American College of Norway: Semester or Year Study

My favorite thing about this school was the academics. For one, education is very inexpensive, yet you get private school quality education from credible professors that care about your success. The classes are geared towards first-year students looking to take explorative courses.
In terms of social life, that is completely up to you. If you are willing to go out and meet people and do things, of course, you will have a good experience. If you stay locked in your room all day, are unwilling to meet new people, and go out and explore, of course, you will have a mediocre social experience. Just take initiative and you will have an amazing time.

I wanted to go to ACN because as an American just finishing a year of folkehøgskole I wanted desperately to both spend more time in Norway, and get started on my degree. I decided to go to ACN for the 2019 Fall Semester, and the 2020 Spring Semester. ACN is a relatively small school, but for me, that was a hugely positive aspect of it. I was able to easily integrate as part of the community because of its small size, and the many activities and events held on campus. Living at the ACN dorms in Verket, Moss, was really fun and comfortable. I had plenty of space and I really enjoyed the transition of doing all my own dishes and cooking all my own meals with my roommate. My teachers at ACN were enthusiastic and engaged, with many fascinating subjects to offer. But perhaps my favorite thing was the 1 credit travel seminar to Svalbard, offered in the fall. Myself and my friends made quite a few expeditions on our own as well, taking regular day trips to nearby cities, in order to explore more of beautiful Norway. In summation, I'd say that ACN is the perfect experience for any Americans who want a chance to spend some time in this great country, as well as for any Norwegians that are curious for a taste of American college life. Highly recommended!

I have always wanted to explore the world but I never thought I could do it while in college. ACN gave me the opportunity to do so and I am thankful for it. The staff members helped me, as an American student, find my way around Norway, get situated in the dorms, and made it feel like home. As well as in the classroom, the professors are the most kind, patient, and hard-working people. They will do anything to help you succeed inside and outside of the classroom. The first week of the semester ACN has a welcome week, where you get to know everyone with activities. I have made some amazing friendships. The amazing part is that ACN works hard to bring activities that both American and Norwegian students will like such as Homecoming, Haunted House, Thanksgiving, and Holiday Party. ACN helped me grow and learn about everything. I have developed a love for Norway because ACN encourages you to explore the country and its surroundings in your free time. I definitely encourage everyone to apply!! I have had the most amazing semester and I cannot wait to go back again to visit them.

ACN is truly a supportive, open, and loving community. I feel so lucky that I got to be a part of it! The staff and students make Norway genuinely feel like home and studying here allows for a unique study abroad experience. Throughout my time at ACN I was supported in every sense. They understand the stressors that come with studying abroad and eased every worry I had. Upon arrival I was prepped with pictures of the airport, and clear directions how to get to the school. Staff also brought us to the grocery store to help find food we’d enjoy and with the language barrier. Throughout the first weekend we had many activities planned to welcome the students and give everyone time to meet and settle in before classes started. Because of the close-knit community that ACN creates I became friends with a lot of Norwegians who helped me navigate travel, culture, and language. I have an enriched idea of Norwegian life now, the students helped me plan trips to the most beautiful places in Norway, and some secret local spots. I genuinely believe this is a one of a kind programs and I can’t imagine having gone to any other school for study abroad. The best part is, when I plan my trip back to Norway, I have a home to visit and tons of people to meet up with!

I can say I enjoyed my time at the American College of Norway. I have lived in Norway for a few years, so I did not choose this college to experience Norwegian culture. I always dreamed about studying in the U.S, so I was hoping that ACN would be a good transition to an American college. We had certain "American" events at the school, such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Superbowl. It was interesting and exciting to experience those for the first time however, the lack of enthusiasm and participation of other students ruined the fun. Despite the overall lack of student participation, I was able to meet interesting people from different countries and learn about various cultures, which really pleased me. I was able to learn more about the U.S and what to expect when I go there. Academics at the American College of Norway are okay, and some classes were more challenging than others. I was hoping to improve my English language skills before going to the U.S, and I have improved thanks to this school. I cannot think of anything that is exceptionally great at this school, but also I cannot think of anything that is completely awful. This experience depends on the amount of money you have to spend on travel around Norway and the effort you put into schoolwork and social life. Unfortunately, COVID-19 ruined some of the experience, and we had to take online classes and cancel events, which is disappointing. Overall, the American College of Norway has the potential to become a great school for Norwegians and international students, and I recommend trying this study abroad opportunity.

ACN offers a program that is really unique for a country like Norway.

The program offered interesting academic courses, encouraged international travel as well as social interactions between not only the students with themselves but with the local culture and area, and in general had a sense of community that made being somewhere different not as scary as it might have been. I found the staff to be nice and very helpful, so I felt like I could apprach them with any issue. ACN created an environment where I could focus on my future and what I wanted to do with my life, as well as one where I could enjoy the moment and have fun the way everyone wants too when they have a study abroad experience.

This program was more than worth it for me!

I am absolutely infatuated with the literature of the early 20th Century. Reading the great works of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Stein, Pound, and others, I fell in love with the robust lifestyle and metropolis bustle of Europe. Walking along the cobblestone, book in hand, searching for a café while people watching was my idyllic pastime. It is not quite like that here. It is hard to immerse oneself into Norwegian culture and customs in the same way as the Americans of the past because the Americans attending only have an interest in American customs. You speak English and learn Norwegian in a joking bypass. Those Americans really wanting to learn about Norway will have to push hard for it to a point that it is more of a struggle than anything else. If you have no interest in learning about another country and want America outside America then this is the place. Language is no issue as people will understand you, there are other Americans and those that want to be exposed to American culture, and the food is nothing crazy, you can make burgers and hot dogs all the time. If you are looking for cultural diversity and immersion then it may be a bit disappointing, but they are trying their best to make it so. Each year may vary, and it of course depends on the student.

I had studied abroad in high school and had an awesome time but studying abroad to Norway and attending ACN blew that experience out of the water. ACN covers all bases, whether it's travel tips, homesickness tips, advice on studying, help with housing, anything. The staff and faculty at ACN were super accommodating to every student and the small class sizes were a treat. The staff especially, go above and beyond in every aspect to make sure that students are comfortable and enjoying their time in Moss.
The on-campus housing was very nice, 2-bedroom apartments with a kitchen and a bathroom (that has a heated floor! Amazing during the winter months), and can supply almost anything you need, from dishes to bed sheets to drying racks. And as a bonus, the apartments are just up the street from the school, less than a 5 minute walk!
ACN also only has classes Monday-Thursday, meaning you get a three-day weekend every weekend. This makes it really easy to travel and see Europe. While in Norway I was able to travel to the western part of Norway, France, England, and Wales. The staff also help you find the cheapest airline/train/bus tickets!

I would highly recommend to anyone (whether you are a freshman or a senior in college) to study abroad to the American College of Norway. I had an amazing experience and am kinda bummed I only went for one semester.