Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

It was the time of my life and I didn't want to leave! Past Review

By (Business Administration, Management and Operations., Bentley University) - abroad from 09/01/2012 to 12/22/2012 with

Arcadia: Dublin - University College Dublin

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Living on my own was a new experience but I am glad I got to do it in Dublin. I loved adjusting to the culture and getting to know the city which was easy to do since our apartment was centrally located off Grafton street. There was always a new part of Dublin to explore, whether it was historical locations, meeting friends at pubs, or shopping the European outlets. Besides this, my favorite parts were getting out into the country and traveling the different areas of Ireland. It was breathtaking and unique in culture. Besides Ireland I also got to travel to Italy and Spain. Seeing all these cultures has opened my eyes to what is out there beyond the United States. It has inspired me to continue my travels and has given me a lot of life lessons on how to take care of myself, act in new situations, and practice safe travel. Overall it was fun and majestic. It was more then worth it.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

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

  • Americans
* 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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • apartment location
  • getting involved with the dance team on campus
  • easy ability to travel to other European countries
* What could be improved?
  • security of apartment
  • include buddy system with local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? A break down of how much it costs to live in Dublin. I found that the city was very expensive and no matter how much I budgeted I still ran out of money at some points. I thought I had enough money to last the four months, but this was not the case. Had a known an estimate of how much living in Ireland would cost I could have been better prepared.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.