Friendly People, Great Craic, Unforgettable Experience Past Review
By A student (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/25/2016 to 05/21/2016 with
University College Dublin: Dublin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My experience was incredibly worthwhile. I learned how to make decisions for myself and how to navigate not only through new cities, but through uncertainty. I learned how to communicate with, understand, and appreciate the views and ideals of other cultures. Most importantly, I gained a new perspective on my own experiences and lifestyle, especially as an American in the context of the whole world.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses ("modules") do not have much continuous assessment. Most are heavily backloaded with final exams or essays counting for 60-70% of the grade. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Global Lounge was the one-stop shop for anything related to international students. They can put international students in classes even if they're full. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Especially compared to other study abroad friends' accommodations, mine was very nice. Pretty clean, spacious, and secure. |
| * Food: |
I didn't eat the university's food much since I didn't have a meal plan. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I got to know more international students than Irish students as there wasn't much facilitation of local/international culture exchange. Irish students are very nice, but I didn't feel like I was as much a part of the school or social scene. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The only time I went to the doctor was when I had a cold. It was easy since it was a flat rate of $25 on campus, and I made a same-day appointment. However, my roommate had some trouble with the on-campus healthcare, as the doctors forgot to get back to her, and the reception was a little rude. In her case, the system was a bit inefficient, and she waited weeks to hear back about a test. |
| * Safety: |
Dublin feels very safe. After traveling in other places in Europe, I couldn't wait to get back to Dublin where nearly everyone was friendly and I could ride the public transportation and feel completely at ease. The north side of the city is a little more sketchy, but this may be since it's more residential. Don't wander far away from the city center, and you'll be fine. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I didn't expect to like Ireland much (it was mostly a choice regarding which classes I could take), but the amount of love that I have for Ireland takes me by surprise. All of my doubts were blown away by this amazing country. |
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) |
Dublin is a very expensive city. Food, bus tickets, and laundry used up a lot of my budget. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would recommend getting the student leap card to get a discounted rate on bus tickets. Each ride is cheaper, and you don't have to fish for change every time you get on the bus since you can just add money to your card. |
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
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | UCD's academic system is quite different than what I was used to, especially with its heavily weighted final exams and essays, but this is not as bad as you might expect. It's actually nice because you can relax a bit more during the semester. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
