Ireland is beautiful! Past Review
By Leah F (Computer Science, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/04/2015 to 05/22/2015 with
Trinity College - Dublin: Dublin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned a lot about myself as I lived (alone) in a new culture and made new friends. I totally recommend long-term immersion in another culture, its hard and terrifying but totally worth it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic experience was good, but it was very different than I was used to in the US so it took some getting used to (eg, there were fewer assignments, but the exams were much more important). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Since I was directly enrolled in Trinity, I wasn't very involved with on-site administration. The international student's program was quite helpful when I arrived though, and was available to help if I needed it. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living on campus was great! |
| * Food: |
There was no meal plan. I was totally fine with cooking all my own food, and I had an adequate kitchen, but no meal plan might be a problem for some people. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was great living in the center of the city. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never dealt with any health issues. I was made aware of the on campus health services though, and no vaccines were needed. |
| * Safety: |
I generally felt very safe. Dublin is a major city though, so like anywhere else there are neighborhoods you want to avoid walking in by yourself at 2am. On campus I always felt safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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 had quite a few personal expenses, because I purchased all my food and did quite a bit of travelling, but with the amount provided by Wellesley's budget it was not difficult. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you have a set amount of money for the semester (like I did, I wasn't earning any money while abroad) just make sure you keep track of what you're spending so you don't run out near the end! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Be patient with academic stuff (like registration and grades and exam schedules) because you'll be frustrated if you expect it to be as timely and organized as in the US. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
