Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Growing and Learning in Dublin, Ireland Past Review

By (English Language and Literature, Pacific Lutheran University) - abroad from 09/01/2015 to 12/12/2015 with

IES Abroad: Dublin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
IES Abroad has been detrimental to my experience thus far as a soon-to-be graduated senior. It helped me grow in so many different ways - emotionally (battling homesickness while finding new friends), physically (all the hikes I went on, calves of steel!), and intellectually (Irish language, history, and literature are all fascinating to learn about). All of the IES Abroad staff were amazing and extremely helpful in acclimating us to Dublin and keeping us aware of the current issues. The professors were equally wonderful, and always went out of their way to help students out. I will always keep this experience as a cherished one for myself, and I cannot wait to return to Dublin soon.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Amazing! So kind, thoughtful, and wonderful, the IES Abroad staff were absolutely one of the best parts of the experience.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Some issues with roommates and mold in the apartment, but nothing huge.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Between 10 and 20 euros.

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

  • Americans
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?
  • The professors/staff
  • The internship I had at Spirasi
  • The country itself and ability to get outside/hike
* What could be improved?
  • Internship Seminar - it felt a little pointless/disorganized (although the professor was very nice)
  • Housing - some apartments were really nice and some were really not nice, so maybe a little more equal in quality
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known that it really wasn't as important to pack as much as I did and that it is so incredibly easy (and, if you find the right places, cheap) to buy clothes/bags/etc. there!

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.