Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An adventure in learning independence and becoming a Dubliner Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/09/2016 to 05/14/2016 with

Trinity College - Dublin: Dublin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned an immense amount about the culture, and I found I really knew the city like the back of my hand upon leaving. I loved my classes and found it enlightening to see how European schools treat academics so differently.

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

Although I felt it was difficult to befriend local students at first, I found I really emerged with a sense of independence and learned a lot about myself. I also was able to leave with many good international friends that I discovered through classes, similar interests, and volleyball club while over in Ireland.

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? About $150-175.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eating out is expensive in Dublin! Also, invest in a good coffee machine- they don't do ground coffee much, really only super expensive espresso most places in the country.

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

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Classes
  • Professors
  • Independence
* What could be improved?
  • Final exams were very heavy!! Although I doubt this could be changed, maybe more of a heads up!
  • Guideline to class structures prior to going
  • More prep regarding housing/cell phones
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew more about cell phone setup- getting to Dublin without service and having to scurry around trying to figure out how to switch up a SIM card was very stressful. I also wish we had had more notice of the class and assessment structures.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Ireland: A Survey, 1500-1815
Course Department: History
Instructor: Professor Osiochru
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The class was challenging because I had no prior knowledge of Irish history. However, the professor gave a very comprehensive overview of the country's early modern history, and I felt that I was completely prepared for the second half of the class, which addressed bigger themes and considered Ireland in a more comparative, global context. My professors were the top of their field of study, and it was incredibly digestible for study abroad students. I participated and attended class as often as I do at Middlebury. I was assessed by one 20% essay and one 80% final exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Introduction to Modernism
Course Department: English
Instructor: Professor Coleman
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course material was challenging simply given the difficult nature of Modernist works. However, I felt that having multiple lecturers (almost a different speaker for each author/class) and only one class a week made the entire course seem disjointed and somewhat fragmented. The professors were all very knowledgable about their author and the author's works, but lectures were read straight from pre-typed papers with block quotes on power points. Overall, I spent the same amount of time in this course as I would have in a course at Middlebury. I was assessed by one final exam, worth 100% of my grade.
Credit Transfer Issues: Unknown (grades do not appear until survey completed).
Course Name/Rating:

Homer
Course Department: Classics
Instructor: Professor Cadau
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was wonderful; the material was relevant and helpful each lecture, and my professor was very prepared and knowledgeable. I felt attending each lecture to be absolutely critical to obtaining a good understanding of course material in the Iliad and the Odyssey. I attended class and studied as much as I would at Middlebury. I was assessed by two 50% essays.
Credit Transfer Issues: Unknown (grades do not appear until survey completed).
Course Name/Rating:

Imperialism to Globalism
Course Department: History
Instructor: Professors Armstrong and Jackson
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was challenging, and this was its trial year, so there were no materials from previous years to reference. However, I felt it was one of my most organized courses at Trinity, and I love every single lecture. He professors were incredibly well-prepared and very knowledgable about a huge range of material. I attended and studied for class as often as I would at Middlebury. I was assessed using a 20% essay and 80% final exam.
Credit Transfer Issues: Unknown (grades do not appear until survey completed).