19 What to Expect

The academic environment at U.S. tertiary institutions is quite different from that of many countries. In most instances instructors give continuous assessments. For instance, you may have weekly quizzes or tests every three to four weeks.

For most classes you will need to write ‘papers.’ Unlike regular in-class essay exams, ‘papers’ in the U.S. refer to ‘take-home’ research and analytical essays that students submit on an assigned topic. For example, an instructor may give the class a topic or question. Students could be asked to use scholarly articles to support their argument and analysis. In other papers, you may be asked to summarize and reflect upon articles, essays, and/or arguments presented in class.

Attendance, class participation, and homework are graded and calculated as part of the final score. This is the reality of academics in the U.S. and at IU. Thus, it is important that you attend your lectures, discussion sections, labs and/or studios.

The common observation that past exchange students have made is that there is less academic flexibility, in terms of time and what you can study in each class, and more requirements per class than what they are used to at their home institution. Again, how the academic culture at IU will affect you will vary individually and from country to country.