Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Cool country, academically, not socially, rigorous school Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/14/2013 to 05/15/2013 with

Trinity College - Dublin: Dublin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes it was worthwhile. I gained a more international perspective of things

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very little assistance from the college in settling in, etc.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

College doesn't really have a dining program

* 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)

Have to pay for every meal since there is no meal plan. Pints are pretty expensive in Dublin.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Probably around 100-200 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Hit up the supermarkets (Tesco, Centra, etc.) early on. Cook as many of your meals as you can.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

They don't speak Irish in Dublin

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Never taken Irish before
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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?
  • The people
  • Guinness
* What could be improved?
  • The international program
  • The social scene
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? There is no hand-holding, you have to be social. Reach out to people. Irish people are super nice, but only when you reach out to them.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Irish Writing
Course Department: English
Instructor: Paul Delaney
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Large lecture, insightful on the Irish psyche, history. Taught through literature (1890-1945)
Credit Transfer Issues: I don't know yet
Course Name/Rating:

The Pain of Unbelonging
Course Department: English
Instructor: Melanie Otto
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Interesting discussions, solid introduction to postcolonial literature.
Credit Transfer Issues: I don't know yet
Course Name/Rating:

Intro to Modernism
Course Department: English
Instructor: Various
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The professors were very knowledgeable, no work besides the final. Interesting but not particularly challenging. Good introduction to modernist literature
Credit Transfer Issues: Don't know yet
Course Name/Rating:

Milton and the Revolutionary Imagination
Course Department: English
Instructor: Mark Sweetnam
Instruction Language: English
Comments: A lot of reading, great introduction to John Milton. More focused on biography/history/context of the works than the works themselves. No work besides the final. Teacher is whatever, but the readings were great
Credit Transfer Issues: Don't know yet