Copenhagen Past Review
By Jordan A (Economics & Finance, University of Hartford) - abroad from 01/19/2015 to 05/19/2015 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
This experience showed me the importance of a global community, how some things you do in one area can effect what goes on elsewhere. Europe is a great place to learn business and it was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I felt that professors were not very willing to help students outside of class time. Professors were also not very understanding in regards to course load for other classes and extensions. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Administration was very helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was first assigned a homestay where the family owned pets that I was allergic to so I had to be reassigned. It was nice to live with other American students, but there were often times that facilities were left dirty. When I first got my room it was a mess. |
| * Food: |
I got less than half of what I get for money to buy food, in addition to living in such an expensive city. I did not appreciate having to pay for my own groceries for most of the semester. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Danish residents were very friendly and spoke very fluent English, so it was easy to integrate into Danish culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care was free in Copenhagen and I did not really go through any problems with my health while abroad. |
| * Safety: |
Copenhagen is a very safe city and at no point did I feel endangered by my surroundings. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Since I didn't have money for food for the second half of the semester I had to tap into my own savings. I lost most of my savings over this semester. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50-$100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy food from grocery stores as much as possible and make sure to ask if they charge for tap water. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
I would occasionally learn new Danish words but most of the country spoke fluent English so it was not difficult to strike up a conversation. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate Spanish II |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Take a course in Danish language if it interests you. It is not necessary and if you previously fulfilled your language requirement, it is not necessary to take it. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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? | I wish I knew about transportation options for visiting other surrounding countries. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
