Academically Mediocre and Socially Fun Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/19/2017 to 05/15/2017 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I made some amazing friends. It was worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

DIS is extremely unsatisfying academically.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100+
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan your meals

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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? None
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? Go to bars

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • My living situation
  • The food and arts scene in CPH
  • Freedom
* What could be improved?
  • DIS is an American bubble
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew the extent of the American bubble present at DIS

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Danish Language & Culture 120

Course Department: Danish
Instructor: Morten Lykkegaard
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not challenging and generally found it to be a waste of my time. Unrealistic to expect students to pickup Danish in 4 months and test language skills. Prof. was generally good but often engaged in problematic dialogue.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Neuroscience of Religion and Atheism

Course Department: Neuroscience
Instructor: Maria Serban
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not challenging. Course content was interesting, although the 3-hour lectures once a week made the class less engaging. Prof. was wonderful, however. Reasonable workload with a poster, weekly responses, one exam, one essay assignment.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Gay and Lesbian Writers in European Cities

Course Department: Literature
Instructor: Morten Lykkegaard
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not challenging in terms of what is expected of students. Very reasonable workload. The books were not all well-liked. The Prof. was very easygoing but again, engaged in problematic dialogue at the expense of students.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Anthropology of Food

Course Department: Anthropology
Instructor: Ed Romein
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not challenging, fairly interesting, but not terribly engaging most of the time. Prof. was very accommodating. Field trips were great.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Psychopharmacology

Course Department: Neuroscience
Instructor: Jesper Anderson
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not terribly challenging, and I learned a good deal. Prof. was mostly good. The long study tour was very bad--very poorly prepared and not engaging.
Credit Transfer Issues: No