Study in the U.S.A. - Midwest (in English) - ISEP Exchange
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Study on a residential campus in the Chicago suburbs, with Lake Michigan beaches, downtown Lake Forest, and the Metra train to Chicago just minutes from campus.
• Take courses in English at a liberal arts college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in fields of study such as English language and literature, history, international/global studies, and social sciences, and unique fields like African American studies, medieval and renaissance studies, and urban studies.
• Join a small, supportive campus community with international students from more than 102 countries, on-campus wellness and academic support, a free Sports and Recreation Center, and more than 80 active clubs and organizations!
LIVE and DINE
Share a quad room with a balcony and a private bathroom at Gregory, Roberts, or McClure Hall. Each hall has its own laundry facility and is conveniently located on South Campus within walking distance of classes, campus facilities, and downtown Lake Forest. Enjoy access to a shared kitchen in the lobby of McClure Hall, accessible to students in any of the 3 ISEP residence halls.
Included in the cost of your program, you’ll receive 19 meals per week at the dining hall where meals are prepared fresh, made from scratch, and cooked in small batches with seasonal ingredients. You’ll also receive a one-time $215 stipend for the semester that you can use to grab quick meals at the convenience store in the student center. When you’re in the mood for something different, head into town for groceries, cafés, and local restaurants where you can try local classics like deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, and Portillo’s.
EXPERIENCE
Take advantage of the peace and quiet of a suburban campus; when it’s time for a change of pace, use the Metra to reach downtown Chicago in about an hour. Spend weekends exploring Lake Michigan, Chicago’s museums, Navy Pier, neighborhood food scenes, seasonal festivals, concerts, comedy, and major sports.
Join the ISEP Coordinator’s Chicago Day each semester for lunch and a walking tour, with transportation and food covered by Lake Forest College. On campus, get involved through more than 80 clubs and organizations, intramural sports, club sports, fitness classes, and student events.
ACADEMIC TRAINING
Students studying abroad in the United States have the opportunity to participate in an Academic Training Internship that directly relates to their field of study at their ISEP host institutions. Learn more about Academic Training in the United States.
What We Love About Lake Forest College
We love that study you can study in the comfort of a small, green, residential campus without giving up access to a major U.S. city like Chicago! You’ll get quiet study-abroad-in-the-Midwest charm, Lake Michigan nearby, and Chicago close enough for regular adventures — but not so close that campus loses its community feel.
Course Description
Lake Forest publishes its course schedule in April for the following fall and spring terms.
To research courses:
- Use the course schedules website
- Click "course schedule" on the left hand side of the page. Please note that in the course schedule, some courses will display both the "course title" and "course description", while others will display only the "course title".
- To find all course descriptions click here. You can use the tags at the right to narrow them down. Not all courses are offered each year/term. Some are offered every other year.
- If you have any issues with the course schedule, contact the Global Engagement Office.
Students typically enroll in four classes per term which average 12 to 16 hours in class per week. A term runs for 16 weeks. At Lake Forest College, each class is worth one credit, or four U.S. semester credit hours. Students can take up to four and a half credits per term, and must enroll in three credits to maintain full-time status.
The average class size is 19 and professors know their students by name and are committed to their success.
We are a liberal arts institution. Most students spend each semester taking courses across a breadth of disciplines. We would expect incoming ISEP students to not request more than two courses per term in the same department. Business, economics, entrepreneurship, and finance are considered one department.
Due to space limitations, neuroscience courses are closed to ISEP students. Courses in business, economics, finance and the sciences are open, but it may be difficult to place ISEP students due to space limitations. Students should expect to be asked to be flexible in their course selections.
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
Lake Forest College requires students to read extensively and contribute in class meetings. Most classes have several essays per term and long term papers. ISEP students would be able to attend walk-in hours at the Writing Center up to once per week, but this should not be considered a substitute for an English as a Second Language program.
If you are eligible to submit an LPR as an alternate to TOEFL or IELTS, your minimum score for writing should be C1. All other categories should be B2 or above.
We are a liberal arts institution. Most students spend each semester taking courses across a breadth of disciplines. We would expect incoming ISEP students to not request more than two courses per term in the same department. Business, economics, entrepreneurship, and finance are considered one department.
Due to space limitations, neuroscience courses are closed to ISEP students. Courses in business, economics, finance and the sciences are open, but it may be difficult to place ISEP students due to space limitations. Students should expect to be asked to be flexible in their course selections.
Contact the ISEP coordinator with questions about limitations.
PASSPORT: All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible.
VISA: All non-U.S. citizens will be required to obtain a visa. For more information on the process and estimated cost, please review the ISEP Country Handbook here.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
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