Denmark: Zoe Huntsberger
Program: DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia, Spring
Zoe’s Majors: Biology, Dance
How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?
As a double major here at UW-Madison in both Biology and Dance, I am used to taking courses that are in both fields of studies. However, my experience studying abroad was primarily science focused, so I had to find outside activities and resources to continue dancing. Thankfully, I found a local dance studio in which I was able to take drop-in contemporary classes. Being able to take a dance class each Tuesday night really allowed me to continue to grow my passion for dance, all while still focusing on my science courses within my program. It was a very cool experience to take these dance classes in Denmark, as the technique and approach to teaching is slightly different than what I am accustomed to here in the United States.
It was so much fun dancing to Danish music and meeting other Danish individuals with similar interests and passions as me.
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
My most memorable experience from my program in Copenhagen was traveling with my core course to Budapest and Vienna. I got to travel with my best friends for a week and form connections with my classmates and professor. I learned about the healthcare systems of both Hungary and Austria, allowing me to then compare their systems to that of Denmark. This week of travel was an incredible hands-on experience, where I got to meet with doctors, tour hospitals and clinics, and learn about the two countries’ cultures. We also had time to explore the cities and see some amazing landmarks and museums, as well as eat incredible food. This week was a time to further explore my passion for a future career and confirm that healthcare was right for me!
What is your advice for someone considering your program?
My advice for someone considering my program would be to choose a core course that really matches your interests. Your core course will be the class that you spend the most amount of time with, so you really want to choose a class that aligns with your field of study. This was the class in which I formed my closest friendships and got to travel on both a short and a long study tour with. Another piece of advice, from the perspective of a dance major, is to not doubt your abilities to study abroad! I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to live my dreams of studying abroad, as UW-Madison didn’t offer any study abroad programs for dance specifically at the time of my application. However, since I knew this was a dream of mine, I worked with my dance advisor to plan ahead and take more dance courses during the first two years of college, therefore allowing me to leave more science courses to complete during my semester abroad. If studying abroad has been a dream of yours, understand that it is more than possible as a dance major. Given how flexible DIS Copenhagen is, you and your advisor(s) can work together to ensure your dream comes to fruition.