Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

What I learned in International Living Past Review

By (Simmons College) - abroad from 01/25/2016 to 05/27/2016 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Dublin, Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I would say it is the best thing for anyone who has no true direction. If you are an unsure college student like many people I know, this is the right place for you. It gives you a new perspective and will help you realize just who you are

Review Photos

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Dublin, Ireland Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I would say overall the educational experience was not the best it could have been but accurately displayed the nature of how other cultures work through the educational system. It was not the fault of CAPA, more the college itself.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program was the most important part of this entire experience and I believe it was the administration who really tailored to me and kept my experience smooth.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing was so much nicer than my own college's mainly because I was living in a suite with a built in kitchen which I have never had before!

* Food:

I did most of my own cooking, as did everyone else in my program. I think it was wonderful because we would make cooking nights where everyone would eat together; so cool!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It did not take me too long to get integrated, especially with the first week of immersion into the city by CAPA itself.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not mind the healthcare access as it was quite minimal in comparison. When I got incredibly sick, I just walked down the street to a pharmacy and they gave me exactly what I needed.

* Safety:

Dublin is so safe. It was really easy to maneuver even through even at night! This is also my precursor to having a keen sense of direction, but I found it personally very hard to get lost.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

CAPA was not afraid to let us explore our personal freedoms. They were always there to help us when we needed it, but they let us try and experiment with our own independence. The internship was also just as important, as we got to work and experience other ways the world works quite literally. It was an eye opening experience that pushed me into what I want to do with my life.

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)

It was generally affordable to live. If you lived your life out of Tesco and did not go out too too much you still had enough budget to travel around. The flights to other countries are very cheap in Europe.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 20 - 100 euros every week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I would not skimp on walking to a cheaper grocery store, the food is much cheaper there! Don't be afraid of cheaper hostels if you have plenty of friends.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Cooking
  • Internship
  • Travelling
* What could be improved?
  • Informed Curriculum
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the buses are optional if you work right next to the school. And the housing information earlier.

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 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.