Ditch DIS, do Copenhagen on your own Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/14/2017 to 05/13/2017 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I am so glad I studied abroad, I just wish I had done an independent program at a local university. I feel like I have better learned how I am as a person in isolation, and how to take care of myself better.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Academic rigor and quality of teaching varied from class to class, but overall I enjoyed my classes. The biggest negative factor was the low level of engagement from most of my fellow students. I really liked the study tours with my main class and the field trips with my other classes. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I had no problems. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had a single room in an extremely conveniently located dorm. However, I was put in a housing type that I did not list on my preference form and I feel like my social life and my engagement with Danish students definitely suffered because of that. |
| * Food: |
DIS provided me with a grocery store stipend card. I loved shopping for my own food and managing all of my meals (something I don't do at my home college). The stipend was the perfect amount for the semester, I never felt like I was pinching pennies when it came to food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Not at all! I know some of this is my fault, but because of DIS's structure, there really are not that many opportunities to actually get integrated with the local culture unless you take classes outside of DIS or live in a homestay (and even those options have their limits). |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I loved Copenhagen, but I feel like DIS did not provide enough unique opportunities to balance out the disadvantages of the program. I didn't benefit from being surrounded by American students for the whole semester. |
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) |
I spent more than I was expecting, but I had saved enough in advance that it was okay. I also went into the experience knowing that I was going to do a lot of travel outside of Denmark, so I took those costs into account. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150-$200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Be aware of the exchange rate, always round up to stay on the safe side. |
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 took an intensive Danish language class because I hoped it would help me integrate and meet other Danes, but most students in the program don't take Danish, or take the basic class but never use it. You could go the whole semester without speaking any Danish. |
| 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? | I had taken Latin and Greek for several years, but never 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? | Talk with your classmates. Start saying the basic phrases in the language (don't be scared to mess up while ordering that coffee). Watch TV or movies in the language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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 making my own program (rather than going through DIS) might have been hard, but it would have been worth it in the long run. I shouldn't have played it safe just because I was scared. |
