Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Irish Adventure Past Review

By (English Language and Literature, Loras College) - abroad from 01/04/2015 to 05/21/2015 with

IADT - Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology: Dun Laoghaire - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I did gain a strong cultural experience from being abroad in a sense that I learned that I can adapt to several different cultures and love every second of it.

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.

My course with the Loras professor was a great educational experience. My course at IADT was a waste of time.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

This is a twofold answer. The apartments were a hovel. The location, however, was amazing. I would continue to live in the sketchy apartments just for that wonderful location.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

No personal experience, but others seemed to have good experiences.

* 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)

I worked very hard to follow a budget.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around $50-$100, but usually less.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Just be smart. Do not eat out all the time. Go get groceries and cook at your apartment. You will save a ton of money.

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
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • location
  • course with Loras professor
  • opportunity to travel so much
* What could be improved?
  • restructure the course we took before we left
  • quality of our apartments without changing the location
  • quality of our courses at IADT
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? What it would really be like once we got there. The information that we received from the coordinators and those that went before us was generally not helpful or wrong.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!