Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Equal parts insanity and enlightenment. Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., San Jose State University) - abroad from 09/12/2011 to 05/15/2012 with

University College Dublin: Dublin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much from studying abroad that I'm not quite sure how to put into words. This experience was probably the best I've ever had. I wouldn't change a thing.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic aspect was a lot tougher than I had originally anticipated. The Irish school system is very different from the system in the States. I had a bit of a hard time academically because acclimating to a different style of learning is really hard for me. Now that I've gone through it I think I'm more able to adjust to change. The course work and testing was definitely more difficult than my course load in my home university.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved living in my dormitory, but mostly for the people I got to meet rather than the actual facility. The dorm was old and was a little far away from the campus. But I was happy with it overall.

* Food:

The food in the dormitory was good and well prepared if a little boring and repetitive.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living in a dormitory that included native Irish students and International students was a great idea. Not only did I easily integrate with the host culture, I also got to know cultures and people from all over the world.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have much exposure to the health care personally, but I had several friends who used the facilities on campus and they were happy with it overall.

* Safety:

I felt very safe in Dublin. I lived closer to the south side of the city in Donnybrook and never felt particularly scared or threatened when I walked around by myself. That being said, Dublin is still a very large city and there are parts of it, particularly near the city-centre, that shouldn't be explored on your own. I fully advocate traveling with at least one other person and keeping an eye on your belongings at all times.

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)

I did have to take out a few loans in order to pay for this experience, but I was also awarded with a few grants which helped immensely. Food was provided with my dorm but I was able to go out to dinner or for a drink with friends when I wanted to. I also had the privilege to travel outside and inside of Ireland while I was there. Students will always be on a budget but I was able to live comfortably enough while abroad.

* 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? Less than 100 Euro each week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you can help it, skip the $4 coffee every morning. It may not seem like that much at the moment but those coffees add up after a few weeks. Also, remember that money exchange normally doesn't favor the US dollar and that the prices are actually in the country's currency. You might end up paying a lot more than you had originally thought.

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? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • 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?
  • Studying with local students.
  • Meeting so many people from so many different places.
  • Really challenging myself academically.
* What could be improved?
  • The dorm I lived in was not on campus and is really difficult to find. There isn't even an address on the school's website. I suggest sending detailed directions from the Dublin Airport to the dorm, Muckross Halls, to students who opt for that particular dormitory.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew the extent of the intensity of the academics. But other than that I'm happy with my preparation prior to going to Ireland.