Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Biking & living like a local Past Review

By (Psychology, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/15/2018 to 12/15/2018 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained an incredible amount of independence and confidence in myself. I can't imagine if I hadn't chosen to study abroad - it was such a great way to experience something new!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall, the classes were not particularly challenging in relation to classes at my home institution. All classes relied heavily on group-work which could be difficult as some students put in more effort than others in relation to the status of their grade transfer. The grading system seemed to change from class to class but the teachers were often helpful when approached with questions.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were helpful if you went to the Student help desk

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I LOVED my housing arrangement. I lived in the Outdoor LLC and could not have asked for a better place to live. I was in an apartment with 9 other girls and it was the most wonderful community.

* Food:

I made my own food every day, as eating out was far too expensive. Grocery stores are not overly expensive so cooking for yourself is very doable.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt as though my visiting host family and my days student-teaching in the Danish middle school helped me to feel integrated with the culture in Copenhagen. My friends and I also made an active effort to try typically Danish activities and go to Danish bars rather than stick with only Americans.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

I always felt safe in Copenhagen, even though I lived in a less fancy, more residential area which was a bit more sketchy. Biking made me feel very safe, as the biking infrastructure was amazing and I felt fully in control of where I was going. I experienced one scary incident on the metro, but was okay because I was with a group of girls.

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

I absolutely loved my time at DIS! I loved the friends I made and the experiences I was able to gain being in a new place

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)

I spent money mostly when traveling. Copenhagen is very expensive so I cooked most of my own meals, and grocery shopping was cheap because DIS gives you a stipend. I wish I had gone out to eat more in Copenhagen, even though it was expensive.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Drinks are very expensive in CPH, it's not necessary to buy them every time you go out. Also, most clubs have cover fees.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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?
  • Friends
  • Ability to Travel
  • BIKING
* What could be improved?
  • Classes
  • Teachers/Professors
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the classes weren't going to be as interesting as my college classes, and that almost everyone else from other schools took the classes Pass/Fail - that made group projects a little difficult.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Child Development in Scandinavia

Course Department:
Instructor: Heidi
Instruction Language:
Comments: The field studies were easily the most valuable part of this course. The class material was nothing new, as I study this field at my home university so the information could be a bit repetitive. But Heidi made the class an exciting and welcoming environment. This class included a second co-class called a practicum in which we acted as student-teachers in Danish classrooms throughout the city every Thursday. This was a wonderful way to experience the Danish education system and build real relationships with Danish students and teachers.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Danish Language and Culture
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: This class was much more approachable than I was expecting it to be. While I never felt as though I fully grasped the language, I learned a lot about Danish culture and was able to speak, read, write and understand simple Danish phrases, allowing me to understand people on the street, Danish advertisements, and attempt to communicate with locals (although they all spoke English)
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Danish Design
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: This class wasn't exactly what I was expecting it to be based on it's description. It was not about architecture, but almost solely about Danish chair designers. The teacher was a chair designer himself who wrote the book which all of our readings were from. He was very particular about the information (as he is an expert in it) and wasn't overly willing to help non-design majors fully comprehend what he was discussing. The assignments could be a bit overwhelming and open-ended but overall, Danish design is a large part of Scandinavian culture and it was interesting to be able to get a stronger understanding of it in this class.
Credit Transfer Issues: