Copenhagen: My Semester of Personal Growth Past Review
By Allison M (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/15/2016 to 05/14/2016 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
This was a semester of personal growth. I became more independent, more willing to try new things, a better communicator, and more confident. I enjoyed meeting new people the most, and I am incredibly grateful for the hospitality that I encountered throughout my travels. However, my greatest learning experiences were not through DIS, but rather through the experiences that I created for myself. I would highly recommend for students to go abroad in some form. DIS is a good program, though it is not the best fit for everyone.
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. |
Some courses are better and more engaging than others-- it really is a hit or miss. My core course (Sustainable Development) felt like a freshmen introductory course and was a large disappointment. Otherwise, I enjoyed my other courses and really loved the experimental learning aspect. |
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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? |
I loved my host family! |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It is difficult to befriend Danes, especially if you do not put yourself out there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Copenhagen is a very safe city. I was once harassed on the bus, but this is a rare case. |
| 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 an expensive city, though living with a host family cut down on my food expenses. |
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 |
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| 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 |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | I wish that I knew the core course was extremely introductory. I would have chosen a different core course. I enjoyed getting to know my host family, though it can also be difficult to make new friends while living with a host family. |
