Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Incredible Past Review

By (Communications, Salem State College) - abroad from 09/12/2012 to 12/22/2012 with

Ireland Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
How to be more independent and that I can throw myself into unknown situations and can succeed in them.

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.

I did not learn as much as I expected. You were mostly throw into assignments without any knowledge of how to go about doing the assignment.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* 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? 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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy groceries and make your own food, it saves you a lot of money.

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

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
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?
  • Good local advisor
  • Country spoke English so easy to communicate
* What could be improved?
  • Wish I knew what the classes I would be taking were before I got there
  • Wish I had been told it was more of an international students school
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The school has a significant number of international students so it was hard to actually find locals to become friends with. I traveled to Ireland because I wanted to meet Irish people, if I had wanted to meet Italians or Germans etc I would have chosen to go to those countries.