Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., SUNY Purchase) for

SUNY New Paltz: Limerick - Study Abroad at University of Limerick (Summer Irish Studies)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I could not have asked for a better semester abroad. I met amazing people, i did amazing things while travelling and while at UL. If i could repeat my experience abroad I would do it in a heartbeat. It simply was the best time of my life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months
The term and year this program took place: Spring 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The professors at UL are great! They are there for students when we need them and they are very helpful with study abroad students. The first day in each class i had the professors made sure the students from abroad knew what was going on and were invited to stay after if there were any questions, comments or concerns. The professors are also very well known in their particular fields. many of them have written books, novels, textbooks which are usually used for the course they teach. Simply highly accredited and intelligent in their field.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

My faculty leader, Sara Connolly, was extremely helpful. She was available anytime I needed her whether through email or appointment. She helped me with my application essay with finding the program that worked for me and the program that suited my needs. She knew alot about the area I chose because she, herself studied there and also worked there for a year or so.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Overall my housing was up to standards for a university. There were 6 students living in the house including myself, and we all had our own rooms. Kitchen utensils were included with the house, as well as a TV,and kettle. My bedroom also had a comforter, sheets and a pillow so it was not necessary to buy any of these items. My room mates were Irish students, and they were extremely nice inviting me to hang out with them and go out into town with them. The only downfall about my house and my house mates was the fact that they weren't very clean. the kitchen was a mess all the time because they never wanted to clean but once I spoke with them about the lack of cleanliness in the house, it got a bit better. Also the reception office, which every village at UL has was extremely helpful if anything was wrong in the house or in my room maintenance was in that day or the next to try to fix it.

* Food:

The food was good. I usually cooked my own food, simply because economically it was cheaper to do so. But I did eat on campus a few times and the campus food was very good!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The social life at UL was amazing! The stables pub and javas pub were a ton of fun, town is a quick bus ride or taxi ride away with plenty of pubs to choose from as well as good amount of clubs for a city like Limerick. Rag week, now known as Charity week was amazing, so many activities going on, with a huge amount of student involvement and it was all for a good cause, to raise money to help others.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I did not feel unsafe with my program, the only times I did not feel safe was when I travelled throughout the EU. Europeans tend to target americans when they see us in their country. They see us as easy targets therefore they try to take advantage of us, by robbing us or trying to take us somewhere that is unsafe. Students need to keep an eye out at all times when they are travelling because the simple fact is that anything can happen.

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)

Language

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

In Ireland, Irish people speak more proper then they would in the states and they also have a different way to explain situations. I learned alot about the way I talk myself and how I can change it and believe that as a result of being abroad I have become more vocal and better with the english language.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You have to study abroad at the University of Limerick. Being at UL for the semester was the best time of my life. I couldnt have asked to meet better people, to have gone to visit better places or for a better campus.