Reviews

Ashley King

I knew I needed medical research experience for the field I want to go into, but I also have quite the travel bug. I did a lot of research trying to find out who could give me exactly what I wanted. Honestly, most of my time was spent figuring out which company was the most credible. I stumbled upon Connect-123 and contacted them right away. After a few conversations, I knew that they were the right choice. From there the process was so simple. They found me a position working with a leading research hospital and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve never been afraid to go somewhere far on my own, so I didn’t have any initial reservations. I arrived in Dublin and felt right at home. Within an hour of being there, my program coordinator was at my doorstep and welcomed me with open arms. I think that made the transition easier than expected. She checked in with me every few weeks to make sure things were going smoothly and even arranged trips and meet-ups for everyone to get to know each other. My boss and coworkers were the greatest, most helpful people I probably could’ve worked with. They taught me so much about everything that goes into medical research and included me in everything they did. I was always made to feel like I was a part of the team, despite the fact that I was only going to be there for a short amount of time. Three months seems like an eternity, but even now it wasn’t enough time for me to explore the beautiful country that is Ireland. I now feel as though it is my second home. Nothing will ever compare to the time I spent living in Dublin, what I learned during my internship, and every person I met along the way.

Lynsey Schafer

This summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to be an intern in Ireland. Before this experience, I had never been outside of the United States so traveling internationally was a new experience for me. Connect-123 helped calm most of my nerves and hesitations about traveling independently, living in a new home for two months, and having an international internship. Throughout the process, Connect-123 was quick to answer all of my questions and helped guide me. Although this experience is one of independence and self-discovery, Connect-123 tries their best to help you when you need it. Connect-123 did an amazing job of finding, not one, but three internship options for me! It was great to be able to have a wide variety of choices that related to my field of interest. The internship that I ultimately chose was a perfect fit. I worked under two wonderful and talented people who welcomed me with open arms and helped me to feel right at home. Ireland will forever have a piece of my heart and I wouldn’t have had the experience that I did if it wasn’t for Connect-123.

Angie Shearon

Completing a Connect-123 internship was one of the best decisions I’ve made, not only for my career but for my growth as a person. It was my first time travelling away from home for such a long period, but they made everything go so smoothly that I had nothing to be nervous about. The internship was so perfect for me and was exactly what I was looking for! My supervisors made me feel extremely comfortable asking questions and made sure I got everything out of it that I wanted to. I gained so much from working in a hospital, it helped build my resume, I made strong connections with people who will support me through my career path, and it helped me figure out more of what I want out of my future job. Not only was I given the chance to assist with research, but I got to shadow a well-known doctor at the hospital and observe what he does every day. I got to see up close how he stayed calm and handled stressful situations, how he interacted with each patient on a personal level, and how he genuinely cared about giving every person the best possible care. This taught me a lot about the kind of doctor I want to be someday, and I will never forget the experience. What made this experience as amazing as it was were the livelong friends I made along the way. Connect-123 made it very easy to meet everyone in the program because of group events we did so regularly, like getting burgers after work or meeting up for Irish dancing lessons. They provided us with information about fun things to experience while in Ireland and gave us tips about traveling to other countries as well. I wouldn’t trade the memories from this summer for anything, and I am certain that the friends I made abroad will be friends I have throughout my life.

Alexandria Plant

Being part of Connect-123’s internship program was one of my best decisions I have ever made. I had always wanted to travel to Europe, so to be able to do so while pursuing my career path was an incredible opportunity for me. Soon enough, I found myself in Dublin taking in the Irish culture and taking full advantage of my journey. In Dublin, I got a fantastic internship at an organization that helps to design therapeutic and personalized approaches to cancer. I got to be a part of truly integral and prestigious research. I worked in a top-notch facility, both in a wet lab and in an office performing analyses on breast cancer cells. It was one of the greatest learning experiences of my life so far. My supervisors were incredibly patient and kind when it came to my experiences working with them and learning from them. Besides my internship, I was fortunate enough to have the weekends to take full advantage of all that Ireland had to offer. I was blessed to be able to travel around the country, seeing castles, cliffs, and countryside, while taking in the history of this magnificent place. I got to be fully immersed in the culture, which is something that was so important to me, especially being of Irish descent myself. This only added to my incredible time spent here. I am grateful for my summer internship with Connect-123, and it has been a wonderful life-changing experience that I will be forever grateful for.

Nicole Chandler

The summer of 2016 has been far from ordinary for me while in Dublin. I have been so fortunate to live in Dublin, have an amazing internship, explore Europe, and be exposed to new cultures. I have loved every second of it. I chose Dublin because it looked like a new and exciting country with beautiful views and hospital people and I didn’t have to learn a new language. I was offered an internship in a Dublin hospital's brain injury unit. The unit had thirteen residents that I quickly got to know. I was able to shadow Occupational Therapists and could also experience different units within the hospital. Every person I met was so kind and very helpful. I learned so much during my weeks in the hospital. Also being absorbed by the Irish culture was fantastic. I traveled all around Ireland as well as other countries. It was great to see new cultures, eat new food, and meet new people. I also met some amazing people living in the dorms with other interns. We could all share this great experience together. I would not trade this summer for anything and I owe it all to Connect-123. Thank you so much!

Fiona Chatterjee

Choosing to intern in Dublin through Connect-123 was one of the best decisions I have made. I always knew I wanted to study and/or intern abroad, and luckily for me, Connect-123 made it incredibly easy to find an internship in my field of choice. As a first-year college student with no true medical experience, I thought finding an internship in the health field would be extremely difficult, but thanks to Connect, I was able to intern in the Play Therapy Department at a local children's hospital. The internship itself was amazing; I had the opportunity to increase my confidence in my communication skills and to learn more about the different methods in which to interact with children and stimulate their emotional growth. In addition, simply living in Dublin was a wonderful experience. Exploring the city itself and its multitude of museums, churches, cafes, pubs, and historic buildings was immensely enjoyable; however, day trips to Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, and other areas of Ireland were also phenomenal. Lastly, the people I met during my stay in Ireland are some of the most amazing people I have ever met—the friends you make through Connect-123 become your friends for life. I cannot imagine a better experience for my first internship abroad and I would recommend Connect-123 to anyone interested in interning or volunteering abroad.

Sidra Shah

These past two months in Ireland have been absolutely amazing! From the remarkable internship placement at one of Ireland’s pediatric hospitals, to the program coordinators' helpful demeanor, the Connect-123 program and staff have been wonderful and friendly.

I was a little hesitant coming to Dublin for the summer, and working at a hospital full time since I am still only a pre-med student. However, I got to work with my supervisor, who was brilliant and kind as he allowed me to gain exposure to the surgical and anesthetic fields. I saw many surgeries on a daily basis, and saw how all the health care providers worked together. Alongside an amazing internship, I enjoyed living in Dublin and experiencing everything the city has to offer.

UCD was a great place to live, as all the staff was hospitable and answered all of my questions/problems. I also loved being surrounded by the beautiful scenery and nature in Ireland. This trip honestly has been the most incredible experience I have had in my life so far. I grew so much as a person, a student, and appreciated being immersed in the Irish culture for eight weeks. I cannot wait to visit again soon!

Aysha Iqbal

My internship experience with Connect-123 was amazing. Being able to work in a public hospital Dublin, Ireland allowed me to experience a new country as well as gain experience in my future career path. I was able to see and do things within the healthcare field that I would not been able to do back home.

This internship allowed for me to grow both as a person and a future healthcare professional. Having the weekends off allowed for me to travel in and out of Ireland, and I got to see many different cultures. Our program coodinator was very helpful and always available which made moving to a new country a smoother experience. In fact, the entire Connect-123 staff was engaging and friendly. They would have weekly events for all the interns, which helped us make friends with each other.

My favourite part of the experience was being able to build new relationships with my Irish co-workers and housemates, as well as strengthen relationships with my friends who interned in Dublin as well. We all became a family and I am glad I got to share all my experiences with them. I miss Dublin already and cannot wait to come back!

P.S. – you must try the Taytos potato chips, they are the best!

Brianna Mastromarino

I first visited Dublin while traveling Europe during study abroad. After spending only a few days in the city, I knew I wanted to return for an extended stay. I was incredibly fortunate to find that Connect-123 would not only provide a means for my return to Dublin, but would also allow me to work at an internship pertinent to my field of study. I spent this past summer working in a cancer research institute at a highly respectable university. Even though I didn’t have much experience in lab work, the people I worked with were incredibly informative and happy to help. Since returning from Ireland, I have successfully applied to medical school, and at all of my interviews for admission I was asked about my research in Dublin. The time spent outside of my internship was also incredibly valuable. I met amazing people, both Irish and American, and have already returned to Dublin to visit friends. I will never forget the excursions around Ireland, offering some of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. The Irish people are very friendly and it is easy to feel at home in this charming and lively city. I am very grateful to Connect-123 for providing the opportunity to live and intern in Dublin.

Kate Flanagan

When I signed up for Connect-123's Dublin internship program I had never traveled abroad before, much less lived and worked abroad for 8 weeks. I had always wanted to visit Ireland and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so while getting some work experience at the same time. But I was worried--about navigating a foreign country, about not knowing any of the people traveling with me, and about whether my internship would be a good fit. Facing those fears led to some of the most rewarding experiences of my life. As a neuroscience student interested in a research career, I was seeking placement in a lab where I could learn some new lab procedures and practice my scientific writing skills. Connect-123 found me a great internship at a neuroimmunology research lab. My coworkers were friendly, my work was interesting, there was always something to do, and I gained an understanding of the subject matter that supplemented and strengthened what I'd learned in my classes. Outside the lab, I found myself exploring Dublin and the rest of the country both on my own and with the new friends I made in the Connect-123 program. I've come back feeling more confident in myself, more useful in the lab, and more cognizant of the world outside the US.

Bridget Haley

Living abroad in Dublin was an incredible, life-changing experience. I spent three months there, but it was so hard to leave at the end, that I wish I could have stayed longer. The whole experience was very smooth right from the beginning. Connect-123 found me the perfect internship, performing research on the childhood cancer neuroblastoma at the University College Dublin. I didn’t have a whole lot of research experience before arriving, but everyone there was so friendly and willing to teach me, that I learned so much more than I could have imagined and feel more prepared for a future career in medicine. In addition to exploring Dublin, I was able to travel around Ireland and other European countries. The scenery was so spectacular that I literally had to pinch myself to know it was real. Coming from Chicago, Dublin was a smaller city, but its charm and friendly people made me feel so at home. It has a rich history, great nightlife, and there was always something new to do and see. The Connect-123 events helped me get acclimated to the city as well as meet some great, life-long friends that I still keep in touch with. This was absolutely the experience of a lifetime, and I can’t wait to go back. I would recommend this internship and the opportunity to travel to Dublin to anyone and everyone!

Nichole Drolet

The summer I spent in Dublin was literally the best summer of my life! Not only was it an amazing life experience to live in another country for 10 weeks, but the experience I got in my nursing internship at the pediatric hospital was beyond words. The internship wasn't at all what I thought or hoped, but it turned out to be a fantastic foundational learning experience. My goal going into this internship was to work on my clinical skills, instead I got a completely different experience. I was able to see more in my 10 weeks than I did in my 2.5 years in nursing school. The staff really worked with us to get us any experience we wanted, or thought we could be interested in. I was able to sit in on a full day of cardiac surgery, spend a day on a burn unit, spend several weeks on a cardiac PICU, among many other things. If ever I had a question, I was never hesitant to ask it without feeling dumb. I got to work on my foundations of practice, and the nurses I worked with tried to get me to understand why we were doing what we were doing. Why are we giving this patient these meds, why are we doing this treatment, how will this affect the rest of the body systems, what lab values should we be looking at, etc. This was the best experience I could have hoped for. The friends I made, are ones I will keep for life. I really believe that this is something that everyone should try to do. There aren't a lot of opportunities for nursing internships today, but this gives you a taste of what you will be doing in a few short years (or months in my case).

Megan Mooney

Connect 123 is a fantastic opportunity to explore another country while also enabling you to make professional connections around the world. The experience that I have had with this company was unmatched. To any student wanting to go abroad and also gain career experience, I would highly recommend this company. My time in Dublin surpassed my expectations and given the opportunity I would do it all again.

Tamara Thevarajah

Just two weeks before my departure, I accepted an internship position at a major hospital in Dublin, Ireland and as scary as the thought was, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. After some phone conversations and long emails back and forth, Connect-123’s Melanie McDowell understood exactly what I was looking for and found me the position of my dreams! The hospital is the leading center for Gynae-Oncology in Ireland. During my time there, I started the bench work for a research project in which thromboelastography is used for the detection of hypercoagulability in patients after major gynaecological surgery, specifically the malignant cases. When I wasn’t conducting research, I was attending Multi-Disciplinary Meetings (team meetings to discuss all aspects of treatment options including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, histology, radiology), attending journal club presentations about various topics in medicine (including the new field of chronic pain management under the anesthesiology field), observing in the clinic, and observing in surgery. It is so interesting to observe how health care is conducted in a country that practices universal healthcare (and also offers private insurance for those who choose it and can afford it). The experience I gained by being immersed in Ireland’s healthcare field is priceless. This internship was much more than a resume booster. I became more assertive in a professional setting; healthcare is so fast-paced and you have to put yourself out there and form strong relationships with the doctors and they are very willing to give back and help you with anything and answer all your questions. I also learned more about what it will be like to be a doctor—and I LOVED it. Providing care and empathy for patient after patient in the clinic and going into surgery and watching tumors being removed and pelvic floors being repaired—I cannot wait until I’m the one with the stethoscope around my neck and the scalpel in my hand! Ireland is amazing and beautiful. The people are so nice and so very diverse! My house included students/interns from Italy, France, and Spain, and I made some awesome friends! I also traveled all around Ireland and to London (days before the Olympics!!) with friends I met through this program! Connect-123 is excellent, from the internship match up to social events and fields trips! I had the time of my life, and I’m sure any other excited intern will too!!

Laura Beth Lathrop

I would have never imagined that an internship could have provided me with the experience and exposure to the medical field that my Dublin internship did. During my time spent working in the hospital, I was involved in two main projects; processing of blood and tissue samples for the ovarian cancer bioresource centre and assessing the use of thrombo-elastography (TEG) for the detection of hypercoagulability in patients post gynaecological surgery. Aside from research, I was lucky enough to stand in on major gynaecological surgeries as well as caesarean section births (all of which brought me to tears of joy). The experience of living in a foreign country was one that I would recommend to anyone who is considering it. Dublin is a history rich, lively hub of European culture. This melting pot makes for a worldly experience when meeting new people and sharing cultural traditions. What stood out to me the most though while living in Dublin were the kind and fun-loving Irish. Helpful is an understatement to describe the Irish folk. They are welcoming and always open for a good laugh. When considering whether an internship might be something you are interested in, I highly recommend seeking it through Connect-123 and when considering where I recommend Dublin but the field of study is up to you!

Cassandra Wood

My summer internship in Dublin, Ireland was unforgettable! The hands on experience I encountered was more than anything I could have hoped for in an undergraduate dietetic internship. While serving as a Student Dietitian Intern at a rehabilitation hospital, I worked alongside the Clinical Nutrition Manager as well as many other friendly and fun health care professionals.  I was thrilled to be able to apply so much of what I learned in the classroom to a practical clinical setting. This was an amazing learning experience that I will remember for the rest of my life!

Kayleen Meyer

I had the opportunity to work with Occupational Therapists in a hospital setting, building up a variety of skills. This internship taught me how to work in a fast-pace environment where everyone gets to know each other very quickly. I learned a lot about how OT is done for patient's with hip and knee surgeries and how to apply it to each patient. An important skill I learned was how to work directly with patients. It is easy to make people feel comfortable but being able to apply it to OT is always a work in progress. Everyday I learned something new and I will carry all of these skills with me for the future. Throughout this internship, I found that it was very rewarding to help people everyday. It truly is a joy to work in OT because it looks at a person in a holistic way by taking in all aspects of that person and their life. My internship was so rewarding and I would suggest it for anyone looking to practice OT. I was very lucky because at home it would have been very hard for me to find a truly full experience that this internship offered me. My coworkers were so helpful and very nice people. They would go out of their ways to help me and by the end we were kind of like a big family. Everyday I learned so much about OT and I actually got to have my own case load of patients that I got to do therapy with. My supervisor was absolutely amazing because she was the one that helped me have the confidence to try all those knew things.

Zach Bennett

Connect-123 made my two-month experience in Dublin very easy. They found me an internship that fit both my schedule and needs. The internship at a public health research centre is already helping me in my career. Connect-123 also found me affordable housing very close to my work and checked in often to see how things were going from both a tourist and intern perspective. I have heard that traveling abroad can be difficult because of the need to organize everything in advance. Connect-123 took care of all that and made my trip a wonderful one.

Brittany Foerg

The two months I spent in Dublin completing a research internship were nothing short of exciting, eventful, and inspiring. I gained an extraordinary amount of knowledge and experience relevant to my future career as an optometrist, and I absolutely loved all that there was to do and see in and around Dublin. I really enjoyed getting to know the people while I was there, and many of the relationships I made will continue. Connect-123 did a fantastic job of finding me an internship that was perfectly tailored to my interests - despite their uniqueness. Connect-123 was always providing helpful insight and guidance before, during, and even after my internship. I would recommend Connect-123 to anyone who wants to gain career experience in another country and would benefit from the fantastic structure and support they provide.  

Jillian Yeo

I recently went through Connect-123 to secure an internship opportunity with a well known university in Dublin. It was an excellent opportunity to gain further insight into the pharmaceutical research sector. Not only was Connect-123 great at finding an internship suited to my needs, they were continuously checking on my progress and how I was adapting to the new surroundings. Personally, I felt that it was thoughtful. An overseas internship has provided me with a completely different learning experience.  Not only do you learn the skills of the trade, you also get to learn about the working culture, traditions and lifestyle of locals.  New friendships that were formed during this period are also greatly treasured. I would recommend anyone to give Connect-123 a go should you want to step out of your comfort zone, or to give yourself a rewarding summer!