Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Most incredible 4 months of my life, gained skills I never imagined I could! Past Review

By (Public Health, Tulane University) - abroad from 08/16/2015 to 12/10/2015 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was completely worthwhile, I not only learned about myself but learned about other functions of cities, what works and what doesn't work. How Europe operates. I learned about myself personally, gained experience from traveling, gained knowledge through adventurers and real life experiences rather than just in the classroom.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

5 stars!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

GREAT

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Not very happy, did not think the housing was fair for all students, although some students don't want to live in the city most students do and it wasn't fair that there was no choice at all. Should be more options.

* Food:

Food was great, expensive!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

AMAZING, integrated very well, helped to learn about Denmark in class

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I like the idea of the health care system but it took forever to get a CPR card and seeing a GP wasn't very helpful or efficient. I personally had some health issues and could not get in touch with a specialist.

* Safety:

Very safe, some areas were a little scarier than others, could have better student transportation for kids who live outside the city

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

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)

Fortunately I was able to afford it, but it was very very very expensive

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Book flights when you travel in advance!! Cook more!!

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

not at all because Copenhagen is an english speaking city

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? level 2, not Danish!
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? I don't think taking the language is helpful.

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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The city
  • Danish People
  • Student to teacher relationship
* What could be improved?
  • Housing- should be with friends and close to school rather than living an hour or more from some of your best friends
  • Work at DIS was slightly overboard, some students had no work and others had so much, there should be a balance and an understanding that we are abroad and should be exploring the city too rather than doing work half the time
  • Administration at DIS was hard to deal with, and Sean was not the nicest when dealing with students, parents, travel etc.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The living situation, I wish I knew before that being out of the city would impact me so much more than I expected. As someone who likes night life and meeting up with friends it was hard for my commute to be 35 min to the city and back every day.

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 Urbanite
A 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.