Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

More American Than Expected Past Review

By (Anthropology/English, St. Mary's College of Maryland) - abroad from 01/22/2014 to 05/19/2014 with

University College Dublin: Dublin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Dublin was an amazing experience and it made me a more comfortable traveller and city resident.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing could only be improved by the addition of ovens!

* Food:

I cooked it myself, but when I did eat in the campus restaurant, it was tasty.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

UCD is a commuter school so it was difficult to relate with the Irish students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Dublin was an extraordinarily safe city. I never had a moment where I felt in danger.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

As European cities go, Dublin is a farely cheap one, but it is still more expensive than being an American student.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200-300.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be sure to buy food from Tesco instead of the Centra on campus. It's farther to walk, but cheaper.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International 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
  • UCD was a great school
  • Living in Dublin
* What could be improved?
  • More communication with the school
  • Easier move-in move-out process
  • School is far from Dublin
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? UCD is a commuter school and a 20min bus ride from the Dublin city center.

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.