Exchange to Chapel Hill

When I applied for exchange, it was very difficult to decide on a destination. I have always been interested in studying abroad and wanted to try living in a completely new country, far from home. The USA has been especially interesting in recent years, so it was with a mix of excitement and nerves that I accepted the offer of a study place at UNC. I had a good impression of what it’s like to study at a “typical” American college from different media, and UNC Chapel Hill offers everything you would expect from a college, and more.

This semester I took five different history courses, diving into both American and European history. My favorite course was “The Global Cold War,” where I challenged myself with the complex and unstable period after World War II and developed a broad understanding of international politics during the Cold War. Studying in the USA is quite different from my experience studying comparative politics at UiB. The biggest difference is that attendance is expected several times a day, every day of the week, in addition to homework and projects throughout the semester. The closest comparison I can make is Norwegian upper secondary school. There is also a stronger focus on personal relationships with professors, both because classes are smaller and because students are encouraged to visit office hours. Americans are generally outgoing and talkative, so it is relatively easy to strike up conversations with other students who can offer tips about adjusting to the American system.

Another big contrast to Bergen is the campus environment: most students live, study, exercise, and eat on campus. On a typical day I mostly stayed within this area. The housing situation was also a new challenge. Even though I have lived in shared rooms before, living in a dorm with a roommate was a different experience. It went mostly very well, but required communication and patience from both of us.

As an exchange student in Chapel Hill, you have endless opportunities to join clubs and activities to socialize. I quickly joined the handball club, which trained a couple of times a week. This was very low-key since the US is not exactly known for handball, but UNC Chapel Hill is actually the reigning College National Champion and has both a large women’s and men’s team. It was a great arena to meet American students and stay active during a busy study routine. One of the highlights of my semester was a handball tournament where we played against, among others, the Military Academy West Point. It was fun to play matches against a more aggressive and physical team.

Because attendance was mandatory, travel outside the university area was mostly limited to long weekends and holidays. Still, there were plenty of activities nearby to explore in the afternoons. For example, I visited the NC State Fair, a gigantic carnival and food festival held every fall, where you can sample typical Southern dishes and try various activities. Some of the trips I took included Miami, Wilmington, and Asheville. It is relatively easy to travel around the US from Chapel Hill—both the airport and train station are close by. I would also recommend making friends with someone who has a car; it makes afternoon trips and weekend getaways much easier.

A big part of American college life is sports events. The university and its students take great pride in the performance of their teams, and there is a big focus on game days, especially for American football and basketball. During the semester I attended games in American football, basketball, “regular” football, and ice hockey. As a student, you can attend these games for free, which makes them a social setting where you can meet other students while watching a match.

I would recommend applying for an exchange to UNC Chapel Hill to everyone who is interested in the USA and wants to experience a different student culture. A stay in the US is extremely educational, as it is quite different from European culture, and you get the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.

UNC Chapel Hill is a unique place where you can challenge yourself both socially and academically.