The best decision I made in college - everyone should study abroad! Past Review
By Halley Geringer (Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/06/2018 to 08/04/2018 with
Boston University: Dublin - Internship Program, Summer
My experience abroad was 100% worthwhile. I gained a greater sense of self and how I work best, what makes me "tick" so to say. I think the whole "I found myself abroad" rhetoric to be kind of obnoxious and exaggerated, but I can say that studying abroad threw me into a place of discomfort, where I was encountered with living my daily life in a place that wasn't familiar to me, and it was that discomfort that helped me grow as an independent adult and to realize how I like living my life. I had to navigate basic things like grocery shopping and public transport that were entirely different than what I was used to. Even the basic structure of my day was radically different than what I'm used to. This discomfort forced me to assess how I wanted to structure my day, how I wanted to spend my free time, and in general how I wanted to utilize my time. Having my internship four days a week was like having a normal 9-5 job, and there was a lot of free time I wasn't used to having. I learned that I like having easy, stress-free mornings - I like being able to start my day with a latte at a cafe, rather than rushing into the office. I learned that I enjoy decompressing from a long day at work by walking around, doing some shopping, maybe grabbing a snack, before heading home. I learned that I enjoy having at least one night a week when I go out to see a play - I even learned that I really enjoy seeing plays by myself, something which I hadn't really done before going abroad! Overall, I gained a much greater sense of independence from my experience abroad, as well as the sense that I can truly take care of myself as an adult.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I would have preferred to be in a flat as opposed to the corridor style housing we were in, but nevertheless, the housing was clean and well-equipped! |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Strep throat got passed around my program, and I had to see a doctor to get treated. There was a doctor's office just a five minute walk from our housing, which had been recommended to us in our orientation packet. The healthcare system was pretty similar to what I'm used to in the U.S. There was a bit of waiting time in the doctor's office, but then the doctor saw me and was kind, attentive, and helpful. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how quickly I was given antibiotics - normally in the U.S. you have to wait for the throat culture to come back, but in Ireland, the doctor gave me antibiotics based on how long I had been having symptoms, without making me wait for a culture. I started feeling better within a couple days of taking the antibiotics. The copay was standard, around the same price I would pay for a doctor's visit at home (I believe it was 35 euro). The pharmacists were also very helpful when I went to pick up my prescription - the pharmacy was literally right next to the medical center (which was a much-appreciated convenience), and the pharmacists were kind and hospitable. I didn't have to wait very long for my prescription, and the pharmacists pointed out where I could find supplementary treatments to help me feel better, like cough drops and throat sprays. They also were sure to ask me if I was allergic to penicillin before they gave it to me, and also told me of the increased risks of yeast infections associated with taking penicillin and showed me where I could find medication for that if I should need it. Overall, everyone I interacted with in the healthcare system was friendly, helpful, and kind. |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Yes and no! If I could study abroad all over again, I would choose this program again if I was doing summer study abroad - but I would rather study abroad for an even longer period of time in another country that I've never explored! Studying abroad stoked my wanderlust that I had already begun having my junior year of high school, so while I absolutely LOVED this program, I would not choose it again solely for the purpose of getting to experience another culture I haven't experienced before. That has nothing to do at all with the quality of this program - I had a phenomenal experience with this program, and I recommend this program and Ireland as a study abroad location to all my friends! I am already looking forward to going back to visit Ireland; I miss it dearly, and it holds a very special place in my heart, more so than any other country I've ever visited. I wish I could study abroad unlimited times, exploring multiple countries in the way I was able to appreciate Ireland! I have no regrets about choosing this program - it truly was the perfect program for my summer study abroad experience. |
Finances
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* 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) |
Studying abroad is expensive - there is no getting around that fact. You'll end up spending more money than you think you will, because while you might budget $20-$30 for a week's worth of groceries, you'll forget about all the times when you'll go out to have some awesome experience in your host country and end up eating out. I think a good rule of thumb for financing your abroad experience is to expect to spend 1.5-2 times what you *think* you'll spend. You won't want to say "no" to going out to a fun pub or bar or restaurant with your friends, or to taking a train across the country to see another area, or to exploring outside your home country, or to trying all the yummy foods in your host country - and you shouldn't say "no" to those things! Just be aware that those memorable experiences abroad often don't come free. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | On food, I probably spent about 20 euros on groceries. I usually ate out for lunch because it was easier, so I probably spent about 40-50 euro on lunches - I definitely could have saved money by bringing my own lunch to my internship. As far as other expenses, I probably spent 75-100 euro each week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Start saving EARLY. Like, starting the moment you decide to study abroad. I wish I had started saving up earlier than just the semester prior to my summer abroad (and I definitely thought I would have an easier time with finances since I was only spending a summer abroad and not an entire semester, and that was not the case). You will thank yourself later! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had gotten a better sense prior to going on this program just how much money it would cost - I would have spent more time saving up and I think it would have helped me budget to know ahead of time how much I would probably end up spending each week. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
