An Amazing Time! Past Review
By A student (Physics and Classical Civilizations, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/01/2015 to 12/21/2015 with
University College Cork: Cork - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
One important thing I gained was independence. I was able to not just survive, but succeed and grow in a country that I had never been to before and all by myself. Not just that, but this independence has also increased my confidence. Because I was able to go abroad and have these amazing experiences, I feel more confident that I can succeed and overcome whatever life throws at me. Visiting Ireland really made me gain a new perspective on life and made me feel more relaxed about life, because no matter what happens everything will be alright in the end. I also learned a lot about my self abroad, which has help shape my perspective. I really gained a lot from my experience not just from the fact that I was abroad but from Ireland itself as well. It was definitely worthwhile and I can't wait to go back!
Review Photos
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Not as much work during the semester like in the U.S., so it felt less intense, however most of your final grade then depends on exams/papers at the end of the term. There were definitely some resources available to help with academics. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were very helpful and gave us plenty of information |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Due to a current housing shortage in Cork, it was difficult to find housing before I arrived. The process was very different so I did not know how to go about it and it was really stressful since most of the places I contacted were all booked. However, I was able to find housing. Although initially I did not like that it was closer to the city center than to the UCC campus, I ended up loving being so close to the city center and enjoyed the walk to campus. The housing it self was nice. I had my own room and shared one full bathroom and a half bathroom. The kitchen was nice although small, and like many places came with pots, pans, plates, utensils, etc. |
| * Food: |
I really enjoyed the wide variety of food available in Cork. There were tons of takeaway places, however many offered the same things. There were many takeaways that offered pizza and burgers. Despite this there were plenty of other restaurants offering a wide variety of food options. Additionally, there was a wide variety of products sold in grocery stores. There was less frozen food in grocery stores and more fresh ingredients (which unfortunately meant that some things spoiled faster) and more pre-made refrigerated meals. I really enjoyed cooking for my self with the wide variety of ingredients that I am not used to. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
UCC offered opportunities to meet other international students mostly at the beginning of the semester, which were enjoyable. There were also multiple trips (some offered by the school and some by private companies) to travel across Ireland and Europe were it was easy to engage with other international students. The local students were also welcoming. The many clubs and societies were very open to welcoming international students. I felt I was fairly integrated, even if it did take me a while. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Not Applicable |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe walking around the city and around campus. At night I felt as safe as one could feel in a city. On campus I felt a bit safe at night. However, there aren't many people walking around at night in the city, and even less on campus, so you naturally have your guard up. But thankfully, there were never any safety issues. |
| 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) |
It was fairly easy to live on a student's budget. If you know how to shop for yourself and how to be economical it is easy to live on a small budget. Additionally many takeaways and restaurants have meal deals that are reasonable. Personally, I had been saving a lot for my trip, so I was able to spend a little more and indulge myself more. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $70-$90 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't expect to rely much on frozen foods. While there are plenty of ready-made meals available, they are refrigerated so would only last a few days. But they can add up overtime, so it is better to cook for yourself. Lean to shop for shorter periods of times, since some perishables spoil a lot faster since they are very fresh, so learn to shop for what you need. Don't be afraid to go into small ethnic shops, as they often have essentials for a cheaper price. Expect to pay mostly in cash, some of the smaller stores and takeaways, as well as many of the vendors in the English Market, only accepted cash or charged extra to pay with card. |
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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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? | I wish I had known how friendly and welcoming everyone is, so I should feel welcome to participate. I also wish I had explored Cork and Ireland more than I already did. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
