Semester Abroad in Ireland, would do it again Past Review

By (Pychology, Valparaiso University) for

Arcadia: Galway - National University of Ireland, Galway

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My study abroad experience was one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done in my life. I learned so much about myself, about others, and about the world. I understand that the world is so big and it was great to get perspective. I would do it again in a heartbeat, and cannot wait to return!

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place: Fall 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall, the academics were good, but I feel like VU has better academics.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Arcadia University had an office in Dublin and a representative at NUIG, so I was never completely on my own. They were all very willing to help and were quite accessible.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Gort na Coiribe. The housing was very nice. The only complaint I have is that we had a mini fridge for 5 girls. Laundry was also quite expensive. <br /><br /> The neighborhood was very safe. It was primarily student housing. It was in a very good location in respect to campus and shop street.

* Food:

I bought groceries and cooked my own meals in my kitchen.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Galway, in my opinion, is the best city to study abroad in Ireland. I traveled a lot around Ireland, but Galway remains my favorite place to live. The nightlife is really fun, and relatively inexpensive. Being next to the Atlantic Ocean creates a beautiful aesthetic quality. The Cliffs of Moher was my favorite day trip.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Galway is very safe; I didn't feel unsafe at any point during my study abroad experience. I got H1N1 while abroad, but Arcadia provided us with health insurance, so I was able to be reimbursed for my prescriptions. I feel like American health care is much better and more efficient, however.

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

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? I spent about 20 euro on groceries every other week. At first, I had to spend a lot to start my basic food needs as well as bedding, bedroom, and bathroom stuff. If you plan to go out, you should plan on spending more money. Also, traveling adds a lot of expenses as well.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? You have to pay the Guarda (Irish Police) to register. Just make sure that you keep a running budget because it's easy to lose track of what you've spent, and it's harder to fix financial errors overseas.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
Language acquisition improvement?

Although I knew English, there is a lot of Irish slang that I learned.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Take chances and be open to new people and opportunities. Your time abroad is what you make of it; it will be amazing if you want it to be. Remember that home, your friends and family will be there when you get back, so don't miss it too much. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so even though you may not spend the money or be as spontaneous at home, take this opportunity to do things!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Gender, Work, and Family in Ireland 1850-1922

Course Department: HI253
Instructor: Caitriona Clear
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The grading was very difficult. I didn't like the textbook that we used for the course. It was interesting material, but I felt that the information was very broad and general.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have not received my transcript yet.
Course Name/Rating:

Psychology of Learning

Course Department: PS220
Instructor: Ian Stewart
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I really enjoyed the format of this course. The lecturer was very knowledgeable about the subject and lectured very well.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have not received my transcript yet.
Course Name/Rating:

Human Sexuality

Course Department: PS408
Instructor: Daragh McDermott
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was a favorite of the psychology students at NUIG as well as myself. It was fascinating material and it was a class that I would not have had the opportunity to take at VU.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have not received my transcript yet.
Course Name/Rating:

Psychology, Science, and Pseudoscience

Course Department: PS409
Instructor: Brian Hughes
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was another course that I wouldn't have been able to take at VU. This instructor was my favorite; he was very knowledgeable and lectured really well. The course was continuous assessment, which was nice.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have not received my transcript yet.
Course Name/Rating:

Cinema/Media Studies: Film Adaptation

Course Department: EN439
Instructor: William Burke
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was one of my more challenging courses because although it was an English course, it was focused very heavily on film. I have very little knowledge in this area, but did learn a lot over the course of the semester.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have not received my transcript yet.