Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

DIS Past Review

By (Vanderbilt University) - abroad from 01/16/2016 to 05/17/2016 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Nothing I learned from my experience abroad was at all thanks to the program it was through. It was worthwhile because it was my own but I would not recommend this program to anyone.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing I was assigned to was over an hour away and over 1.5 hours most days. The buses to my home stopped running after midnight, after a one hour train ride to the bus station. I walked 6 miles as well as two other students from my area on separate occasions because no buses were coming for 6 hours. The administration refused to change housing arrangements for students.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare coverage did not start until 2months into the 4 month program because of delays getting our CPR cards. I asked my host mother where to go and she told me the Danes don't get sick and to tough it out. Upon returning I was diagnosed with pneumonia.

* Safety:

You're more likely to get your wallet or coat stolen than be attacked or have issues with people physically.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

My program placed me over an hour and a halfs commute from where I took classes, refused to assist me in filing a police report when my homestay was broken into, refused to move students who complained about living too far away and gave me the overall impression that passing the buck was their greatest area of expertise. To think about the amount of money this program costs and the comparatively better education my home institution gives makes me very, very angry.

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)

An extremely expensive place to live.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 140

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Study breaks to travel on your own
  • Ability to take classes through local university, to avoid their classes.
  • Membership in downtown cafe/bar with student ID.
* What could be improved?
  • Housing
  • Administration
  • Organization of entire program
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? DO NOT DO A HOMESTAY. some people have great experiences. Some people live and hour and a half away from the only other pocket of Americans on the entire peninsula. Isolation in its every sense is not worth the risk if you decide to have a homestay. Also take as many classes as possible at Copenhagen university.