Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Really Good Semester in a Beautiful City? Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/20/2018 to 12/14/2018 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
A stronger sense of independence, a different reason to love my major, good friends, a Danish family to visit, new cool sights that I saw.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I loved my core course, my other classes weren't as engaging but I think that was primarily because the students were less engaged, as I would assume is the nature of most programs abroad.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Great -- I never really dealt with DIS while I was there but everything was so organized and accessible and they put me in a great homestay and the online program (Canvas) was administered better than it is at Middlebury which was really impressive.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved, loved, loved my homestay Middlebury should try to push more DIS people in it. My homestay made my experience.

* Food:

Food in Copenhagen was amazing, program provided treats all the time which was super nice, and food at my homestay was good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I lived in a homestay so I did integrate to some extent but not outside my family.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't access the health care system at all.

* Safety:

Copenhagen definitely feels like the safest European (or US) city I have been to.

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

I don't take a language at Middlebury so my options were limited by that. It would have been fun to be immersed in language but other than that DIS I've heard has the most engaging academics of all the English-speaking programs at Middlebury.

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 mean it was pretty easy because I lived in a homestay -- Copenhagen is the most expensive city I've ever been to (more than London or New York) and living in a homestay saves you so much money and stress.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I really don't know it varies from week to week depending on travel and what I wanted to spend.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Live in a homestay and plan travel in advance

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

I used it occasionally in a grocery store but people switch to English if they hear accented Danish.

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? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Its not a priority of the program at all, I guess live in a homestay and try in the Danish class?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* 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?
  • People in my core course
  • Academics of my core course
  • Host Family
* What could be improved?
  • I wish more people lived in homestays? I think I was the only one in my semester from Middlebury
  • N/A
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? N/A

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Philosophy of Love

Course Department: PHL
Instructor: Anna Soderquist
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The readings were so good in this class but it was completely discussion based and the discussions were so dry because the students were not engaged at all.
Credit Transfer Issues: Will not transfer
Course Name/Rating:

Medical Ethics
Course Department:
Instructor: Elise
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Class was a bit dry most days but some days were really fun and interesting.
Credit Transfer Issues: Will not transfer
Course Name/Rating:

Danish
Course Department: Danish
Instructor: Charlotte Berre?
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I thought the grading in this class was too hard and wish I didn't have to take it. I would have gotten more out of a class that was just on culture, not on language as well.
Credit Transfer Issues: I think this will transfer for a language credit but I havent tried yet
Course Name/Rating:

Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness
Course Department: Neuro
Instructor: Claudia Carrara Augustenborg
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Yes challenging but manageable. Our trip to Florence was AWESOME, Claudia is now my life hero she is so cool and I participated way more the class was way more engaging than a normal neuro class at Middlebury.
Credit Transfer Issues: I haven't tried to transfer credits yet