New experiences and independence Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/17/2019 to 12/14/2019 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I gained a newfound send of independence and passion for what I'm studying, as well as new friends and a greater appreciation for bike lanes.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My classes definitely weren't as rigorous as my home university, but the study tours made up for that |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had problems at my homestay which led me to move near the end of the semester. The kollegium was great though. |
| * Food: |
Danish food is very expensive, but the stipend helps |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was able to befriend some Danes from the kollegium once I moved, but on a day-to-day basis there isn't much cultural interaction. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got injured the weekend before I left the program and although the Danish health system was a bit confusing to navigate, DIS was very helpful. Free healthcare is always nice, too. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe, even when alone taking public transit at 2 am. |
| 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) |
Denmark is very expensive. I was able to save some money in the beginning by being in a homestay, and even when I moved out the stipend was helpful. |
| 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? | I saved a lot of money by only travelling on the breaks, instead of every weekend like some people. |
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 |
My class focused more on the cultural aspect, rather than 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 |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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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? | I wish I knew earlier that it's okay to recognize when things aren't working and that there are many people willing to help |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
