Copenhagen: A new family in a people's city Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/13/2018 to 05/12/2018 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot in my subject matter, but also grew as a person.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It was rigorous but depended on the teacher.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Administration was good their logistics for all the programs was impressive. Although some of the people were young and did not seem to always know what was going on.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Very satisfied.

* Food:

Host family cooked for me. Very good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Since I lived with a host family I felt very integrated.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no need for health care but the Danish system was straight forward, although it took half the semester to get the healthcare card.

* Safety:

Safest city I have ever been in.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I was satisfied with all the components and learned a lot, also made a lot of personal bonds with Americans and Danes.

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)

Copenhagen is an expensive place, but I rarely had to pay for my own food. Only if I went out for dinner.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Average of about 20$
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? No

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

Casually used some language here and there.

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? None
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* 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?
  • Study tours
  • Location
  • Host family
* What could be improved?
  • More non academic activities for the students at DIS
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That is it good to document it somehow so that you won't forget it after you leave.

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.'