Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Stockholm is amazing, DIS could use some work! Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/19/2017 to 12/08/2017 with

DIS Stockholm Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I became a lot more independent and confident in my ability to navigate. I am very happy I went abroad. I think it was very important for my personal growth.

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?

The housing arrangements were very variable in quality.

* Food:

I wish we had gotten more of a food stipend.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Stockholm feels very safe!

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

I wish I had directly enrolled in a Swedish University. It would have cost less and I would have had a more immersive experience.

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 is VERY expensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $40-$200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you want to go to museums/travel/go out for food, be prepared to spend a lot of money. You can save money by doing free activities and trying to cook for yourself most meals. Lunch can run at least $14.

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

Very little encouragement and the language program was very lacking in comparison to my language experiences at Middlebury.

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? 200 level Japanese
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? Take an outside Swedish class or teach yourself.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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 location
  • Time off for travel
  • Provided housing (we did not have to find our own apartments)
* What could be improved?
  • Food stipend
  • Quality of classes (especially Swedish)
  • organization and communication
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known more about the demographic of their student body, how academically rigorous it was not, and how tuition is allocated. I wish I had seen more of my tuition in the quality of my professors, lodging, and food stipend.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Transgender in Scandinavia
Course Department:
Instructor: Cat McIlroy
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was probably my best at DIS. Cat was extremely knowledgeable about the topic and facilitated good discussions. I participated in class about the same as I would at a course at Middlebury. We had reflective journals, class presentations, and discussions as forms of assessment.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Public Health and Migration
Course Department:
Instructor: Rachel Irwin
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was difficult because it only met once a week. Rachel was knowledgeable, but did not stay on topic. I often felt like we had the same discussion every class period with little variation or new information. I did enjoy our red cross refugee simulation and trip to the technology museum. I also liked our trip to Geneva a lot. We were assessed via tests and papers. I participated at the same level I would at home.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Swedish Language and Culture I
Course Department:
Instructor: Simone Schwank
Instruction Language: English/Swedish
Comments: This class did not especially help me learn Swedish. The class focused on the "culture" aspect much more than the language and we had discussion in English every class period. We did not have language homework. I had to make a large commitment on my own time to learn Swedish in order to keep up with the standardized assessments. We had a midterm and a final. I participated in class a lot.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Nordic Contemporary Art
Course Department:
Instructor: Vendela Grundell
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was a class with an interesting topic and readings. I wish we had visited the modern art museum in Stockholm and visited more galleries. I also wish that the class had been more conducive to discussion. I did not participate in this class much because there was not a lot of space to participate. We were assessed through papers and presentations.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Glued to the Screen: TV, Norms, & Culture
Course Department:
Instructor: Anne Bachmann
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was very interesting and fun. I enjoyed the topic very much as it made me think critically about television in a way I haven't before. Anne is very smart and well versed in her field. I enjoyed all the guest lecturers she brought in. I also liked how we went to the ABBA museum. I participated in class about the same amount I would at home. We were assessed through a midterm, papers, and in class presentations.
Credit Transfer Issues: