Copenhagen is a beautiful (though insanely expensive) city Past Review
By A student (Vanderbilt University) - abroad from 05/23/2016 to 07/01/2016 with
DIS Summer in Scandinavia
I learned a good deal about how to fend for myself in a confusing and unfamiliar environment.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were interesting but felt repetitive. |
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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? |
The program advertised that all living arrangements were 15 to 45 minutes from class (which is in the city center), but I was placed in housing that was just under an hour away. The neighborhood was extremely residential (lacking any form of entertainment), and we were a 10 to 15 minute walk from the nearest subway station. There was little to do in the area, and I feel housing had a severely negative effect on my experience. Many other students (who paid the same for housing as those of us living where I was did) were placed in nicer apartments surrounded by shops, restaurants, bars, museums, and landmarks. Many's walk to class was shorter than my walk to the train station (which was only the beginning of my long journey each morning). They were able to explore and enjoy Copenhagen significantly more than I was, and it is frustrating the DIS did not make more of an effort to arrange the same quality of housing for all students. |
| * Food: |
As Copenhagen is so expensive, it was difficult to find decent food for a reasonable price. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I did not feel especially integrated in the culture and I believe this had more to do with my housing than anything else. |
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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
My housing had such a negative effect I would not do it all over again, but I believe many others enjoyed their experience significantly more than I did. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cooking for yourself is a good way to avoid spending the $20+ you do on any decent meal out |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | I wish I understood how expensive the city would be. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
