The Best Semester Ever Past Review
By Eleanore Cole (Sewanee: The University of the South) - abroad from 01/08/2019 to 04/20/2019 with
IES Abroad: Dublin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I gained an independence that I think would have taken me longer to develop if I hadn't gone abroad. Going abroad teaches you how to make decisions for yourself, and because you have the opportunity to travel so often, it also teaches you good planning and organization skills. I think I gained a confidence abroad that would have been hard to come across in my normal university life, so it was definitely a worthwhile experience.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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* Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have much experience with health care personally, but I had roommates who said it was great. |
* Safety: |
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If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The IES Dublin program was perfect for me. I loved the classes I took and the professors who taught them. The housing was great as well. I lived with three other American girls, and we had our own individual rooms and bathrooms with a shared kitchen which was great. On top of that, Dublin is one of the coolest cities I have ever been to, and the people who live there are so kind and so helpful. |
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) |
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Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | less than 100 dollars if I wasn't traveling, but it varied if I was. |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to grocery shop as much as possible. I was able to find a great discount grocery store and get my weekly meals for very cheap. A good rule of thumb is to try and eat out only on the weekends. |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? |
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* What could be improved? |
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* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had known that it is impossible to plan everything. I went in to this program with a full on itinerary of the semester, and it took me a while to realize that as important as it is to plan and fit in as much as possible, it is equally as important to go with the flow and take things as they come. Some of my best memories are of spontaneous weekend trips I took with my friends! |
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. |