Dublin is Awesome Past Review

By (Theatre Design, Fordham University) for

Arcadia: Dublin - Trinity College Dublin

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Broader view of the world, Dublin theater, maybe living abroad in the future...

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.

workload overall is less I think, heavy at the end with final papers. less day-to-day homework. I had my first lecture-style class in Dublin. I did start working on final papers much earlier than normal because we had few other assignments.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Expectations were definitely met. Administration were super helpful when I needed to find a certain doctor. I was incredibly happy. Orientation was very informative. Program size was great.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I love Rathmines. I would live there again.

* Food:

There were like five grocery stores within a five-minute walk from home. They were great. A few restaurants but I stuck mostly to cooking.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Galway was a lot of fun, really interesting to meet people and hang out with them.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Only needed a doctor once, not for something urgent, but I needed to get an HIV test for another (unrelated) program I was doing after I came home. Ended up having to pay for a doctor to do it because clinics are under some sort of privacy law that wouldn't give me my results with my name on them. Arcadia staff were super helpful when I was trying to figure it out though.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? go grocery shopping. don't take money out of atms in small amounts.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • new friends
  • preparing us to meet Irish students
  • activities with the program: homestay, Belfast etc.
* What could be improved?
  • understanding that college registration is slower
  • maybe live a little closer to school (but Rathmines is awesome)
  • understanding that everything is slower