Past Review
By theinemann (Marketing., Providence College) for
Arcadia: Galway - National University of Ireland, Galway
My study abroad experience was beyond worthwhile. I had the opportunity to live in another country for five months, learn a new culture, take classes, meet new people and travel. It enriched my college experience tremendously allowing me to work with students from other cultures and take in how other places in the world approach the education system. I would highly suggest if anyone has the chance to study abroad, that they take it. It truly is a once in a lifetime experience.
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2009 |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was a great experience to see how others learn and to have the chance to work with local and other international students. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program administrator in Ireland was Anne Monahan. She was a wonderful moderator and administrator. She held a welcome and goodbye meal in Galway. She constantly checked up on us with emails and made us aware of all the amazing opportunities the city and campus had to offer. Arcadia was a great program to go through. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a 3 person townhouse/apartment. My specific room was me and one other American girl and then there was a single room with an Irish student. We resided in Gort na Coiribe, it was a beautiful complex, close to campus and to town full of students! Great housing. <br /><br /> |
| * Food: |
The program did not come with a meal plan, so I cooked for myself. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program did a great job of getting everyone together and to make sure we all made the most of the experience as we could. They ran trips and excursions which allowed us to see other parts of the country that we were studying in. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
If there was anything wrong, we were alerted right away with information about what was happening and what to do about it. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
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? | Just take into account when traveling all of the transportation expenses you will face. From taking a bus to get to the plane, the plane ticket itself, another bus or train when you arrive to the other country, taxis and buses. |
Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Although I went to an English speaking country I had to listen to a brogue and decipher slang, which is a lot harder than people imagine. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would say to just make the most of it. Time goes by a lot faster than you can imagine and just make sure to take the chance, get out and explore the country that you will be living in for 5 months. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Business Finance I |
| Course Department: | AY 208 |
| Instructor: | Dr. Robbins |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | The course was extremely challenging. For a finance class our entire grade depended on the final exam. We were tested on every piece of material from day 1...leaving us with a myriad of equations to memorize and not too much direction was given as to how to prepare for the exam. I did not think that the entire grade of a finance class should depend on one exam. At PC I would have had 3 or 4 exams with constant quizzes and a class of 25 rather than 200. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I have not had any trouble yet. I would advise students to get more courses than they plan on taking approved prior to going abroad, simply because plans change and courses conflict so it is always good to have backups. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Globad Marketing |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Natasha Marks |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | The class was great. A little different than one at PC may have been, but that was the benefit of it. I had the chance to work with both American and Irish students on projects and presentations. It aided with my presentation skills, by forcing me step out of my comfort zone and present in front of lecture style classes of 100 students. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | At first PC did approve the course, however when the name changed to Global Marketing, it was a bit harder to get approval despite the fact that the class was the same as international marketing, just had a different name |
