Definitely an Experience for Growth January 31, 2023
By A student (Graphic Design, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/22/2022 to 12/15/2022 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I learned how to live fully independently from commuting to cooking. I also gained a pretty significant insight into graphic design through my core course that I would have never obtained from my home institution. To that extent, it was worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It seemed that the Design/Architecture core courses were more intense and project-based than any of the other core courses. |
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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? |
I had thought that by choosing a Kollegium for my housing, I would be able to live in a shared apartment space with other Danes or international students where we had a communal kitchen/common area. This was not the case for specifically Mønten Kollegium. In Mønten all DIS students live together in doubles or triples and there also happen to be Danes in the apartment complex but you will rarely run into each other naturally. I really liked my roommate but I was a bit disappointed that I never really had that communal living aspect I was seeking. My room itself was nice but there was no toaster, freezer, or oven which made cooking for myself quite difficult. |
| * Food: |
I really enjoyed cooking for myself but had to strictly budget my grocery card to last the entire semester. Especially because no seasonings or necessary cooking ingredients (oil, salt, pepper) are provided, you spend a lot of money just buying the essentials to establish your kitchen. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
I felt like it was moderately easy to live on a student's budget but that was only because I very strictly budgeted my grocery card and did not go out to, for example, Tivoli. In retrospect, the high cost of living paired with the limited stipend from DIS may have really hindered my ability to really explore Copenhagen. |
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 |
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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? | 0 |
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? | A lot of students who attend DIS have planned with friends from their home institution to attend this program together. As someone who was going without knowing anyone prior, I wish I had known how much more of an effort I would have to make to meet people. |
