Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Magical. Yes, Truly. Past Review

By (University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh) - abroad from 08/30/2016 to 12/10/2016 with

IES Abroad: Dublin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to welcome and appreciate any culture that I come across. Instead of rejecting the little differences, embrace them. They may not all be pleasant at first, but there was nothing that made me feel like I was in a completely foreign land. I also learned to put myself out there, to do things I wouldn't normally do. Those were some of the best times I've ever had.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

For the most part, the instructors were extremely knowledgeable on their topics and were very good at expressing their knowledge. They had actual data and examples to back up their points. For example, my writing teacher had plenty of Irish stories to illustrate his teaching, and my marketing teacher had statistics from Ireland to help flesh out our lessons.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff at the IES Center are among the best I've encountered at my time in college. They were extremely welcoming, friendly, and helpful to each and every student. That's not in any way an exaggeration. They would plan doctors appointments for us, help us plan vacations, tell us where to eat if we liked a certain type of food, and took us to events out they thought we would be interested in. I cannot heap enough praise on them.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our accommodation was essentially a hotel. We had all the facilites and amenities of one and it was very comfortable. The staff there was also extremely helpful and friendly. Everything was clean and manageable. The most common complaint I heard was of the uncomfortable mattresses. While I never minded myself, and it is easily amended with the purchase of a mattress pad, it still may be something to think about.

* Food:

There is a very cheap grocery store within walking distance of the accommodation, as well as several convenience stores and restaurants of all types and qualities. While meals were not provided, this proved to not be a huge issue. Trust me: there's no shortage of great food, whether you like American or Armenian or Indian or Irish, or anything else.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Almost any lack of integration with the culture was purely my being an introvert. They did absolutely did hold events throughout the town where we were immersed into the culture. The one downside was that we never got to see much of the other program, which for me was the Trinity Program. I think it would have been nice to somehow have us integrate more. Perhaps have some Trinity and some Writers Program & GSA students live together? That seems most appropriate.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The IES staff was very helpful in getting us the right help when we needed it. They would even make appointments for us if we were somehow unable to do it for ourselves.

* Safety:

I never once felt threatened while I was in Dublin. Of course, I cannot speak for all students, and I may have just been lucky, but neither the housing nor the center was in an area where I ever felt like I wasn't safe. Overall, it's a pretty safe city, as long as you keep your wits about you. And the staff does remind you, repeatedly, to do this.

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

The program really opened my eyes to the writing style and intricacies of Ireland and Europe. It also helped me explore a medium that I didn't really have any experience with previously- photography. I gained a whole new perspective on my life and the directions in which it could head.

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)

Look, it really depends on how easy it is to stray from a budget for you. The food is very cheap if you cook or prepare for yourself. If not, then just like anywhere else, it adds up quickly. I know I myself spent way too much on one particular vacation. But that was all on me. It's a relatively cheap city as long as you know that Euros cost more than dollars. That can sneak up on you. Also, the $300 GNIB fee isn't fantastic, but they let you know about that before you leave.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I'd say around €50-€70/week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Again, just remember that Euros cost more than dollars. It's not much (the exchange rate, at time of writing, is that €1 is worth $1.06. Like I said, not much, but just be aware of it). Try to cook every once in awhile- that saves so, so much money. Laundry is expensive at the accommodation (around €5 per load, all said and done), so if you can share with someone else, do so. If you are good on a bike, then spend the one-time €20 fee to rent bikes at the Dublin Bikes bike share stations. This will save an incredible amount that would normally be spent on public transport and/or Hail-O (their version of Uber). Yes, Ryanair is fabulously cheap. But be careful: they make their real money by ripping people off. You HAVE to get to the airport at least 2 hours before your flight so you can have your boarding card printed. This is required of everyone who doesn't have an EU passport. Do it, or they'll charge you €45 euro if it's less than 2 hours before the flight leaves. They'll also charge you for everything beyond a small carry-on, so try to pack as light as possible.

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 people that I met.
  • The relationship with myself that the program allowed me to strengthen.
  • The sense of wonder at going to new places.
* What could be improved?
  • The access to the other students in the Trinity program could be improved.
  • I'm not sure how to go about this, but a few events with Irish Trinity students could do wonders for our immersion.
  • A better system for keeping track of all students besides the spotty TravelTracker.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew the importance of budgeting. Truly. I also wish I knew that I would have to do most of the work in making the experience what I wanted it to be. The staff helps prepare you, but as far as the experience as a whole goes, it's up to you what you make of it.

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 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.