University of Wisconsin–Madison

Denmark: Kathleen Gibson-Hutto

Program: DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia, Summer

Three people pose for a selfie while sitting at a white table with computers.
This was my classroom abroad! It was much smaller but had a huge whiteboard for us to use and windows that swung open. These were two of my closest friends in class and we did lots of exploring outside of class together!

Kathleen’s Major: Neurobiology and Psychology

What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?

My biggest challenge for abroad was finding/gathering the funds to go. I faced this challenge by working a ton at my serving job and saving up all spring. In addition, I applied for lots of scholarships which were super helpful in being able to attend this program.

My advice for someone considering my program is to just apply! I was nervous at first but it was such a wonderful experience and was not nearly as intimidating when you arrive.

How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?

The academic neuroscience class taken through DIS-Scandinavia was different from UW-Madison in that our learning was more hands on and discussion based rather than lecture and quizzes/exams heavy. We would do mini power lectures (30 minutes/1 hour) and then go put into practice what we learned. For example, we had to walk around the city for 10 minutes each wearing a blind fold to experience how losing our sense of sight affected other parts of our cognition.

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

My advice for someone considering my program is to just apply! I was nervous at first but it was such a wonderful experience and was not nearly as intimidating when you arrive. I also recommend saving up your money so you have ample funds to explore Denmark with new friends and your teachers.