Pre-architecture program at DIS in Denmark Past Review
By Ryland B (Art History, Criticism and Conservation., Carleton College) for
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
Yes. It was a great way to see Europe.
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 quality of instruction was dramatically lower than one typically finds at Carleton. In the architecture program there is no instruction on fundamentals and as a result I frequently felt like I had no idea what I was supposed to do. The grading, however, is just as inflated as it is at Carleton. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
If there is one thing DIS is good at it is administrating. They planned all of our traveling study tours perfectly. Everything went off without a hitch. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing situation was the best part of the trip for me. I lived in a small apartment with ten other people who were all great. I heard a fair number of horror stories about housing as well, however. So I think this aspect of the program can be really hit or miss. |
| * Food: |
The reason there was so little money on the food stipend is because they spent it all ordering us $25 dinners at fancy restuarants on our study tours. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
N/A |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Copenhagen is an unbelievably safe city. I never felt uncomfortable at any time in any part of the city. Healthcare is top notch as you're on the Danish national system once you get there. I received stitches for a cut and x-rays for a chest infection plus several doctors appointments free of charge and the care was excellent. |
| 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? | A lot. It's hard to say how much money you should have. Some people don't spend any some people needed thousands. If you want to travel a lot, especially during the two week travel break, then you're going to need a lot of money. Around Copenhagen I usually spent about 100 bucks probably, but that was definitely on the low end of things. After all a beer costs ten dollars at a bar. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take a lot of money. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Don't expect academics. Expect to go an have a good time. I absolutely hated my actual program, but I had the best possible experience just living in Copenhagen. |
