Denmark is cool but be careful where you live! Past Review
By Eleanor H (Economics., Wellesley College) for
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I gained understanding of European culture and i definitely learned a lot about global economics. I would like to work in Europe someday if it works out htat way!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was a lot less and the grading was easier, but there were not as many tests/papers and so it was very stressful how much everything counted. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They took good care of us but sometimes I felt like the system was designed to punish and mistrust us. For example, there were no self-scheduled exams, and many students I know complained about the housing and were not really given other options. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was absolutely unacceptable. I lived in Trekroner Kollegium in Roskilde with several other students, including one from Wellesley (who eventually moved because it was so unfortunate in Trekroner). It was dirty, the bathroom was absolutely disgusting, and the kitchen was not stocked with cookware. Furthermore, when I complained about dorm issues (for example, a broken showerhead), it was not fixed. |
| * Food: |
While I was able to cook for myself, our food stipend did not cover enough food to live on. Everyone I know had to buy extra food from their own money. This seemed unfair as everyone had to pay the same amount for living and some people (such as people who lived in host families) had all their food included. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The study tours were really amazing and I learned a lot from them. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
It was very safe and healthcare is great. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $25-100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Get a Danish bank account and credit card, and plan to spend money on food if you live in a kollegium!!!! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced with my Danish suitemates and classmates but everyone spoke English. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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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