Past Review
By Dara A (PSYCHOLOGY., Wellesley College) for
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
Yes I loved this program
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2010 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
DIS is a very unique program in that it is geared for study abroad students so there is a very important travel component paired with each core course. This really gives students to opportunity to experience other European cultures in a way that is applicable to what that student is studying. Also there is a wide range of courses for pre-med students that are really unique. For instance the medical practice and policy program teaches students about diseases of organ systems which is not something one would really get until medical schools. There is also a lab component during which you learn how to draw blood, do stitches, and take blood pressure. The only downside to the academics of the program is that the teachers are often professionals in the fields they teach so they may not have the best lecturing skills. On the flip side, they bring a lot of first hand experience which is always great. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a wonderful host family but I lived in Osted, a small farm town about 1.5 hours out of Copenhagen by public transportation. It was a rough commute but the family was so welcoming and just all around nice people. I really got to know them and became a part of their family. They made the commute completely worth it. <br /><br /> The only reason I gave my housing 4/5 is the commute. The neighborhood was completely safe and my family was the best. |
| * Food: |
The average Dane eats 75 Kg of pork a year. I probably ate that amount in my 4 months there. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was really difficult for me to go out with friends in the city since I could not make it home late at night due to transportation restrictions. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Copenhagen is a really safe city and we received free health care as a student! |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Denmark is very expensive. Expect to spend a lot of money when you are there especially if you have to cook you own meals or want to go out a lot. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
The intro Danish course helped me communicate with my host family on a basic level but I don't know any students who went to Denmark fluent in the language. The danish courses offered are very basic and have a very interesting culture component as well which helped me learn more about the subtitles of the Danish culture. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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