<p>Will an American feel isolated at Trinity College in Dublin for four years? I’ve been accepted into a great program, but am worried. I’m Jewish. Will I feel out of place on the Trinity Campus and in the city of Dublin? HELP!</p>
<p>My other choice as of now (FEb.) is St. Andrews in Scotland, where there are a lot of Americans. I was happy with that until I was accepted to Trinity. Opinions?</p>
<p>Will hear from American colleges by April and can wait until that date to make final decision. American colleges considered: Northwestern, Emory, College of William and Mary, Barnard.</p>
<p>I don’t know that much about it, but I have been there. I have a friend who studied at UCD though, without many other American students and she found everyone very friendly, and some of the Irish friends she made are still her best friends. I traveled through Ireland once – saw Trinity as part of a day in Dublin – and I would love to study there. I loved the people, and the country, and the college is absolutely gorgeous.</p>
<p>Trinity is beautiful & Ireland is wonderful. Don’t forget that Dublin is a very multi-cultural city. And it has had at lest one Jewish mayor. We know kids attending other Irish colleges, but none at Trinity. All love their experience & talk of becoming residents after graduation.</p>
<p>Have ou been over there? Feb usually has very cheap airfare if you could swing the time. As Easter approaches, it gets quite pricey.</p>
<p>I’ve only been to Scotland once & enjoyed Edinborough & Glasgow. But no place is more beautiful than Ireland (IMHO.)</p>
<p>I think you’d have a wonderful time in Ireland. I’m British, my wife is Irish. We’ve lived in the US for nearly 30 years. The Irish have always been positively disposed to Americans, maybe 'cos there’s almost no-one in Ireland who does not have relatives in the US. </p>
<p>In contast, the English and Scots tend to be more guarded in their response to Yanks. The current geopolitcs have not helped. Of course, people are friendly everywhere, but as an American in Europe you’ll find yourself drawn, willingly or not, into lively debates on Iraq, Bush and the rest.</p>
<p>Other things to consider:</p>
<p>Party! You can have a legal drink in a pub at 18.
Explore! Ryanair flies you anywhere you want to go in Europe for $50 r/t.
Spend! With the pound at nearly $2 and the Euro $1.30 both Dublin and Scotland will make NYC (if you went to Barnard) cheap in comparison.</p>
<p>I have been there. It has the advantage of a European approach & tradition along with a smallish LAC feel, while being a very “august” institution in its own right.</p>
<p>Just as every US college campus has its own “culture,” the same is true overseas. I would visit, if you’re divided & are attracted by a particular program. That is the only way to know if you’ll feel at home. The Irish are quite friendly, so I doubt that you would feel “isolated” on account of a Jewish identity. But it is more culturally immersed than some U’s on the continent would be, or some in the UK.</p>
<p>Trinity college dublin is seen as oxbridge of ireland.
gorgeous place
friendly people
lots of opportunities
really good international reputation</p>
<p>One D’s best friend spent her junior year abroad at Trinity and liked it so much she transferred and earned her degree there. It is lovely and Dublin is a fun city for young people. D worked there as a waitress in a pub one summer while visiting her friend and we had several young Irish guys visit after. The friend, while not Jewish, comes from a distinctive ethnic background, one where a child is expected to marry in the family’s faith and marry only from their culture and she was happy at Trinity.</p>
<p>OTOH I know Barnard well and I think that about 40% of the students are Jewish. There is a kosher food plan. You should probably visit both before making a decision. Both schools are gated oasises in a large city environment.</p>
<p>Yeah, I applied for Trinity as well (I’m a student from the U.S.). I would have to pay full tuition, so don’t worry, you’re not alone in that crisis. =/</p>