Truly Experiential Learning for Life Past Review
By A student (Music Education, Loras College) - abroad from 01/08/2012 to 05/08/2012 with
IADT - Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology: Dun Laoghaire - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned many things from this experience about the locals, the land, my family, and Irish culture in general. This experience was definitely worthwhile and I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | IADT Dun Laoghaire, Dublin |
| 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. |
I really like the Loras classes AND the IADT classes. The only difficult thing was that the IADT classes are year long and we were there spring semester only. Otherwise they were great besides that little confusion of coming into an ongoing class. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Communication was difficult a lot of the time |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved living in Sandymount except for that it made seeing friends from school difficult because of distance. |
| * Food: |
Ireland has great food |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like I fit in pretty well at school in the class that only one other American student was in. Fitting in at the school was easier than in the city around people of all ages. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any issues while I was there but if I would have the only place I knew of would have been the nurse at school. Knowing where a hospital or clinic was would have been helpful if there was a near by list of them. (I kind of made my own but it might be a helpful tool for people who wouldn't think to make their own list of available places). |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Ireland. I never went anywhere alone at night and was always aware of my surroundings. Doing this aids in your safety and is important to think about when you go anywhere. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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) |
2.5 I was able to live comfortably with this. We shared food in our apartment which may have been harder/more expensive for 1 person. |
| * 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? | 100-150 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Get your own food and maybe have certain items you can all share. Sharing all food can mean one person spending more $ on food for others. Take the train before a cab as much as you can and only eat out once in a while instead of every day. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That I didn't need to bring all of the extreme weather clothing that I brought and which classes I had the option of taking at IADT. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
