The most adventurous 4 months of my life! Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/17/2018 to 12/14/2019 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
My study abroad experience taught me to be more spontaneous and open. I learned so much about myself and the way I establish relationships and relate to others. I met so many people from all over the world while living in Denmark who I hope to keep in touch and meet again later on. I learned how to be more independent and take risks, manage and budget my money, create a healthy school/personal life balance, and most importantly, be happy in the Happiest Country in the World :)
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. |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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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? |
Yes
It was a great program! I made lots of friends, tried new foods and (because of Denmark's location) I was able to travel to over 10 countries! I think every experience has its ups and downs, but it's all about focusing on the great memories that were made and the friendships created while living there. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 75-200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Always ask if there is a student discount! I saved a lot of money by taking advantage of the student discounts that were available at restaurants, museums, and some attractions. |
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 |
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| 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 |
| 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? | Volunteer, go to cafes and try ordering in Danish, and try joining clubs where you can meet more Danes and practice with them. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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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? | While I loved my program, my host family, and the country I studied abroad in, I think I would've enjoyed taking classes with local students rather than with exclusively American students. This is something that I was not aware of when I signed up for the program and I was disappointed when I found that that was not the case. |
