The Best Semester Ever Past Review

By (Sewanee: The University of the South) - abroad from 01/08/2019 to 04/20/2019 with

IES Abroad: Dublin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained an independence that I think would have taken me longer to develop if I hadn't gone abroad. Going abroad teaches you how to make decisions for yourself, and because you have the opportunity to travel so often, it also teaches you good planning and organization skills. I think I gained a confidence abroad that would have been hard to come across in my normal university life, so it was definitely a worthwhile experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

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?

I did not have much experience with health care personally, but I had roommates who said it was great.

* Safety:

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

The IES Dublin program was perfect for me. I loved the classes I took and the professors who taught them. The housing was great as well. I lived with three other American girls, and we had our own individual rooms and bathrooms with a shared kitchen which was great. On top of that, Dublin is one of the coolest cities I have ever been to, and the people who live there are so kind and so helpful.

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? less than 100 dollars if I wasn't traveling, but it varied if I was.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to grocery shop as much as possible. I was able to find a great discount grocery store and get my weekly meals for very cheap. A good rule of thumb is to try and eat out only on the weekends.

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

  • 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?
  • The field trips we went on
  • My professors
  • The friends I met
* What could be improved?
  • It could be longer :)
  • Service learning and internship classes could be emphasized more
  • Receiving more information about the living situation ahead of time could be helpful
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known that it is impossible to plan everything. I went in to this program with a full on itinerary of the semester, and it took me a while to realize that as important as it is to plan and fit in as much as possible, it is equally as important to go with the flow and take things as they come. Some of my best memories are of spontaneous weekend trips I took with my friends!

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.