Absolutely amazing and unforgettable Past Review
By A student (Psychology and Marketing, Trinity University) - abroad from 01/21/2012 to 05/20/2012 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
The teachers were amazing and I loved the Danish style of learning which is a lot more interactive and hands on. I was able to work in an actual mental health center and have my input valued. I was also give the opportunity to present a marketing plan to the heads of H&M marketing at the H&M headquarters and present advertising ideas for Bang and Olufsen's new line Play to someone actually working on the campaign. I even toured a Danish open prison led by a prisoner and watched a private screening of popular Danish film "R" then had the chance to meet and speak with the writer and lead actor afterwards. The bars and clubs are amazing and the earliest people go home is 5am. The best part, however, was learning about a culture so different from my own and so much healthier and more progressive and becoming fully immersed in it. It was certainly worthwhile!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The teachers were absolutely amazing and all of the classes were extremely interesting. The only negative comment I have is that the teachers can be pretty strict on attendance, which can be negative if you are planning on skipping a few classes to travel. |
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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? |
There are a lot of different housing options to choose from. I chose to live in the culinary house which is a themed DIS housing residence and I absolutely loved it! It was in the very center of the city and 5 minutes from class buildings. Also, it was incredibly beautiful! Apartments in that area are ridiculously expensive if you were to try to rent one on your own, especially such nice ones, but there's no charge to live there through DIS so I was fortunate enough to have such an amazing living experience for free. |
| * Food: |
It can be overwhelming buying food if you don't know Danish, since everything is written in Danish, but everyone is incredibly helpful and speaks english so you won't have too many problems. Also DIS gives you a card stocked with money to use at a few local grocery stores so you don't have to pay out of pocket for groceries if you shop at those stores which helps save money. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It really depends on how much you put yourself out there. DIS offers a bunch of options to meet more Danes. One is buddy networks which are groups of a few Danes and other DIS students you have a lot in common with that you go out and do things that fit your interests. DIS pays for all the activities. You can also sign up for a host family, if you are not living with one, to visit with and get know more of the locals. Volunteering is also an option through DIS. Lastly, in the first week you attend a club and activities fair which has a bunch of booths for Danish clubs, sports teams, and gyms to join. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never needed to use the health care there but one of my roommates (who had existing medical issues) ended up in the hospital one night and said it was absolutely amazing. Very clean with delicious food, helpful staff, great care, and it was all free. From his experience it sounds great. |
| * Safety: |
Copenhagen is incredibly safe! I never felt uncomfortable at any time of day or night whether I was with friends or alone, which is saying a lot since I am a young woman used to constantly being on my guard. This safety is also reflected in the fact it is a normal practice to leave children in their strollers outside stores to nap because no one kidnaps kids. There's even a funny story about a man unknowingly stealing a bike with kids in that back and once he realized he dropped the children off at home before taking off on the bike again. Children as young as 9 can even be seen navigating the city alone or with friends as they are incredibly independent. Bike theft and very minor pickpocketing are the only things to look out for. Many people even leave their belongings at unattended tables and their coats in the corners of clubs with no concerns. |
| 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) |
Copenhagen is one of the most expensive cities in the world which can be tough, however DIS does a great job of subsidizing a lot of expenses and providing you with amazing housing, bus/metro passes, grocery money, and offering a lot of heavily subsidized activities, trips and outings. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $250 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat in as much as possible to minimize costs and take advantage of bars and clubs that have cover charges but open bars once you enter because that can be a huge money saver. Also, if you live in the city center make sure to venture out to areas more heavily populated by local college students because prices are often lower in those areas. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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 |
You are very encouraged to take language courses and practice but are certainly are not required. |
| 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? | None |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
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? | How awesome Copenhagen is and how amazing the DIS trips are because I would have signed up for more. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
