It was a life changing experience. Past Review
By Guinevere Beirne (Berea College) - abroad from 01/06/2016 to 05/17/2016 with
University of Galway: Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My study abroad experience allowed me to learn how to be on my own in a new environment. I was able to take responsibility in myself that I was never really able to before. Not only that, but I was able to experience a new culture while I was at it and see a different way of living. It was amazing.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were interesting and the teachers encouraged discussion. Assessment was reasonable if one attended the classes and learned the information. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Email responses would come a bit late, but any and all problems would be taken care of without any back lash on yourself. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
During my program, it was up to us students to find housing. It's very difficult for a student to find housing in Galway. The apartment we got is in an apartment building only for international students called Niland House. The location was really great; it was very central to everything. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Everyone there was a delight, and there were no huge cultural differences between my home state of West Virginia and the country of Ireland. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The school offers its students free health care and can send you to the emergency room free of charge if needed. They are very caring and pay attention to your health. |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
While there were some difficulties on the Berea College end figuring out how classes transferred, the program went very smoothly and the student was given freedom to do whatever they wished with their time. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make sure that you save up at least $500 for your own spending / emergency because unexpected costs do come up, and it is very difficult to get more money than you are budgeted. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? |
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? | I wish that I had known that I had to take two classes in order for them to transfer as one class back to my home school. The transfer of credit was not worked out before we went there and all of us suffered from it. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
