Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Brilliant Past Review

By (Berea College) - abroad from 06/04/2016 to 06/28/2016 with

KIIS: Experience Scandinavia - Summer Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Academically, I learned a great deal about the history and culture of Denmark. Practically, I learned some very useful things about traveling abroad and air travel, hostels, and navigating Danish public transportation. And personally, the trip had a huge impact on me, because it required me to go outside my comfort zone and do a lot of things that I wouldn't have thought myself brave enough to do, and I feel stronger as a person for having done it. So, yes, definitely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

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?

We stayed at two hostels. The first one was fine, although there was some information about it that I would have preferred to have been made clearer to me beforehand. The second one, however, was not very clean and had extreme noise problems. No one in the group enjoyed those arrangements.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

To my knowledge there were no major healthcare issues that came up during the trip.

* Safety:

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

I loved the time that I spent in Denmark, the culture and the atmosphere there, and all the amazing things we got to see. I would definitely go back.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50-80 (roughly)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't buy ludicrous amounts of alcohol. Might sound flippant, but far and away the biggest source of spending I saw among the group as a whole was from alcohol.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • All the incredible museums we went to.
  • The experience of being thoroughly immersed in a different culture, which was often difficult and unsettling, but in an important way.
  • Danish ice cream.
* What could be improved?
  • We had some difficulty with the living arrangements, particularly the second hostel, which was cramped, extremely noisy, not very clean and overall just kind of unsettling. But this may already be improved because I believe our director mentioned not intending to stay there again.
  • Our director was a kind and enthusiastic woman, but I sometimes felt that she had trouble relating to our outlook on the trip, particularly since she was so much more familiar with the country than any of us. For example, she would set a pace that we could not always keep up with, which occasionally became hazardous when we were navigating crowded and unfamiliar areas.
  • I think that some of our excursions could possibly have been prioritized a little better.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known all or nearly all Danish credit card readers require a PIN. That would have saved me a lot of trouble. So would having packed a pillowcase.

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.'