course, even though I found it logic and easy to follow, had only one grade and it was at the end of the semester through the final exam. So even if we had some excercises to do as homework (that weren't that much)and two term projects, none of that work accounted as marks for the overall grade, just the final exam, that was 100% of the grade. This is something that found kind of different and risky, since no matter what you did all the semester, if you had a bad day during the exam, that grade is the one you will have at the end of the day. Other than that everything was as it is in my home school. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I found that everything was done as expected. They did a great job trying to inform the foreign students about what has to be done, and always were there to help you if you had a question. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
No restrictions at all in food terms, other than being highly expensive. What I did, and most of the foreign students did was to save some money by shopping at the local grocery shops (Kiwi, Rimi, Rema 1000, etc) and prepare something to eat at home. Sometimes making lunch at home and take it over school. Usually even Norwegian students did this. I found that comparing to the US and also south america, people tend to only eat something that will fill your stomach through the day. The food wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Besides since we were in an international student environment, we had the chance to taste food made by friends other than norwegians. The meal that was really popular for norwegian students was "Grandiosa", a cheap and not so good frozen pizza, but did the work of filling your stomach. What people visiting Norway will find is that sea food can be much affordable than beef. But all in all, what it makes it interesting is comparing what they eat with what we eat!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Regarding social events, I was very pleased. Norway is famous for there landscapes and sight scenery. People in Norway are very active in terms of sports and outdoor events. Night live is also good, the problem is that since everything is expensive, you can't enjoy all the things you can do or go to. Usually what students and people in general do over there is have a pre-party in a friends house and drink like there is no tomorrow (if you can afford it), and then go out to bars and try not to spend more money in drinks. The bars that are well known for exchange students were Horgan's and Chateau Neuf (cheaper beer, 55 kr for 0.5l (around $10), and no cover. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
It's supposed to be one of the safest places in the world. So no complaints on that matter. As everything, you need common sense and not walk alone in places that seems to be dangerous. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Students that want to know about nature and winter sports should definetely go to Norway. The city (Oslo) is like any other city, but what it makes the difference is what you can do outdoor. It is amazing the places you can go like Stavanger, Tromsø, Bergen. At the same time you can learn about scandinavian culture. You can easily travel to Sweden, Finland and other nearby countries if you purchase the tickets with time. The cheapest airline is Ryanair. If you don't mind traveling light this is the best airline to go. If you are open to know new culture, language, people, food, and places; going in a study abroad program is the best way. You can only get a grasp of one place by staying more than a couple days in a place. The best thing is that you make friends, lots of them, who can probably be your friends for life. it's a once in a life time opportunity, so go for it!! I don't regret it at all. |
