I promise, the weather will get warmer! Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/12/2018 to 05/12/2018 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
Yes, the abroad experience was amazing. I learned to be more open minded and when looking at cultural norms and differences to ask why Danes do things a certain way rather than just accept/dismiss them. Flexibility is also a large part of study abroad (ie. the pending country-wide strike that almost prevented us from leaving the country). Also, adjusting to public transit and flexibility with train schedules was a good skill I acquired as well. Overall, I became much more independent and go with the flow during this semester.
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. |
Rigorous, but in a different way than Brandeis. Brandeis is more test based while DIS is more (group)project based |
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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? |
It would have been nicer to have clearer boundaries of household responsibility expectations |
| * Food: |
Frikadeller are amazing |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Being in a host family really helped, more events with other host families would have been nice too to get a less biased perspective of the Danish experience |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Never felt safer! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The academics are amazing and Copenhagen is a wonderful city. Because everyone speaks English, it makes it slightly less overwhelming. However, there are still many cultural differences that make Copenhagen an interesting place to study! |
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 very expensive. Also, although 1 individual flight is cheap, a semester's worth of traveling adds up! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 175 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Book flights as early as possible, flight prices increase very fast and that will be the bulk of your spending costs abroad |
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 |
Danish class was really useful! |
| 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? | None |
| 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? | Talk to people, especially at cafes and stores. Danes are very good at English but try to challenge yourself and speak Danish |
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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| 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? | Flights are expensive. Enjoy being in Copenhagen as well because four months goes by incredibly fast. Do NOT let your host family have you try leverpastej ...it is disgusting. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
