Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Hard earned fun January 23, 2024

By (Psychology, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/18/2023 to 12/15/2023 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a sense of independence. It was worthwhile, although I think I have a somewhat pessimistic outlook on it.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes compared to Middlebury standards, although were not to the same rigorous level.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very well thought out programs and system for learning.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I shouldn't have done a homestay because it was hard to make friends and feel part of the community.

* Food:

Homestay food was great except that I wish there had been more vegetables, but I could have asked for them better.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt quite integrated, especially within my homestay family.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any healthcare issues, but it seemed easy enough to access the system if need be.

* Safety:

I felt extremely safe, especially compared to America and the 'going out' scene here.

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

I would have chosen a program that was more academic and in a less expensive city that had more diversity. I felt as if I wasn't getting a new experience than what I was used to, given that I was always around white Americans and white Europeans and spending an egregious amount of money.

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)

Even in a homestay I found it hard to not spend money, especially given that Copenhagen is so expensive. It also did not help that the people in the program were extremely wealthy and seemed to be able to through money around willy nilly.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around 50.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make a budget for how much money you can spend a month on particular things. I had a budget but I didn't necessarily account for specific things. Also account for mistakes along the way! It's normal to make a few errors and you don't want to be bankrupt in a foreign country.

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

I only ever had to speak Danish in the classroom, although there was encouragement to try speaking it out in the real world.

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

* 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?
  • The opportunity to travel
  • the variety of classes
* What could be improved?
  • the homestay system (more encouragement for people to do a homestay)
  • More events for the students to meet one another.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the other Americans who go to Copenhagen are mostly entitled sorority/ frat kids from large schools.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Positive Psychology Practicum
Course Department: Psychology
Instructor: Katharina Zwielich
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Very challenging, given that the instructions were confusing and indirect. It was obvious that the teacher had never taught this class.
Credit Transfer Issues: This class does not transfer directly, but it was my most challenging and informative class so I wish that it did.