Jeg savner Danmark (I miss Denmark). Past Review
By A student (Computer Science, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/19/2015 to 05/15/2015 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
It was beyond worthwhile. I wasn't ready to leave.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
DIS provides students with a lot of resources- they're very good at meeting students' needs. The courses were not as rigorous as what I was used to, but I found the workload to be much more reasonable and manageable than my home university. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was efficient, responsive, and easy to access. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a kollegium and loved my experience- though some of the other Americans had trouble connecting with the Danes they lived with, I made friends with most of the people on my hall and was very, very glad to not be living with Americans. |
| * Food: |
I had a kitchen and cooked my own food. I'm a vegetarian, and while it's harder to find good vegetarian options (and difficult to find things like tofu), it's not impossible. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The Danish healthcare system is incredible. One of my friends was in the hospital for a week and had the best hospital experience he could have had. Plus, it was free. Socialized medicine is a beautiful thing. The only issue is that if you get sick enough to need healthcare before you get your residency permit, you have to pay out of pocket, but you can get reimbursed. |
| * Safety: |
Copenhagen is very, very safe. |
| 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) |
Copenhagen is an expensive city, and your housing option will affect how much money you end up spending. I lived in a kollegium, am a vegetarian, and cooked nearly all my meals at home, including lunch. My food stipend ran out about 2 weeks before the end of the program, so it almost covered me all the way through (and I was buying a lot of fresh vegetables and fruit the whole time). DIS will also provide you with a transportation pass that will get you to/from your home. Going out on the town and shopping are a bit pricier than the states, as is eating at restaurants. |
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 |
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| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Wellesley doesn't offer Danish. |
| 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? | Duolingo all the way. |
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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| 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? | That it will be one of the best decisions I've ever made. |
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.' |
