My Once-In-A-Lifetime Semester in Dublin Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My educational experience through CAPA was wonderful. Griffith College is an incredibly diverse environment, where I was exposed to divergent ideas and perspectives. The style of classes in Dublin was very different than the US, as the classes were not incredibly rigorous on the day to day, but instead, it focused on long term goals and assignments. It allowed for students to truly engage in the classroom, which made the academic experience truly enjoyable.

On-site administration of your program

The CAPA Staff on site truly made the program. Darren, Suzanna, Anna, and Hayley were wonderful! They were a great support system from beginning to end, and made all students feel at ease. Especially during the moments when most students were homesick and struggling, they reached out with plans to catch up over a meal. They were always willing to help students out and answer any questions or concerns. Their support made all students feel confident and comfortable with taking more healthy risks while abroad in order to branch out and live beyond our comfort zones. Overall, the CAPA Team was incredible during my time in Dublin.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in the Griffith Halls of Residence, where I shared a suite with three others girls from across the country. It was split up into two double rooms, two bathrooms, and we shared the kitchen and living space. The living arrangements were great, as bedding was provided (as this would've eaten up so much suitcase space!) along with cutlery and cooking supplies. Therefore, the room was perfectly adequate for the semester, and made the transition to Ireland seamless.

At Griffith College, there was a dining hall and meal plan offered, yet most students cooked for themselves.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Griffith helped to immerse study abroad students into the culture as we worked with natives in the classroom, but most importantly, the location to center city Dublin made integration incredibly doable. With the help of the Dublin Bus passes (provided by CAPA), students were able to travel around the city and outside Dublin to explore the host culture. Through our travels throughout the country, we were able to meet tons of natives and delve into the genuine culture of Ireland.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally never had a medical emergency while abroad, but the CAPA Team always reminded students of where to go and what to do if we needed medical assistance.

I felt incredibly safe in Dublin. CAPA's location at Griffith College was always protected by Security Guards and the front gates, and had a private entrance for students in the evening. I never felt unsafe or uneasy while abroad, however, this was because many students travelled together and not alone. As long as you travelled with some common sense, most students never encountered an unsafe situation.

If I was given the option to go back to CAPA's program every semester, I would do it in a heartbeat! It was the most incredible, educational, and enjoyable four months of my life.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

This is entirely subjective, as some students often ate out and spent far more money than students that cooked from home. Therefore, I would say Dublin was slightly expensive, around $12-15 for a meal out, but the groceries were incredibly cheap. A weeks groceries cost about 20 Euro. Therefore, it entirely depends on your budget while abroad.

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• Dorm

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• Americans

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• International Students

• Flexibility
• Independence
• People

• Timing (Begin in August)

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