Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A fantastic overall experience Past Review

By (University of Northern Iowa) - abroad from 01/11/2016 to 05/06/2016 with

Iowa Regents: Cork - Semester Program in Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to live independently in a culture, while similar to the U.S., was not the one I was raised in. It was definitely worthwhile.

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?

* Safety:

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

I loved learning about a different culture and would love to live there again sometime in the future.

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? $30.00
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy off brand products when possible and look for sales.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No
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? None

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people I met from around the world
  • Living in Cork
  • Close proximity to continental Europe
* What could be improved?
  • Understanding of host country's grading scale
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? If you have a question, ask it. Someone will almost always try to help answer it.

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.