Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A great way to get to know Ireland and experience the European college life. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/29/2019 to 12/19/2019 with

University College Dublin: Dublin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was absolutely worthwhile. I gained a different experience from my home university while still getting a comparable academic experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were taught in a large, lecture-style format, which was different than I was expecting. Very knowledgeable and engaging professors, but our smaller "discussion" groups were taught by fellow students who sometimes didn't have a great grasp on the material.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

It was easy to organize the program and reach out to administrators once there.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Small, but nice. Conveniently located, too. The majority of students live off-campus.

* Food:

Students are expected to cook for themselves. This was a bit of a shock, but our suite featured a small kitchen and a mini grocery store was nearby.

* 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

Although Dublin is an interesting city, the climate throughout the fall semester is disheartening.

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 $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be prepared to buy your own food for every meal — shop at big grocery stores, even if they're further away!

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

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The professors
  • The location
  • The facilities
* What could be improved?
  • Food
  • Housing
  • Integration with local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how different it would be from my home institution. I wasn't prepared for the sheer amount of confusion I'd face going in to it, but it all made sense within a couple weeks.

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 Linguist
You 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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Ireland: heritage & culture
Course Department: Archaeology
Instructor: Amanda Kelly
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course gave an overall archaeological timeline of Ireland, starting with prehistoric times and ending with recent history. It was lecture-style, so participation was minimal but the course was engaging nonetheless.
Credit Transfer Issues: I am currently in the process of transferring credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Life on Earth
Course Department: Biology
Instructor: John Finarelli
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was a large lecture with a few online assessments. The material was presented as a general overview, so it was relatively easy to understand.
Credit Transfer Issues: I am currently in the process of transferring credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Introduction to Quantitative Economics
Course Department: Economics
Instructor: Ciara Whelan
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was a large lecture with multiple-choice tests every week. The teacher was knowledgeable but the class could seem monotonous at times.
Credit Transfer Issues: I am currently in the process of transferring credit.
Course Name/Rating:

War and the Hero
Course Department: Classics
Instructor: Martin Brady and Michael Lloyd
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was informative, challenging, and engaging. My professors were excellent and knew a great deal about their specialties; I got the impression that they were true scholars dedicated to the education of their field. We wrote a couple essays and were tested on the material at the end of the semester.
Credit Transfer Issues: I am currently in the process of transferring credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Critical Thinking
Course Department: Philosophy
Instructor: Daniel Deasy
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was a large lecture with short quizzes every week. The professor was knowledgeable and engaging, although participation was limited.
Credit Transfer Issues: I am currently in the process of transferring credit.