Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An amazing experience that I will never forget. Past Review

By (Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia., University of Cincinnati) - abroad from 01/21/2013 to 06/01/2013 with

Academic Studies Abroad: Study Abroad in Dublin, Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much while I was abroad. Even though things didn't always go as planned I wouldn't change a thing. You learn how to live completely on your own and you are immersed in a whole new culture. Every day is a new adventure.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The school and town was very small, but there was always plenty of things to do. There is a train station that would run to other major cities and would go to Dublin city very often. The grocery store, laundry, places to eat, and anything else was walking distance throughout the town. Such a great place to study abroad! You really get the feel of a new culture and it begins to feel like a new home very quickly. Highly recommended!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everything went very smoothly. There were a few bumps along the way, but that's expected with any program. Overall I was very happy.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing was very nice! I had 4 other roommates, some American, some Irish, and some from other countries. I had my own room and my own bathroom which was very nice! The only downside was if anything went wrong, maintenance was a little slow fixing the problem, but it wasn't an extreme issue. You also had your own kitchen and living room shared with the other roommates in your apartment.

* Food:

The food is very good, but usually the food is all the same everywhere you go. It wasn't that the food was bad, it was just very bland and not a huge variety.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt extremely integrated! The people are so friendly and really want you to learn and know about the Irish culture. Going to Maynooth really made adjusting to the culture easy because it was such a small town.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never personally had any extreme issues with health while I was abroad, but from other peoples experiences the situations were dealt with very well. If there was any extreme issues, the international office would get involved and help as much as they could.

* Safety:

I always felt extremely safe in Ireland. Pretty much any where I went. Obviously you still have to be aware of your surroundings, but I never felt unsafe. The crimes that happened were mostly theft, so as long as you were aware your belongings while you were out there were no serious issues.

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

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)

Money was a bigger issue. As long as you budget yourself you shouldn't run into too many problems. I would recommend making a weekly budget and having access to your online banking account. I would also highly recommend having at least two cards to access money in case something happens with one. As long as you know how much you're spending and don't go overboard you should be fine.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $4,500- $5,000
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make sure you have access to online banking so you can always know how much money you have left to spend.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • How small the town was.
  • How easy it was to travel around Ireland and to other countries.
  • The people!
* What could be improved?
  • Having more possible scholarships.
  • Sometimes things would take a while to get fixed in the apartments.
  • Having some type of meal plan.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? To really budget your money, but also not hold back on certain things or trips because of financial issues. Things will work out one way or another. Don't go overboard with trips and special things, but you also might not get the opportunity to do them again. Don't hold back!

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.