Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

DIS Biomedicine - Science and Culture Combined Past Review

By (Biology, General., Carleton College) for

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes

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.

The workload did not compare at all to what I was used to, but classes were generally pretty interesting. They put a lot of emphasis on getting you involved with and connected to different groups around Copenhagen.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I felt adequately prepared in terms of information and support.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was a little surprised by my host family. I had heard that Danes are a very liberal and secular culture, but my family ended up being Mormon. While they were very kind, if I were to apply again, I would definitely want to be more upfront about things like drinking and sexual orientation.

* Food:

Copenhagen is quite expensive, so most of the food I ate was from my host family's kitchen.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

Finances

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Copenhagen is expensive. Be cognizant of the exchange rate.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

Almost everyone speaks English very well, so I was really only able to practice in class and occasionally with my host family.

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Cultural connections
  • Connections with young Danes
  • Access to biomedical companies
* What could be improved?
  • DIS needs higher admission standards. Knowing how to write an analytical paper or create a thesis statement are skills that should be learned in high school, not halfway to a bachelor's degree
  • Placement along s-trains, which run all night, rather than regional trains
  • More clarity about potential host families