Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Beautiful Adventure Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., Austin College) - abroad from 09/15/2012 to 12/15/2012 with

Arcadia: Maynooth - Maynooth University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned about a different culture and a different way of living, but I also learned about a lot of things that we had in common too. I explored a brand new country with its own deep history. It was totally worthwhile and I will carry the experience with me for the rest of my life.

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.

* 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:

I felt very safe in my host city and everyone was very friendly and helpful.

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)

The conversion rate between American Dollars and Euros was perhaps the most costly issue -- everything I bought was at least a little more expensive than it would have been in America.

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
  • 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?
  • Tours around the country
  • Learning local culture (food and music especially!).
  • Meeting people from different countries.
* What could be improved?
  • Sometimes I struggled to learn how my host university worked compared to my own.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I did not realize how costly the Dollar-Euro conversion was. I wish I realized ahead of time about how different the school system was.

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'