a tourism agency which threatened to expel me for disagreement among roomates Past Review

By (Vanderbilt University) - abroad from 01/16/2017 to 05/16/2017 with

IFSA: Dublin - University College Dublin

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Never trust any business entity.

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The quality of education relatively easy in comparison to my home institution.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They not only would not offer you any real support during your time there but also give you unnecessary pressure.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* 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? No

IFSA was extremely unsupportive during challenging times. They send me a threat of dismissal after I was called to attend a formal meeting about roommate disagreements. Thinking about my academic career could be ruined by a tourism agency, I almost get a PTSD. Such over-response showed their lack of competency since they cannot handle the situation. Moreover, they not only did not show any support for this non-academic challenge, IFSA threatened to expel me from the program. By the end, the school UCD did not give anyone any sanction, but the unnecessary response from IFSA totally ruined my 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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Meet some truly inspiring people
* What could be improved?
  • ifsa
  • Administration
  • Housing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Choose another program, IFSA will threaten to expel you after you are called to attend a formal meeting about roommate disagreement.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!