Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

It went fast Past Review

By (Berea College) - abroad from 09/02/2019 to 12/19/2019 with

University of Galway: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I do believe that it was worthwhile. I learned that when things change it is important to have a good support system.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The rigor and intensity of the academics was extremely low. There were also resources present if any student needed help.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

i never had any issues with the program admin.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I didn't expect real nice living arrangements, so I was not disappointed when I found out they were mediocre.

* Food:

There was no dining hall attributed with my program since we were responsible for our own cooking and diets.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It took a while and there weren't any resources (that I found) to ease the transition.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There was a student health clinic that I went to once. It was real slow and had lots of waiting, but that's how medical care is when there's lots of patients.

* Safety:

I never had safety issues and I do not believe I know of anyone who did.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I enjoyed the place I studied

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 lived off of noodles and rice for the semester. It was cheap but not so glamorous.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? On average I think I spent $80-90 per week maybe?
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? In Ireland it's common and normal to go out for drinks, but this gets expensive real quick. Drink water instead of beer or cocktails, your wallet and liver will thank you.

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
* 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?
  • I enjoyed living in a flat with other students
  • I liked the relative ease of academic workload and the opportunity for exploration it offered
* What could be improved?
  • Better resources for students with mental health problems
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Everyone will want to go out to bars and clubs many times/week, so having a social life can cost a lot more than expected. Exploring the musical scene around where you are is quite important.