Almost perfect Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes are varied- some courses are excellent, while others are mediocre. I highly suggest classes that are Europe/Scandinavia centered as they tend to be the ones with the best professors. DIS provides excellent academic resources- a library open everyday, academic counseling, etc. The courses are not too intense, but again, vary depending on the class. As a junior who is majoring in psychology and have taken many psychology classes, the psych classes were devastating basic and I did not gain much new knowledge. The best courses I took were courses in which I had no prior knowledge, only interest. I have concluded that taking courses in which you are not well read in is the best while abroad.

On-site administration of your program

DIS is extremely helpful and well coordinated. It's a well oiled machine. The study trips are excellently planned and the staff provide excellent support and know how to take care of our needs.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

There are many different living arrangements- from a host family stay to living in a dorm to having a Danish roommate. Much of it is dependent on how well you get alone with the person you are with, but in the application for the program, I was able to put what I wanted in my living situation and I think DIS tried hard to make that possible.

I lived with a host family who cooked dinner every night for me if I was home for dinner. It was delicious and nice to have someone cook for me. Living in a Kollegium (dorm), I would have had to cook myself.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program tries hard to integrate you into the Danish culture. For example, the buddy network is a group of exchange students and locals who get together and do different activities. You can sign up for that or have a visiting family. Danes in general tend to keep to themselves, so it was definitely a bit difficult to feel integrated and make friends with locals. It was also difficult due to the fact that the classes at DIS are separate than the University of Copenhagen and we had no Danes in our classes.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues during the trip. However, DIS has us fill out a form to receive free national health insurance. Denmark has one of the best free healthcare programs in the world.

Copenhagen is one of the safest cities I've been too. I have never felt in danger or scared walking in the city by myself at night or anytime. The most dangerous thing might be not being careful to look for bikes zooming by!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Denmark is a really pricy place to live. Things definitely cost more there than in the U.S. However, in the price you are paying for DIS, they provide you with an unlimited transportation pass, a grocery card if you're living on your own. If you didn't want to spend money, you don't have to. But if you do purchase things, it adds up fast.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

there was no need to speak Danish because we could get by with English. Almost all Danes know English very well, and because classes were in English and there were no Danes in our classes, I mostly spoke English.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Americans

• Prof. Torbin Jorgensen's Auschwitz class
• The city of Copenhagen
• Study tours and travel breaks

• Academic and course difficulty consistency
• More Danish language

The Academic or Linguist