Best Semester of My Life Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/23/2018 to 12/07/2018 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that I like being independent, and that I like learning about foreign cultures and interacting with locals. It was absolutely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Low to moderate academic rigor, with pretty good academic resources if you know how to ask for them.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very organized and helpful in general, but the front desk people were not friendly faces at all and I dreaded having to talk to them. They were very cold and seemed annoyed when you asked for their help.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living in a kollegium was amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Very clean and well-organized, and the Danes were very welcoming to us Americans.

* Food:

I cooked for myself and was not on any kind of meal plan.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I did a lot of hanging out with Danish students around my age, but didn't pick up the language that much because they all spoke English. I did learn a lot about the culture, though.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't get sick at all during my stay except for a slight cold that I didn't do anything about.

* Safety:

Copenhagen was very safe, I never felt in danger. I was comfortable travelling alone and travelling at night.

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

I wish I could go back and do it all again, it was fantastic.

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 simply an expensive city, and I had to grocery shop for myself.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go to cheap grocery stores and don't eat out. If you will be drinking, make sure to budget for it because alcohol is more expensive than you think.

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

It is a difficult language to learn, so only very basic use was encouraged (like saying 'thanks' to the cashier at the store or 'hi, how are you' to professors).

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 in this language
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Practice a lot, and find local native speakers who are willing to help you learn.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Interesting classes
  • The local and American friends I made
  • My opportunities to travel with my classes and with my friends
* What could be improved?
  • I strongly wish the receptionists were friendlier
  • Academic resources (class dean equivalents) were not well publicized- I needed help and didn't know where to go
  • Stronger emphasis on language learning
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I'd want to do a full year

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.