Semester in Dublin Past Review
By Nate S (Longwood University) - abroad from 02/01/2012 to 05/28/2012 with
CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Dublin - Semester in Dublin
It was absolutely worthwhile. I'll be going abroad again in the future, without a doubt.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The system is entirely different in Dublin, I didn't have any homework or projects all year, and my entire grade depended on one final exam. It was great during the semester because I could travel and do whatever I wanted without worrying about school work. The last three weeks were epically stressful though because I had to study for the exams. The entire course is tested on the exam, so there was very little detail needed and they really weren't that hard. I way overstudied. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
After the initial initiation I hardly ever heard from them and it was hard to get help from that office without going in and making appointments or talking directly with them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartments were nicer there than the apartments at my home school. |
| * Food: |
I just went to tesco and cooked in my apartment. There was a restaurant on campus with sandwiches and things but it's all really expensive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Ireland is very westernized, a lot of things are similar to the U.S so it didn't take long to get adjusted and the culture shock was not quite as bad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Everybody in my program got sick at some point. We just suffered through it with cold medicine from the spar. |
| * Safety: |
Apparently Ballymun, the street we were living on is a well known ghetto. Though I never felt unsafe or anything. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Closer to 1 or 2. Europe is extravagantly expensive, far more so than I ever realized or planned for. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about 100 dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't eat out, save your money for travelling, buy your own alcohol (pubs are expensive) if your a drinker, get a bus pass (expensive at first but absolutely worth it), if you need clothes shop at penneys (shirts can be found for 1 euro, everything there is cheap), budget your money and try to stick to it |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | How expensive it is to live in Europe. |
