<p>Any thoughts on spending your junior year at either Trinity College Dublin or University College London? Information on academics, student life, housing, or anything else you think is helpful would be very much appreciated.</p>
<p>D is interested in spending her junior year abroad, starting next fall, at one of these colleges. She plans to take political science and history courses. </p>
<p>Thanks for any help.</p>
<p>PS: This is also posted in the International Students forum.</p>
<p>I don't know about either of the programs firsthand, but three of my friends attended UCL this past semester and had the time of their lives. I think part of the reason they had such a positive experience was because they were in London and could take advantage of all the city has to offer, as well as had the opportunity to travel around Europe during breaks and on weekends.</p>
<p>Dublin's cheaper. It's also a ferry ride away from England. London's terrific, but boy, does it cost.</p>
<p>UCL is amazing. It's a top ranked college (ivy in UK terms) and is top notch with their Liberal Art programs. And London...well what can I say? It's expensive but it's hell of a lot of fun.</p>
<p>If this is her first international foray, she should go to London. It's a tired location for many, including myself, but if one has not yet experienced, they should. That said, Dublin is a seriously brilliant place to live. </p>
<p>UCL is generally a better university than Trinity. It is in the second tier after Oxbridge, and the third oldest university after those two.</p>
<p>While both UCL and TCD are both not first-tier universities, UCL trumps TCD in almost every way possible.</p>
<p>UCL is "second-tier", but only below Oxbridge and LSE. Its academics are v v good and some of its departments (English lit I know, but can't think of others atm) are rated top in the nation. For studying politics and history it should be very good. Also, being in London will no doubt help with the politics studies. London is expensive of course, but you have to see whether it's worth it or not...</p>
<p>TCD used to be a v good institution but in recent years does not match up with any of the UK's best universities. It has been going downhill for the last few years, and I can only see that it will slip further in ratings (whatever use they are).</p>
<p>So UCl >>> TCD, and London > Dublin. If it's between UCL and TCD only, obviously choose UCL, and UCL's London location is only another factor which makes it trump TCD. But if it's between TCD and another London university, the choice might be a different one.</p>
<p>K.</p>
<p>I agree on UCL--my s spent his spring semester there last year and had the time of his life. He is a history major, and he was happy with his courses. He did say that, unlike U.S. schools, the professors simply gave out suggested readings, and the students were on their own. No one cared if you attended class or not. There were no exams, but only papers. He did quite well, and still had time to party and travel. UCL itself is located in a great part of London for young people, and he took advantage of the numerous breaks to travel around Europe with friends.</p>
<p>As others have said, London is quite expensive, but he had a fabulous time.</p>
<p>On the other hand, London is very full of international students and Ireland is an exciting thriving place these days and perhaps offers an easier chance to assimilate to Irish culture rather than the International whirl--honestly, I think either place would be a great experience and there is no "wrong" choice.</p>
<p>I just wanted to thank those who made comments on this thread. They are very much appreciated by us. D is sending in her study abroad application to both Trinity College Dublin and UCL. We'll see what happens.</p>
<p>It would appear worthwhile to have an area of College Confidential dedicated to Study Abroad just like there is a separate Parents forum. Study Abroad for a semester or year seems to be very popular, and a good number of U.S. parents and students may not know all that much about the foreign colleges, including student life there.</p>
<p>I'd go for London. Now, if she has the opportunity to study abroad in Galway...</p>
<p>If finances are at all an issue, I'd favor the Euro to the Pound against the Dollar.
Two of mine spent the summer at programs in London and we grossly underestimated living expenses. Basically, whatever you'd buy here for $3 would cost 3 pounds there, then do the rate conversion of close to 2:1.Yikes!</p>
<p>Plus London is just expensive regardless of the terrible exchange rate. Dublin is better, certainly, but still bad. All of Ireland, really, is very expensive even if the dollar is a bit stronger against the euro than the pound. But if finances are an issue, all of Western Europe is a bad idea!</p>