An amazing experience!! Past Review
By Lauren F (Applied Accounting and Finance, Fordham University) - abroad from 01/14/2013 to 05/18/2013 with
Arcadia: Dublin - University College Dublin
I learned so much about myself from my experience abroad. I became more independent and trusting of myself and got to see 10 countries while I was in Europe. Studying abroad was one of the best experiences of my life, and I encourage everyone to take the opportunity while they can and go somewhere.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I found the Irish schooling system to be very different from that of the US. None of my classes took attendance, I had no midterms, and most of my grades were heavily dependent on the final. Throughout the semester it seems as if you have no work to do, but come time for the final you are expected to know all of the material that was supposed to be covered throughout the course of the semester. The professors expect a lot more out of the student in that you decide how much you want to learn and take from the course and then teach it to yourself in a way for the final. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in Glenomena Student Residences. There were six roommates total, each with our own bedrooms and bathrooms and a shared living room and kitchen. I lived with one American girl, two Irish girls, an Irish guy, and a French girl, so it was cool to have a diverse group of roommates. |
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very integrated into the local culture, because I went to and Irish college and had most of my classes with Irish students. I also lived with three Irish students so they had introduced me to a lot of new things while I was there. |
|
* 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) |
|
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do not spend most of your money within the first few weeks there. A lot of students get excited because they are in a new country and go crazy with their spending to only then have little money left for the rest of the semester, which puts them on a tight budget for the rest of their time there. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I now know that I can in fact live on my own in a foreign country for 4 1/2 months and be perfectly okay. You manage to surprise yourself when you're abroad, and that certainly was the case for me. I made so many new friends, both American and Irish, and I hope to keep in touch with them. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
