The Best Year of My Life Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/14/2016 to 06/03/2017 with

Queen's University Belfast: Belfast - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Definitely. Not only did I learn a lot about my major and concentration, but I learned a lot about myself and my interests. I started to love learning again and was able to get involved in things because I was passionate, not only for my GPA and grad school applications.

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I absolutely loved my time at QUB (Queen's University Belfast), but I wish I had applied to the school itself rather than the CIEE program (which is now closed, so I guess the information is redundant). However, the city, the classes, and the cultural experiences I was able to partake in were exactly what I needed.

* 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? No

Yes to the city and the school, but not through this program.

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? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Ask locals (especially other students) for advice!

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

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • city
  • classes
  • people
* What could be improved?
  • organisation
  • communication
  • CIEE class
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the program would be really disorganised because it was about to close.

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.'