Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Could've Been Better (But Also Could've Been Worse) Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/19/2017 to 12/11/2017 with

DIS Stockholm Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I spent a lot of my time focusing on my already existent friendships and boundaries with adults and other students. I think that time focusing was definitely worthwhile. I learned that I had strength within myself I didn't even know I had.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I personally did not find any of the courses academically challenging, but I know other students from other institutions did. If you're taking humanities classes (which I did), then homework is very low and finals are not at all rigorous.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing arrangements were great! I lived in one of the two options for students who do not live in homestays. I was lucky enough to be assigned to the housing 10 minutes from Stockholm city center and 20-25 minutes from the DIS Stockholm campus/building. Pretty much everything you'd need is provided for you and the rooms are clean and spacious.

* Food:

If you do not live in a homestay, you are provided a grand total of ~$610 for purchasing food at a grocery store in the form of gift cards to ICA, the biggest grocery store chain in Stockholm. They're valid at any ICA location, which is incredibly useful since some ICA locations are cheaper than others if you want to save money. DIS does not provide food on-campus, but you do get a 10% discount on lunch at the cafeteria on the ground floor.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This is really dependent on the level of engagement you choose to have with the local culture. DIS has an activities fair in the beginning of the semester where you can sign up for activities at Stockholm University with locals. However, being a member of these clubs and teams costs money (but DIS gives you a discount!). Alternatively, there are festivals and theaters you can volunteer at to meet new people. Everyone in Stockholm speaks English, so even though you may feel awkward speaking English to them they will definitely make you feel welcome.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally did not have any health issues while abroad, but DIS does provide you with health insurance. Additionally, getting tested for STIs is free in Stockholm and testing clinics can be found anywhere.

* Safety:

Stockholm felt very safe. I never felt physically unsafe in the city, and I was taking the train at late and early hours and walking around. The active police presence can feel a little intimidating at first, but once you realize that most police officers in the city are just drinking coffee and talking then the instinctual fear wears off. Also, people in Stockholm are very honest. There was one incident of a student leaving their wallet on a subway train, then the wallet turning up at DIS two days later because the person found the address on the student ID card in the wallet.

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

I would have definitely done this program again, but the version of the program that will come in a few years when the program is ready to address the way it treats transgender and gender-nonconforming students. I loved living in Stockholm and Sweden in general and would definitely return to the city again soon.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Take advantage of cheaper ICA locations (like ICA Kvantum) to get the most bang for your food stipend.

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

This really depends on your Swedish teacher. Mine did not, at all, but some others definitely did.

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? A 200-level Italian course
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? Try to exclusively speak it in coffee shops. Coffee shops are a great place to practice basic Swedish.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Availability and quality of gender studies courses
  • Living in Stockholm
* What could be improved?
  • Treatment of transgender and gender-nonconforming students
  • Ability of administration to listen to students when they provide concerns
  • Overall academic rigor of courses
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? 1) Don't feel ashamed to reach out to your friends back home. Talking to them does not mean you've failed at making friends abroad. If you need them or miss them, talk to them! 2) Be prepared to stand up for yourself. A lot. Aggressively. 3) If you're trans/gender-nonconforming, be prepared to spend more time fighting misgendering and day-to-day casual transphobia than actually doing any schoolwork.

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 Linguist
You 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!