The best decision I've ever made! Past Review
By Drew McDonagh (Birmingham-Southern College) - abroad from 01/15/2017 to 05/16/2017 with
University of Limerick: Limerick - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I met so many people from all over, which in itself is invaluable. The biggest thing I gained was learning from different people's perspectives and how it changed my own!
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There is an international society and an international office. Both were very helpful and informative. The international society planned trips to the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Belfast, and more and weekly parties on Fridays when most Irish student have gone home. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The accommodations were nice, but pretty far away from campus and other accommodations. However, they supplied each apartment with pots, pans, etc, which was very helpful. |
| * Food: |
Virtually every restaurant closes by 4 and the entire campus shuts down on Saturdays. So you need to cook most meals, but the main grocery store is off campus and depending where you live that can be a long walk. However, there is a Spar on campus that has decent hours and a pretty good stock but not sufficient for full grocery hauls. You can also set up a Tesco delivery. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was placed in an apartment with 2 Irish students, so I met a lot of Irish students through them. I also joined clubs, which also helped me meet a lot of Irish and other International students. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got very sick one weekend in Limerick. I didn't have any way of communicating with someone from the University to see what my best option was, so I looked up a doctor and took a taxi. The doctors office was very similar to an urgent care I would used to in the US. |
| * Safety: |
The city felt very safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Absolutely class university and 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) |
Ireland was fairly expensive. It also depends on how much you travel about the country or got to town. The bus was 2.2 Euros and you can get from one end of the country to the other for less than 30-40 Euros by bus or train. Also it depends on what you buy to cook. Certain things are more expensive than others. |
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? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 10+ |
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 think everyone that goes to UL needs to know how much joining different clubs and societies can change their experience for the better! |
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.' |
