Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The experience of a lifetime! Past Review

By (Accounting, Eastern Illinois University) - abroad from 05/23/2015 to 06/06/2015 with

Eastern Illinois University (EIU): Dublin -Business Study Abroad Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Traveling internationally gave me an insight on who I am outside of my family and life at home. I now feel confident traveling abroad and look forward to being able to travel internationally for work.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

We didn't really stick to the book for our studies but instead we had more of a hands on learning experience.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We stayed in dorms at the University College Dublin which were very nice. They were suites with a kitchen, dining, and lounge area and 6 private bedrooms. Each bedroom had its own bathroom and was completely furnished with a desk, bedding, etc. The college also had an area at the front of the school where we could catch a bus every 15 to 20 minutes to take us into the city.

* Food:

Most of the time I took myself out of my comfort zone and tried traditional Irish meals to fully immerse myself with the culture in Ireland. We pretty much ate all our meals out at a wide variety of restaurants and pubs.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt more connected and integrated with the local culture when just a few of us would go out on our own. We would frequently engage in conversation with locals, go to pubs and listen to local bands or a comedy show. We learned a lot about Dublin from our cab drivers.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I'm not sure how accurate my rating is for this category since we didn't have any illnesses or injuries while we were abroad in Ireland.

* Safety:

I felt very safe at the college we stayed at. We had ID cards that worked as key cards to allow us into our building, our dorm suite, and our bedroom. I didn't personally ever have any problems with safety but we always traveled in pairs or in groups of people. It was decided before our trip that we would never go anywhere alone.

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

My number one dream place to travel to was Ireland and the study abroad gave me the opportunity to fulfill that dream. Being able to live in a different climate, atmosphere, and culture was so surreal. I only wish it had lasted longer than two weeks.

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)

Our program included the cost of our flight, meals, and lodging at the University College Dublin. We actually lucked out and had extra money because one of the students dropped out after the deadline to get her refund back. Most of my personal money I spent on souvenirs and activities I participated in outside the group activities.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I didn't really track so I couldn't give an accurate amount.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Look early for any scholarships your school or other places might have for study abroad programs. Talk to the financial aid office and the department of study abroad at your school. All the costs for my program was billed as tuition and I was able to get a scholarship and student loans to help pay for the study abroad.

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

  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
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?
  • Ireland
  • Castles
  • Friendships
* What could be improved?
  • More academic involvement.
  • Trips to visit businesses and interact with them.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Weigh your luggage before you go to the airport. It's heavier than you might think. Pack less!!!! Leave lots of room in your luggage for souvenirs.