Living my dream - Studying Abroad In Sweden Past Review
By William H (Economics., The University of Texas at Austin) for
Uppsala University: Uppsala - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I know it is the cliché, but I really discovered parts of myself while abroad. I always wanted to go to Sweden as a dream, and now I have done it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned a lot about what I was capable of. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Kerstin always had an answer to my questions. She was very helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Kantorsgatan 52-235 I had a bedroom and a bathroom and shared a kitchen and living area with four other students. <br /><br /> It was pretty close to my classes and the city center. I only wish it were more actively socially like Flogsta. |
| * Food: |
Food was fine, just a bit expensive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The student nations are a great place to go outside of class. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I had full insurance so if I ever became sick I would know what to do. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Sweden is just a more expensive country to live in. But it was worth it. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Accelerated Second-year Swedish SWE602 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I felt like I could barely speak before I left but now I am pretty confident that I could talk to people in Swedish. However, in Sweden you have to be proactive with speaking Swedish or else everyone will speak English all of the time. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Bring warm clothes because it will get/be cold. Have a lot of fun and join V-Dala. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Sweden's Economic and Social Development in the 19th and 20th Centuries |
| Course Department: | Ekonomikum 2EH371 |
| Instructor: | Gabriel Söderberg |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Great class. I learned so much about Swedish history. I would absolutely recommend if you are interested in Sweden at all. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Muntlig språkfärdighet |
| Course Department: | Nordiska språk |
| Instructor: | Stefan Axelsson |
| Instruction Language: | Swedish |
| Comments: | It was good for learning pronunciation. However, much of the class is just spent listening to other students speeches. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Skriftlig språkfärdighet |
| Course Department: | Nordiska språk |
| Instructor: | Åsa Vikström |
| Instruction Language: | Swedish |
| Comments: | I wouldn't recommend this course unless your Swedish is already pretty good and you really want to learn how to write well formally. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Comparative Welfare States |
| Course Department: | Statsvetenskap 2SK576 |
| Instructor: | Hanne Martinek |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | It was a good course. The only issue was that it met for only three hours during the week. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No issues. Good class. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Det svenska språkets struktur |
| Course Department: | Nordiska språk 5NS083 |
| Instructor: | Lennart Larsson |
| Instruction Language: | Swedish |
| Comments: | Essential if one really wants to learn Swedish. Lennart is one of the best professors of the language in the world. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Stilvariationer i tal och skrift |
| Course Department: | Nordiska språk 5NS085 |
| Instructor: | Carin Östman |
| Instruction Language: | Swedish |
| Comments: | Half was interesting and the other repetitive and boring. Still, it was pretty easy and I would recommend it. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Development and Armed Conflict |
| Course Department: | Peace and Conflict Studies |
| Instructor: | Marcus Wallenberg |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | It was informative if sometimes dry and often depressing. Still, it is important to learn about these issues in the world. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I'm not sure what credit I can even get for this class. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Basic Swedish 3 |
| Course Department: | Nordiska språk 5PU018 |
| Instructor: | Tulla Wisén |
| Instruction Language: | Swedish |
| Comments: | It was a good class but sometimes quite boring. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | If you are pretty experienced with Swedish, don't take this. |
