Adventurous Past Review
By Ryan Cutcher (University of Missouri - Kansas City / UMKC) - abroad from 05/20/2019 to 07/02/2019 with
DIS Summer in Scandinavia
I learned that I could travel on my own. I became comfortable with myself and learned a lot about myself being completely on my own. It was the most amazing experience in my life.
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. |
Rigor and intensity were lacking, resources were minimal. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I did not use this resource, if it was offered |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Less than happy about living arrangements. Really loved my roommates and flat mates. DIS had ensured us that we would have our flat cleaned before arrival and the room was not adequately cleaned. Staff informed us on day of move in that our resident Dane requested for weekly cleaning which did not happen until our fourth week. Trash from previous students had been left in our hallway until the 4th week, due to us not being allowed to throw it away. Housing rules and expectations were not adequately explained and we did not have a staff member walk us through anything, our Dane tried to help as much as possible. Additionally, a window was broken prior to our arrival and broke further during our stay. DIS informed us we were responsible for the window breaking and when we inquired further about the window we were referred back to the handbook which was contradictory to information provided by DIS staff. |
| * Food: |
Food was not provided. Grocery stores near by lacked options. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
If more time was spent here I think I would feel more integrated into the local culture. I mainly stayed with a group of friends I made during my stay at a local hostel. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I experienced strep throat while abroad and when I asked for assistance I was provided a link and told I could come into the DIS office for assistance. |
| * Safety: |
Safe city, felt comfortable walking around on my own, even at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I would not chose DIS but I would look into another institution and definitely do it all again. |
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) |
DIS informed us that we would not need to bring many personal hygiene options and it would have been better to bring items from home than spending money once here. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 200-300 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget before hand, and dont buy tickets prior to an event even if you are 100% sure you will go, things come up and you may not even attend. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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 knew more about international phone plans/ the use of a SIM card and what plans to purchase. I would have liked to know a bit more about the area I was living in and provided with grocery shopping tips since everything was in Danish. |
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 BlazerCraving 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: |
Psychology of Criminal Behavior |
| Course Department: | Psychology |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | The course was not challenging. It felt as though we were teaching the professor rather than being taught. Though, the professor was VERY knowledgeable, this was her first time teaching the course and I felt as though she might have felt she had to follow the previous instructor’s syllabus rather than providing information she would have liked to provide. Field studies were not accurately depicted. My |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | NA |
