Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Freaking Awesome. Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., Western Washington University) - abroad from 06/24/2012 to 07/26/2012 with

University of Galway: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
A sense of enormous self-confidence in my ability to navigate foreign places alone, and yes, it was the most important thing I've ever done.

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.

Overall I had an amazing time at NUIG and would recommend it to any and everyone.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everyone was very friendly, and bent over backwards to assist in any way they could. I miss them all!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed at Villanova B&B - the owners of which are quite possibly the most wonderful people I've ever had the privilege to meet. It also made me feel as though I was making the most out of staying in Ireland, since I was living with Irish people.

* Food:

The food was delicious and fattening. As was the Guinness and Jameson.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Galway is very used to having visitors, so I didn't feel like an intruder or anything, but it was very obvious that our group was not from Ireland.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no experiences with healthcare.

* Safety:

I walked home, in the dark, alone, frequently, and never felt unsafe. I did carry pepper spray on these occasions, but never even felt a need to reach for it for comfort purposes.

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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy groceries, don't eat out, and find a cute guy to buy your drinks at pubs.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* 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?
  • Ireland
  • Drinking
  • Men
* What could be improved?
  • Cultural Integration
  • WiFi availability
  • Weather :P
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Not all Irish men are attractive. Most, in fact, are not.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Literature & Film
Course Department: English
Instructor: Sean Ryder
Instruction Language: English
Comments: If you are passionate about analyzing literature, take this course. There were several field trips, including one to Coole Park, where Lady Augusta Gregory once had an estate. I didn't participate in class very often, because it was quite a large class and I was rather intimidated to voice an opinion. Also, the Film portion of the course was sporadic and didn't seem to have a whole lot to do with the Literature, but since we only had two or three film classes and the rest were Literature, that wasn't much of an issue.
Credit Transfer Issues: Well, I haven't yet received the credits from NUI Galway, though they did assure us it could take a long time, so I'm not worried yet, but I also have no advice on the subject.
Course Name/Rating:

Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: This course seemed to pair together two completely unrelated subjects: early Irish literature and Gaelic culture. Both courses were fascinating in their own right: early Irish Lit. was different from any other literature I'd ever encountered, and it was fascinating to learn the motifs and themes that were woven into stories from so long ago. Gaelic culture was very relevant to the setting, as well as being very interesting, and I know this doesn't matter at all but the professor was gorgeous and I want to marry him.
Credit Transfer Issues: