My only regret is not staying longer. Past Review
By mary.l.cantu.35 (Communication Sciences And Disorders, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/20/2014 to 05/16/2014 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I learned to be less shy and more outgoing. I learned that while it is very important to do well in school, it is also important to create hobbies and make friends with people who share the same interests. I learned to travel and be financially responsible for myself.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors really do care about your work in class and about getting you involved in group work and during the lecture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The people at the front desks were always very helpful and emails and phone calls were always acknowledged quickly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived in a small apartment in Amagerbrogade and I loved it so much as part of a living and learning community. It was a lovely place and I made many of my friends there. |
| * Food: |
I love trying new food so I didn't have any problems with that. Not sure if liver paste or pickled herring is a favorite for all though! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very integrated. I began volunteering outside of school at a culture house and made very good friends with the locals. They are really friendly people and love speaking with Americans. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no health issues abroad but healthcare is free in Denmark, even for long semester study abroad students. |
| * Safety: |
I felt much safer in Copenhagen than I even feel at home. It is an amazingly safe city and knowing that it is illegal to carry weapons there was a big relief, especially when travelling on public transportation at night. |
| 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) |
Eating and going out in Copenhagen can really add up and get really expensive so budgeting is a wise idea while you're abroad. The $600 food stipend the program gives you will run out before the end of the semester so I advise having some back up funds for groceries when that happens. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | At least $100/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Items in Copenhagen are generally more expensive due to the high tax so if you must buy clothing, ect. and if you will be travelling elsewhere, try to do your shopping out of Denmark. Also, buying souvenirs at the beginning of the semester is a good idea in case you run out of money by the end of the semester. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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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 |
Yes, taking Danish was an option but not a requirement. I did not take Danish. |
| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | third year college Spanish |
| 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? | Four months fly by incredibly quickly and simply not enough. I would have signed up for a year if I had known how amazing my experience abroad would have been. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
