Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Stockholm <3 May 25, 2024

By (Neuroscience, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/12/2024 to 05/10/2024 with

DIS Stockholm Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a stronger sense of independence through having to budget, cook my own meals, and just exist in a new country where I couldn't understand the language. I came to really love Stockholm, and I'll definitely be back (but probably in the summer next time)

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.

Classes were pretty easy in general, but there is a lot of group work. No office hours

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I wanted a host family, but ended up in dorm/apartment style housing. The location and the building were nice, but the building I was in also had a choir that practiced downstairs directly under my room at the most random hours. I just got unlucky there. My building had kitchens in each room, but they were very small which made it difficult to make food. the only "counter space" was a single small table that also had the microwave and toaster on it. There was nowhere to store groceries either, so they had to sit on the table too, giving me even less space. The way the burners were positioned was also not well thought out. You couldn't comfortably fit two pans at once. Everything else was fine, but I have serious beef with the kitchen situation.

* Food:

Lunch deals in the city are pretty good, usually come with unlimited bread and coffee.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Swedes are very very introverted, so it's pretty difficult

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There's a doctor that you can access through the program for free. Over the counter medications are not very accessible. Recommend brining NyQuil or something if you can

* Safety:

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

Stockholm is such a nice city. The winter can be difficult at times, but it was worth it.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to stay with a host family so you can save money on groceries

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

Swedish language classes are optional, but I think most people take it. Pretty much everyone in Stockholm speaks English to some extent, so it's not really necessary to know Swedish, but it can be helpful.

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

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • 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
  • International Students
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?
  • Location
  • Study tours
* What could be improved?
  • Instructors being available outside of class
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? They don't salt their sidewalks, and they can get really really icy, especially because they tend to not shovel either. The snow melts during the day and freezes into ice overnight, and it can get really bad.

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:

Cognitive Neuroscience of Addiction
Course Department:
Instructor: Ebba Karlsson
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I think this class actually made me lose brain cells. Teacher had no neuroscience background and you could tell.
Credit Transfer Issues: