Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

It was a breath of fresh air! Past Review

By (Rider University) - abroad from 01/29/2018 to 05/31/2019 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Dublin, Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to not to be afraid to ask for help when it came to navigation.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The grading system in Ireland is very different than what it is in America, make sure to ask your CAPA advisors about the grading scale before you start classes.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The CAPA advisors were wonderful! They were very helpful and helped me tackle any issues.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was very satisfied with the living arrangements but make sure you have the correct adapters so it won't blow out the fuse.

* Food:

The food was fresh and amazing! Make sure to go outside your comfort zone and try new things!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The social and cultural aspects at first was a little difficult to adapt to but everyone is super friendly and helpful.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I luckily did not get sick when I was there but knew I had great health services if need be.

* Safety:

Ireland is super safe and I didn't feel unsafe once when I was there!

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

CAPA was an incredible opportunity to expand my horizons and step outside my boundaries by placing me in a whole different environment for the semester and see how the working culture and lifestyle is compared to the states.

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 very easy due to having a kitchen in an apartment so we could eat in and save money than going out to eat.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I probably spent a little over $100 each week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I suggest to limit going out in order to save money for more activities and traveling to other places.

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

  • 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?
  • My advisors
  • Excursions
* What could be improved?
  • I wish international students were also in the program.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that I would be in a program with all Americans.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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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.