Best. Summer. Semester. Ever!!!!!!! Past Review

By (New York University) - abroad from 06/16/2018 to 07/28/2018 with

New York University: Dublin - NYU Summer in Dublin

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Having done other summer semesters outside my current university, Summer in Dublin gave me the most value. Dublin was the most meaningful abroad experience I have had; I got more out of six weeks in Dublin than four months in London. I gained a new understanding of my family heritage and new interests in Irish literature and archaeology, and an improved endurance for new places and experiences!!!

Review Photos

New York University: Dublin - NYU Summer in Dublin Photo New York University: Dublin - NYU Summer in Dublin Photo

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This was the perfect study abroad program for me. This program heavily influenced my decision to continue on to graduate school, and gave me an idea for undergraduate honors thesis. Summer in Dublin helped to shape my academic career.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program leaders were very helpful and were always readily available as a resource for the students. The small nature of the program facilitates the formation of a tight-knit group, and a strong sense of camaraderie amongst the students and professors.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The Trinity College housing is absolutely gorgeous, with single bedrooms, spacious common areas, and large windows. It was inspirational to live in the same housing group where Oscar Wilde once lived. The campus is beautiful, and I was so grateful to have had the opportunity to live there for a summer.

* Food:

It is very easy to buy groceries from stores (which are within a very short walking distance from the housing) and cook in the Botany Bay kitchens. We had several potluck dinners, which were a lot of fun. There are also convenient places to get lunch on Trinity College's campus as well as just off of campus--I could list four or five inexpensive places to eat within a ten minute walk.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The closest friends I made on the program were not actually other students from NYU's group, but other Dublin locals I happened to meet. I am still in touch with them today and I am hoping to visit them someday soon. Trinity is located in the heart of Dublin, so it is very easy to get out and about the city and to make connections with the locals.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I was briefly sick during one of our co-curricular program trips, but our program administrators were immediately available to help me and offer me medical attention. I bounced back in no time! I had no trouble in terms of insurance or finding medication.

* Safety:

Dublin overall is a very safe city; I could walk around my myself in the early morning (as a teenage girl) and I never once felt uneasy. Trinity College itself is a veritable fortress; after the gates are closed to the public at night, I often enjoyed solitary walks around the college, again feeling completely at ease.

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

I wanted to cry the whole flight home because I didn't want to leave Dublin. Ireland is such a special place to me and I will always remember the friends I made there, that summer.

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 mostly cooked meals for myself in my kitchen, so it wasn't tooo difficult to manage on the budget I set for myself. There weren't a lot of personal expenses for me, outside of meals and laundry. The city is very walkable, so I saved money there as well.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About 100 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Learn to cook for yourself! It's a great skill to have and it will save you lots of money!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Program trips
  • Location
  • Professors
* What could be improved?
  • Length (too short)
  • More program activities
  • More classes offered
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Irish mountains are taller than they look from the base. It will go by quicker than you think.

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:

Contemporary Irish Literature

Course Department: Irish Studies
Instructor: Conor Creaney
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was challenging, but the workload was completely fine, even during the summer semester when it is easy to lose motivation. This is completely thanks to our professor, who planned a fantastic syllabus and made use of the short time frame to impart a lasting knowledge and understanding of Irish themes within their historical and literary contexts.
Credit Transfer Issues: No issues at all!
Course Name/Rating:

Creative Writing

Course Department: Creative Writing
Instructor: Claire Kilroy
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class truly helped me to grow as a writer, both in the personal and the academic sense. I cherished our daily workshop discussions, and the course encouraged me to submit my creative work to literary magazines after the summer was over. I wish I could take this class again!
Credit Transfer Issues: No issues at all!