Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Cork, Ireland Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/07/2016 to 12/22/2016 with

Arcadia: Cork - University College Cork

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was most definitely worthwhile, I grew a lot personally in terms of independence and confidence as well as academically gained an appreciation for another culture.

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.

Overall I found the education at UCC to be a little lacking rigor wise, more in some departments than others. But I did learn a lot and for the most part enjoyed my studies.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The UCC International Department were super nice, understanding, and helpful in every aspect of the experience, from pre-arrival, orientation, exams and leaving.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Arcadia was fine, confused why I was told it was my only option when it appears there were many student accommodation options. A bit of a walk from campus but a nice walk.

* Food:

The Irish are not known for their cuisine. But food was cheapish!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I wish I could've gotten to meet and befriend more Irish students, however I lived in an all international apartment block and it's much easier to make friends with other international students, since we're all only there for a semester or two.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

I felt very safe in Cork, I didn't hear of any one getting pick pocketed or approached or anything.

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

I really enjoyed the city Cork and the country Ireland. While there are things I would do differently I do think if I went back and time I would make the same choices.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Probably about 60 a week, some weeks more some less.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy food for dinner the day of, or go grocery shopping 2 or more times per week. If you go once per week and buy too much, you end up throwing away food that goes bad and wasting money and food!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Irish language, none
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Duolingo is a fun app that can help you get an idea of a language you've never used before, before you arrive!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Learning Gaelic
  • Exploring Ireland
  • Meeting people
* What could be improved?
  • More Opportunities for Meeting Native Irish People
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I really wish I had planned a bit more the other European countries I wanted to travel to before I had gone. Once there it is easy to get overwhelmed by all the possibilities. While I'm glad my whole semester wasn't strictly planned, I do wish I had a little more of a schedule figured out.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

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Digital Media
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Archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland
Course Department: Archaeology
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Celtic Religion and Mythology
Course Department: Celtic Civ
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Intro to Modern Irish
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Instructor: Modern History for Visiting Studnts
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Exploring Trad Music
Course Department: Music
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