Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

DIS: Control-paste middlebury in a new city May 23, 2023

By (Computer Science, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/12/2023 to 05/10/2023 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned social and travel skills and a greater understanding of the world beyond Vermont.

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.

* 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:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would not choose this program because it didn't feel very new. There were so many Middlebury students there -- it just felt like I was going to Middlebury college, just in a new city. I was taking easy classes with other Americans, which did not feel very rewarding. DIS really is a well structured program. They take you on amazing week-long field trips and encourage you to do lots of fun travel. Copenhagen is a beautiful city. It was fun to gain more independence, live in an apartment with new friends, and bike to class every day. The weather in the spring was tough -- it stayed cold longer than it does in Vemont.

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)

Copenhagen is expensive! But if you are aware of your spending, it is very doable.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make your food stipend last as long as possible! Just be aware of spending -- don't eat out, don't buy coffee, keep shopping to a minimum. There are so many free things to do in Copenhagen that are fun.

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
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? Danish is not necessary to get around, but it is helpful to take the Danish language class just so that you can feel comfortable in the city.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Biking
  • Independence
  • City life
* What could be improved?
  • Cultural Integration
  • Cost
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Expect to live in a double or a triple!

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Art in the Making
Course Department: art
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was a wonderful, relaxing introduction to art for someone who had barely dabbled in the subject
Credit Transfer Issues: have not attempted
Course Name/Rating:

Artificial Neural Networks and Deep Learning
Course Department: Computer Science
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was based on group assignments and projects. I was challenged at times and learned a lot but it was very manageable despite being a complicated and difficult subject.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Artificial Intelligence
Course Department: Computer Science
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The class was group-project based, with coding assignments and an ethics presentation.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Sociology of the Family
Course Department: Sociology
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I wasn't very clear how this class related to Sociology, but I enjoyed learning about family structures in Denmark as compared to the United States. Work was not that difficult, field trips were interesting and relevant.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Danish Language and Culture
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English/Danish
Comments: So glad I took this course! It helped me feel at home in Denmark because I could begin to understand what the locals were saying, and I began to understand the people around me. Just a few papers per semester, which were on interesting topics.
Credit Transfer Issues: