Why did you decide to apply for an international program?
I decided to apply to an international program because I knew that interning and studying in another country would give me better cultural literacy. Studying abroad is one of the only times in your life that you will be given the opportunity to move to another country with no hindrance on your life for three months, and it felt silly to not take advantage of that.
Cliffs of Moher
Why did you choose CAPA International Education?
I chose CAPA because of the internship component. Being able to intern abroad taught me more about the culture than just studying there. I knew also that I wanted to have a career where I would travel and so this experience would be a fantastic addition to my resume and cultural understanding.
What was your favorite part about Dublin?
My favorite part about Dublin was how manageable the city was; in the three months that I was there I felt as though I really mastered the city. Being from New York, I'm used to huge cities but it was a really comforting feeling to really understand a full city in a short amount of time.
What makes CAPA’s Dublin program unique?
CAPA was unique definitely because of the internship component. I can't stress enough how amazing of an experience it was learning about another work culture. This is going to be a huge advantage at any job on a global level.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff was fantastic through our program; they always were looking out with us and checking in with us. In addition to checking up on us, they also organized trips to local attractions and even a full day trip to the cliffs of moher. Having these adult figures was really comforting because anytime I felt as though something was wrong, I knew I was welcome in their office.
Temple Bar
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
One thing I wish I would have done differently was spend less money! I definitely had a hard time budgeting the dollar to euro ratio and found myself saving money anywhere I could.
What was a typical day like for you in Dublin?
I usually had classes or I would intern during the day, and then in the evenings I would go into town with my friends. Dublin is not a crazy night life city during the week at all, so if we went into town for a little we were always back in the evening so that I would get enough sleep for my next busy day.
What did you enjoy doing on your free time in Dublin?
Running outside was definitely one of my activities in Dublin. The canal that was near Griffith was so beautiful and it provided a peaceful and safe long run that I could take in the evenings after my long day. It was a beautiful way to unwind.
What type of accommodation did you have?
I lived in the dorms at Griffith which I thought were very nice. Some of the people I met described them as small, but I have a skewed perception on apartment living coming from New York City and they seemed huge to me. I liked having a living room the best.
Guinness!
How has your study abroad program impacted your life at home?
My study abroad program has impacted my life immensely! This coming fall I will be returning to live in Dublin with one of my study abroad roommates to attend graduate school at Trinity College. I never would have chosen to move to Europe after graduation without this experience.
If you could study abroad again, where would you go?
If I could study abroad again, I would go to Australia and explore that part of the world. The reason I would choose that is now after my semester in Europe, I think it would be amazing to see something different and I have always wanted to explore New Zealand especially.
What do you think the biggest benefit of studying abroad is?
I think the biggest benefit of studying abroad is learning what is possible for yourself. I waited until I was a senior to study abroad and I am now graduating with a position at the United Nations and a place in graduate school in Europe next year.
Studying abroad was a huge eye opener to me of everything I am capable of doing (as cheesy as that sounds!).
Would you recommend CAPA to other students?
I would definitely recommend CAPA for other students because of the incredibly caring staff and the internship component. Both of these things stand apart from other experiences I have heard from students that studied abroad through different companies.
