Stay as long as you can! Past Review
By A student (Environmental Science., Villanova University) - abroad from 01/09/2012 to 05/14/2012 with
University College Dublin: Dublin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Learned to be my own travel agent. Its up to you to make plans to go traveling and managing all of the information definatly helped me in my everyday life. Met people in so many countries, saw so many places and people. It was beyond worthwhile, I would go back 100%.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses relied on a midtern, final, and/or a paper. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They took care of the international students very well. Quick to answer any questions. Put together a few meet-ups for the students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
On campus, typical dorm housing. Depending on where you stay the furnishings are nicer. Not allowed to enter other housing complexes after a certain time. Off campus housing was right in Dubin a few bloack from Grafton Street. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was very integrated. Lived with 2 other Irish students in my apartment. Easy to meet new people on campus and in the city. Generally friendly to the international students. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have an issue myself but my friend was sick during the first week. She got good healthcare the only issue was it was kind of a far walk to the health center. |
| * Safety: |
Overall very safe. One should avoid certain areas after dark; don't walk around alone in the city. Wandering around on the north side is not suggested late at night. Never had any incidents with safety. The campus is very safe, the guards do their job. On the weekends the campus is deserted as all the Irish students go home. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
I hoarded all of my money to go traveling, so I was getting by on the bare minimums in every day life. There is a Centra on campus but that is overpriced; the Tesco is about a mile away and you can get really good deals on food there. I got away with only spending 20-30 euro on food a week. Drinks out are pretty expensive, especially in Temple bar area (8 bucks for a pint). The bus fare was just raised and is now 2.15 euro to get into the city centre from campus (each way). Be careful to budget your money and not spend it all in the first month. The 30 day student bus pass is great it saves you a lot of money on bus fare, you can use it as many times in one day as you want. the study abroad office does free trips every few weeks which is a good way to see the countryside. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $40 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Get the student 30 day bus pass from Centa on campus. Saves you so much money on bus fare. Shop at the Tesco as often as possible. Look for the student discounts everywhere, Bus Eirean has student prices for tickets and so does Citylink. Many of the shops have students discounts too, like Top Shop, if you ask for them. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It goes extremely fast, so ry to do something new every day. |
