Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Stockholm Experience- the Pioneers Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/20/2016 to 12/14/2016 with

DIS Stockholm Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was COMPLETELY worthwhile. I believe studying abroad should be something every undergraduate student embarks on. As a result, I consider myself to be a citizen of the world.

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.

Note: My review for "Swedish Politics and Society" should be FIVE stars.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The DIS personnel in Stockholm were amazing- I couldn't have asked for more.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

We were responsible for cooking our own meals, therefore, this question is relatively ambiguous.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was able to get out and play basketball with Swedish students at Stockholm University.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any health issues while in Stockholm, therefore, I cannot really comment on this section.

* Safety:

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

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)

Stockholm, like all Scandinavian capitals is EXTREMELY expensive. Obviously $250 is a lot per week for personal expenses, however, any student planning to study abroad there should be aware of this.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I was a full-year study abroad student, so my first semester in Stockholm I did not travel outside of the country.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
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? Spanish 205
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? Try out the language when ordering coffee, you might get a smile from a Swede every once in a while.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The Faculty
  • My Classmates
  • The City
* What could be improved?
  • The Structure of the Program (it's still very new)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How expensive Stockholm really is.

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:

Gender, Equality, and Sexuality in Scandinavia
Course Department: Gender Studies
Instructor: Anna Cavallin
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was indeed challenging from an existential standpoint. This was my first class in Gender Studies and it greatly changed the way I look at the world. I am so glad I took this course.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Scandinavian Crime Fiction
Course Department:
Instructor: Janis Granger
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was not extremely challenging despite the assigned reading requirement. Nonetheless, I found it valuable when seeking to immerse myself in Scandinavian Culture. There was so much I found relevant to Scandinavian society in the texts analyzed in the course.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Swedish Language and Culture
Course Department: Language
Instructor: Madeleine Hurd
Instruction Language: English & Swedish
Comments: This course was extremely challenging for me who has a hard time learning a language. Nonetheless, Made (my professor) did her best to make the class enjoyable.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Swedish Politics and Society
Course Department: Political Science
Instructor: Steve Turner
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was by far my favorite and most influential of my study abroad experience. Steve took a course that could have been strictly limited to studying the Swedish political system and its history, and challenge his students to change the way they think. I feel fortunate to have taken this class leading up to the 2016 US Presidential Election as was influential in my understanding of candidate platforms, as well as its results. Furthermore, Steve greatly aided me in my academic writing, teaching me to make a BOLD claim and attempt to support it rather than choosing a position that could be easily defended. I truly believe my development as an academic began with this course and, furthermore, cannot stress enough what a remarkable experience it was.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Terrorism and Anti-Terrorism
Course Department: Political Science
Instructor: Hans Brun
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was amazing to take simply based on its instructor. Hans is a professional who currently works in the industry. I cannot explain how valuable it was to learn from someone with as much practical knowledge as Hans has, you'll just have to take the class.
Credit Transfer Issues: