Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Europe as My Classroom January 08, 2023

By (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/19/2022 to 12/16/2022 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes! I learned more about how to be independent, how to live in a city, and how to learn from and appreciate foreign cultures.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

My apartment was robbed

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

I really enjoyed the structure of the DIS program and the people I met

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 50-100$
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save money over the summer and try to cook meals at home and pack lunches for class

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

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? Intro Danish 101
How many hours per day did you use the language?

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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people
  • The traveling
  • The courses
* What could be improved?
  • Food Stipend
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How quickly the semester would pass and to take advantage of the opportunities presented to me

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Medical Biotechnology and Drug Development
Course Department: Biology
Instructor: Jeanette Erbo Wern
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I really enjoyed this course! I think the topics and material were interesting and relevant and encompassed aspects of the drug development process that appealed to individuals with a wide range of interests including the discovery process, the development process, marketing, FDA approval, investment, and clinical trials. Jeanette was a very knowledgeable teacher and our classes were well planned. I think our field trips were relevant and educational and papers and exams fairly assessment the knowledge I gained in the class.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Danish Language and Culture
Course Department: Language
Instructor: Morten Lykkegaard
Instruction Language: English/Danish
Comments: I really liked learning some Danish, however I think the structure of the course was slightly ineffective for any language retention because we just started with pronouns and sentences rather than starting with pronunciation/alphabet, and I left Denmark without knowing how to say and respond to helpful/everyday phrases. I also would have been interested in learning more contemporary Danish culture as well as Danish history.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Women and Leadership
Course Department:
Instructor: Gitte Vonsild
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was interesting and exciting at the beginning of the semester but our topics got a bit repetitive throughout the course, so there tended to be a recycling of ideas and conversations toward the end. I think Gitte was mostly effective at inspiring discussion but sometimes the class was unsure about what she was asking. Furthermore, toward the end of the course I felt like there was a lot of "women are the victim"/"women are so oppressed" types of conversations rather than solutions and goals to achieve success as a woman leader.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Healthcare Economics in Europe
Course Department: Economics
Instructor: Sanjib Saha and James Weatherall
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I thought this course was interesting and introduced me to new ideas in health economics, however it seemed a like there was a lack of communication between the instructors that led to a bit of a disjointed syllabus. Furthermore, it was sometimes hard to understand Sanjib and sometimes he also seemed to get confused about what he was saying. Overall I enjoyed the content and the assignments. I did not think the field visits were particularly enlightening.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

The Meaning of Style
Course Department:
Instructor: Jeppe Juel
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was very interesting, I took it because I normally take very science-heavy courses and I wanted to try something new. I thought it was very interesting to learn about the history and evolution of fashion. Jeppe was a very clear presenter and facilitated good class discussion.
Credit Transfer Issues: No