Past Review
By Allison C (Architecture., Wellesley College) for
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I love Denmark and after spending time here, I think I would like to attend graduate school here. The weather is terrible, but the society is pretty great.
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
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They weren't very accomondating for things that didn't fit their schedule. I could not attend my cousin's wedding (that was in Europe) because it was on a date that I "had to attend" school. The study trips were often too controlled and heavily scheduled... we were treated like a group of high schoolers. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a kolligiet and lucked out with the people on my floor. I think it is the best living accomondation because you have privacy, a great way to interact with Danes (you just have to put yourself out there at first), and the dorms are often close to campus. <br /><br /> The room and dorm itself is old and the dorm I stayed in is the cheapest in Copenhagen, so it is by no means luxurious... It is nice to have your own bathroom though, even if the shower is part of the sink. |
| * Food: |
DIS gives students only 600 dollars for food for the entire semester. You will have gone through that money before the semester is halfway over, and will be very broke. The food here is expensive, even if you shop cheaply... the cost of living here is about twice the amount in America... DIS will and does not supply you with enough money for food for the entire semester (everyone I know from the program agrees with this) unless you live off rice and water the whole time. So bring extra money for food or you will starve. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
We are all registered with Danish healthcare. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
|
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | DIS does not give you enough money to live, you must bring at least an extra thousand dollars to spend on food, neccessities, etc. and that's if you don't want to travel or go out drinking. Denmark is incredibly expensive and some random products (such as contact solution) can be pretty pricey. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If bad weather bothers you, this might not be the place. The winter was incredibly cold, windy, and long. It is almost July and it still is only in the 50s, sometimes hits 60 degrees, but rarely. |
