Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Short but sweet July 22, 2021

By (Economics, Computer Science, Political Science, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/22/2021 to 06/11/2021 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that there are many other fields that I would find interesting in my study.

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.

Not as rigorous as Midd, but that could be due to COVID.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Given the circumstances, it was incredibly well run. They had great activities set up for us on short notice. In only 7 weeks, I felt totally immersed in the culture.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a host family who were so amazing.

* Food:

Loved the food my family cooked, and had a generous stipend for incidentals.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I totally felt like a local. I loved needing to bike/train to where I was going. I often studied in cafes and squares and felt like I was living a very Danish life.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The resources available were robust.

* Safety:

I felt safer in Denmark than in my own city/country.

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

How can one explain their experience during COVID? I will say being online for 3 months was no fun. I would not do that again. But the 7 weeks I had in country were amazing in so many ways. I felt deeply immersed in the culture and it just left me longing for 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)

This was during Covid though. I think generally it would have been quite difficult, especially if I was not in a homestay.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Bring a lunch from home if you can.

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

Almost no encouragement. No language requirement either.

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? 0
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? Being in the country would be helpful. But just be persistent with people trying to speak Danish.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Housing
  • Public Transportation
  • Course Selection
* What could be improved?
  • More excursions
  • Less cost to stay in an apartment
  • More communications
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I would not be allowed into the country for 3 months.

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:

Sustainable Denmark
Course Department: Environmental Studies
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was also not particularly challenging. It allowed me, however, to focus on the topics and the discussions and I think I had a more gratifying experience in the end. Denmark is known for its sustainability, so taking a class like this was key for fully understanding the country.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Artificial Neural Networks
Course Department: Computer Science
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was the first time I had taken an applied Computer Science course and absolutely loved it. We went on several great field trips once in country. The teachers were both knowledgable and had plenty of experience.
Credit Transfer Issues: Have not tried yet
Course Name/Rating:

Danish Language and Culture
Course Department: Danish
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I really liked the cultural aspect of the course, but felt the language was not necessary. I hardly ever spoke Danish because the Danes prefer English. Felt like once I made it into the country, I had a great base of knowledge about the culture.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Arctic Geopolitics
Course Department: Political Science
Instructor: Alexander Hviid
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Arctic Geopolitics was a wonderful course and I felt like I learned so much about an incredibly important part of politics. Even online, he still took us on field trips and shared his vast knowledge of the field.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Economics of Crime
Course Department: Economics
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was more interesting than challenging. Our professor has had a rich, long history of all sorts of fields. He drew on this experience every day and had great anecdotes relevant to all sorts of topics.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Analysis
Course Department: International Relations
Instructor: Søren Hove and Nis Mathiesen
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was challenging and was great in helping me to synthesize a lot of conflicting information, and putting it into on pithy report. I felt that the skills I learned in this course are very practical for the real world.
Credit Transfer Issues: