Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best Three Months of My Life Past Review

By (University of Florida) - abroad from 05/30/2018 to 08/11/2018 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Dublin, Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about Irish culture, intercultural competence, and myself during this experience. It was definitely worthwhile and shaped me into who I am today.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administration of the program in Dublin were fantastic! They were very personable and always willing to help us with whatever we needed.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I studied abroad during the summer, where we stayed in an "aparthotel" called Staycity. The location was perfect, the lobby was open 24/7 with receptionists, and the apartments were cleaned once a week. I really enjoyed living there!

* 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:

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

I absolutely loved studying abroad in Dublin and would go back in a heartbeat. This program included everything needed to have a worry-free, fun, and safe experience abroad in a city that I love.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Local grocery shops are very inexpensive in Dublin, so it was easy to save money on a weekly basis. I could spent $30 on groceries for two weeks.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't get carried away with spending money as if you were on vacation! It's great to treat yourself and try new things once in a while to make the most of the experience, but always remember that you are living there for an extended period of time that might cause your expenses to really add up!

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

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Interacting with locals at my internship
  • Exploring the city and trying new things
  • Making new friends
* What could be improved?
  • Allowing more free time between classes and internships
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew a little bit more about the city of Dublin before arriving there and experiencing it.

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 Urbanite
A 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.