<p>Son is thinking about going to study business in Copenhagen next fall. I understand this is a dreary time of year there. He has not been abroad, and does not know anyone who is going from his university. Does not speak the language. Both my husband and I are having reservations. From reading blogs does not seem that many universities offer housing. We are concerned about this, and also that it is not a "mainstream"destination or time to be going (most of his friends go to schools that offer programs in the spring). Anyone that has studied there or knows much about the city? Our concern is that he will be alone and have difficulty meeting other students.</p>
<p>Tagged along with my husband who was going to Copenhagen for a conference. We went in the spring. I’m from New England and it seemed to me that the weather was similar to that in New England. It was sunny both times I visited. </p>
<p>Copenhagen is a beautiful, European city. Great architecture, easy to get around, very clean, and people are quite friendly. Everyone speaks English, even in non-tourist areas you’ll find English speakers. People bike everywhere–even commute to work on bikes. We took a bus to see a few things that were outside of the downtown area and didn’t have a problem figuring out what to do. </p>
<p>My daughter did a study abroad program (in Spain) and went on a program that wasn’t sponsored by her university. She was the only person from her university in this program, but it wasn’t a problem. She quickly made friends with kids in the program and was not lonely. Lots of the students in these programs come from other universities and the organizers offer lots of opportunities for the students in the program to get to know one another. My daughter lived with a host family as did everyone in her program.</p>
<p>I suggest that you have your son talk to the folks who are organizing the program and find out about opportunities to meet other students who are going on the some program that he wants to attend.</p>
<p>Thanks! It is CBS (Copenhagen Business School).</p>
<p>My son is currently in Copenhagen for a semester program with DIS. Although there are 6 others from his U. S. school, he did not know any of them before leaving and I don’t think he has much contact with them now. He opted to stay in the collegium which houses college students from several colleges/ universities. I think he mentioned students from CBS, but I am not sure. He has a single in the dorm but shares a kitchen with a group of students. He told me there are 1100 students in his collegium (if I heard correctly) and only 20 are from DIS; the others are mostly Danish students attending other schools. I don’t know about CBS but DIS had a wonderful orientation when they arrived and his RA has already planned several trips in the Just over two weeks that they have been there. Last Tues, they had a personal tour of the Parliament building and on Sunday, they rented a van and took a ferry then drove to Germany to shop. This weekend, he is going on a planned trip through the school to Finland for snowshoeing and ice fishing. I would love to trade places with my son! As one of his courses he is taking a beginning class in Danish language and culture but says everyone speaks English. His RA even discusses American football with him. </p>
<p>My son has done quite a bit of traveling, including a 3 week home stay in Germany. Denmark, although expensive, seems like an ideal place to study abroad. By coincidence, our local PBS had a feature on Copenhagen this morning. As a history and film studies major, the classes he is taking will really add to his education.</p>
<p>I studied abroad in the spring and Copenhagen and wished I had done it in the fall! In the springtime, you arrive in the coldest and still rather dark time of year, so it can be hard to get to know the city or motivate yourself to brave the elements and go exploring… or your classes consume the small number of daylight hours. In the fall, you arrive while the sun is still shining quite merrily, and have time to wander the city before the darkness sets in (at which point, you’ll probably be familiar with the city and how to get places and won’t have to worry terribly about getting lost). </p>
<p>And Denmark seems an “off-the-beaten” track choice, but it cracked into the top 25 destinations for U.S. study abroad students this year, so he will be in good company, in terms of other students in CPH.</p>