Greatest Semester Ever Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/19/2017 to 12/12/2017 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned how to live by myself in a foreign country where I didn't know anyone. It was extremely liberating and sparked my interest in living abroad. I am so glad that I did it and will take all the skills I learned and experiences I had with me for the rest of my life.

Review Photos

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.	Enjoyed all my classes and all my professors. Really felt like I learned a lot but still was given enough time to enjoy the city.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Any time I needed something, DIS was very responsive and helpful in providing it.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I loved the neighbourhood and loved being on Amager but at times it seemed like it would have been nicer to be right in the city. There was no freezer which made saving money by buying in bulk impossible. There also wasn't a great common space for all of us to hang out.
* Food:	The stipend did not cover my groceries for the semester in any way but it did help - unfortunately it couldn't be used at the closest grocery store to me (Lidl).
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Living with Americans and going to school with Americans, I didn't feel as though I had much integration into local culture- I wouldn't liked more through programs or better advertised clubs.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	Universal health care - never used it but it was there if needed
* Safety:	Copenhagen is extremely safe - I never felt like I was in danger.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I loved DIS and I loved Copenhagen. The classes were great but the city really made the experience. I loved how it wasn't a huge city but had a big city feel. I wish I could have explored it more!

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)	It was challenging. Food was very expensive and without a freezer, I couldn't buy in bulk
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Meat and fresh foods are very expensive but if eating in that way is important try to buy in bulk as much as possible. Limit trips to coffee shops and Joe and the Juice because they killed my bank account

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	Learned basic Danish to use outside classroom but nothing extensive
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?	AP French
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Try to order in Danish and talk to Danes in Danish but they may not understand you

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?	Copenhagen the people the professors
* What could be improved?	Freezer in my Dorm
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Explore the city every moment you get. It gets dark very early in the winter so prepare for that

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Epigenetics and the Environment
Course Department:
Instructor:	Karla Kristine Freude
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Used as a credit for my major at Midd which was very helpful. Course material was not the most interesting at times but I enjoyed Professor Freude's instruction
Credit Transfer Issues:	None