Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Studying in Ireland? Study with CAPA! Past Review

By (Cedarville University) - abroad from 01/18/2017 to 05/29/2017 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Dublin, Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I've always been interested in Ireland as a country, but when I started considering study abroad as an opportunity Dublin wasn't a city that even crossed my mind before I came across CAPA. I thought studying abroad meant moving to a country where everyone speaks a different language and lives a different lifestyle, and I was bracing myself to spend a year taking gen eds before trying my best to catch up on important courses in my senior year. However, CAPA's Dublin program shockingly included every single course I needed to stay on track for the year, with a wide variety of business, marketing, writing and communications classes on offer. Likewise, I quickly realized that even though the Irish use the same words, learning how they communicate is almost as difficult as mastering a new language. While I was initially disappointed by my internship placement in an on-campus office, since I'd been looking forward to getting out into the city of Dublin, it ended up being a great experience, allowing me to work alongside people from a variety of countries, and cater to students from around the world. Whether you're interested in living in Ireland, or are just looking into study abroad in general, I highly recommend CAPA!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

CAPA provided excellent insurance and told us about the best places to go with health issues. However, the doctors and pharmacies in the college neighborhood leaves a lot to be desired

* Safety:

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? $65
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Take advantages of CAPA resources like prepaid bus passes, and scout out budget grocery stores. I spent about $20/week at Aldi on ALL of my essential groceries, and the other $45 on snacks, take out extra items.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The Irish Lifestyle
  • The city and suroundings
  • My internship
* What could be improved?
  • Class scheduling
  • Housing
  • Support from college staff
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I'd known how much I could learn simply from taking the same classes in another country!

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.