Interstudy Ireland- Simply Amazing Past Review
By Kerry M (Computer Science, Manhattan College) for
University College Cork: Cork - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My study abroad experience was amazing. I think that everyone that has the opportunity to go abroad definitely should. I became a lot more confident and independent. In the aspect of cultural awareness it was really cool to talk about the differences between your home country and your country abroad, but how similar they actually are and discover that your life and locals' lives aren't that different. I would definitely consider looking for a job overseas.
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 had a great educational experience. I really liked all my classes and teachers. There was a lot more work to do on your own like reading. I didn't really have many tests- for some classes my entire grade was based on an essay and the final or just the final. There was no busy work or quizzes to check in that you were doing the homework. I only had two classes that were concerned with attendance. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our program adviser was super accessible and always available if we needed anything. He would drop us a note every so often just to check in and see how everything was going. The program size was smaller than I expected- there were just 5 of us in Cork, but I really liked how small it was. It was really easy to meet people and it seemed like everyone at Interstudy knew you. We had a few trips throughout the semester that brought together all the study abroad students in Ireland and once with people in London which was awesome. We were well versed in what to expect in and out of the classroom. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The building we stayed in was very nice. I always felt safe and my roommates were super nice and friendly. I did need to buy sheets and towels. It was about a 10-15 minute walk to main campus and about a 30 minute walk to city center so it wasn't too bad, but sometimes I wished it was closer. One pro was that it was very close to the gym which had amazing facilities. |
| * Food: |
All the students in my accommodation had a kitchen so most of the food I ate, I cooked. I did have food on campus a few times and it was quite good. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I had a great time traveling around Ireland and abroad. People were super friendly and everything was beautiful. The trips we did with our program were super fun. UCC also does a Ring of Kerry trip specifically for visiting students which was a lot of fun. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe in Cork. It's a great city! |
| 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) |
|
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Some words of wisdom would be, for any student, that the first two weeks or so are pretty hard, especially if you go over not knowing anyone- just adjusting and figuring out the little things, but it was definitely one of the best experiences of my life. I think outgoing and passionate students would benefit most from this program, but any type of student would do great. Since the program is so small, it's very easy to get personalized attention and help. |
