Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An Unforgettable Adventure Past Review

By (University of Rochester) - abroad from 01/03/2018 to 04/14/2018 with

IES Abroad: Dublin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a better sense of myself, as well as a better sense of the world at large. I gained wisdom, friends, and experience. But the real gains are intangible, and hard to name with a single word--sort of intrinsic feelings of being wider, somehow, and deeper; of having one's world widened. It was most definitely worthwhile.

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.

Honestly amazing. I learned so much, and felt like I had the freedom to explore.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff was amazing, and really felt like they cared about the students. I worked most with Stephen and Jackie--it was on Stephen's invitation that I was allowed to attend the Writer's Retreat (10/10 worth it, truly), and Jackie organized the weekend field trips.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing itself was fantastic; the main downsides were the distance of my selected option from the IES Abroad Centre and having to pay for laundry separately.

* Food:

You'll have to buy your own, most of the time, but being in a city there are plenty of options for eating out or for cooking your own food. Lidl will become your best friend, most likely, Spar is a good convenience store. When it comes to eating out, there is no shortage of cafes, tea houses, pubs, chain restaurants, and stand-alone places to pick from. If you're residing in Binary Hub, Meath Street and Francis Street have a number of good, inexpensive, locally-owned cafes and shops to pick

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I'm a little solitary by nature, and made friends quickly with the other IES students, so for a while I really only talked with fellow Americans. But once I started climbing at a nearby

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I'd say the city was fairly safe, even as a solo female. I had no issues with city transportation, and even though I wouldn't suggest walking alone at night in an unfamiliar city, I had no issues the few times I had to. Of course, that was mostly only because I'd gotten lost my first night there--aside from

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

I wouldn't trade my time in Ireland on this program for hardly anything. It was an amazing, transformative, and almost magical experience.

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? Probably between $50 and $75 a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Do bring your own scarf, gloves, raincoat and hat if you have them and are going during cooler months. Shop at places like Lidl for your main food. Walk when you can.

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 warmth and friendliness of the staff
  • The field trips
  • The classes
* What could be improved?
  • Interaction with locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Bring your own cold weather gear if you have it! And also, once to Ireland isn't enough. True wool products are still expensive even in Ireland, so if you want to return home with one make sure you plan accordingly.

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.