Reviews
Real stories from real participants, parents and university partners who share their experiences as well as their advice. Learn more about the benefits Connect-123 interns and volunteers receive on our programs around the world!
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Stacy Gallegos
My time in Ireland was an unforgettable adventure. I learned resourceful skills, made lifelong friendships, and gained a new perspective about the world. My internship experience has changed the way I view healthcare delivery and has given me a boost of confidence to address the issues I care about the most. In the process, I gained a brilliant mentor and realized that you can accomplish even the most intimidating goals with hard work, passion, and some inspiration. Connect-123 made sure their students felt right at home from the moment they arrived. I am looking forward to returning to this magnetic city and am grateful for all the memories that have molded me to the friend and professional I am today.
Internships in Dublin
Becky Franklin
During my time in Dublin, I interned at a non-profit organisation, which aided migrant and refugee families in gaining their Irish citizenship. I really enjoyed my time at the company and felt it has greatly benefitted me for my future career. It taught me a lot of skills that are invaluable and really gave me the confidence that I was lacking. If you are looking for a historic and vibrant city to live in, Dublin is definitely the place! There are so many wonderful things to see and do all around Ireland; you’ll never be bored! I would say that visiting Galway and the west coast was just magical. The scenery all around is incredible and just feels like you’re in your favourite Irish movie! I enjoyed my time so much that I have decided to pursue my Masters degree at Trinity College Dublin. I cannot wait to be back in September!
Internships in Dublin
Miranda Davis
My summer internship with Connect-123 changed my life. As an intern at my host organization, a foundation dedicated to the welfare of animals, I was able to accomplish many feats in my personal level, veterinary knowledge, and wildlife care. I was able to work with several exotic wildlife species like Foxes, Pine Martins, Buzzards, Otters, Jackdaws, and several others. The exposure to handling, feeding, and care procedures helped my zoological knowledge grow. In the United States veterinary and animal internship are normally limited to small animals and lack exotic species. So working with Ireland's wildlife was a once in a lifetime opportunity and tremendous award. As someone who aspires to be a zoological veterinarian there was no better place for me to intern. Furthermore the veterinary schools I applied to loved the placement of my internship. Not only was the internship wonderful for academic purposes, yet also great for myself. The foundation's staff was beyond nice. Their friendliness and kindness was superb and helped me become more self-assured. I could not think of a better place to intern. Likewise, I am also thankful for Connect-123 for their summer activities. I met several amazing people over the summer from some of Connect-123's events. During my stay in Dublin I was able to forge life long friendships with other interns. Living in Dublin was a dream come true. The city was lively and friendly. I am truly thankful for Connect-123's involvement and placement.
Internships in Dublin
Eli Quirk
Dublin was a learning opportunity for me in so many ways. Before moving to Ireland for a few months to intern at a non-profit organization working with homelessness, I had only lived in my small-town community. I went from knowing everyone on my street and saying hello to all my friends, family and neighbours in the grocery store to not even knowing one person on that side of the Atlantic. To say it was a drastic change would be an understatement! Luckily for me I had plenty of support from Connect-123 throughout the entire process. I left Ireland knowing that a piece of my heart will always be there. My host family made me feel welcomed and valued and became my Irish family. In my internship, I had plenty of support from the hard working folks there and I linked in with people from all different backgrounds and places. Dublin gave me the space to explore and to be myself. I am certain that without the support of the Connect-123 program throughout the entirety of my experience I would not have made such progress in my future and in myself.
Internships in Dublin
Maeve McDonald
When it came to making plans for my summer, I knew that I wanted an internship and I knew that I wanted the experience of travelling abroad. Connect-123 provided the perfect combination of both. Not only did I learn a lot from my work experience, but I had the best 2 months spent making friends and using every spare moment to explore Dublin city and the entire country of Ireland. Connect-123 organized events to meet new people and explore the city as well as tips on surviving a new internship in a foreign country. I can’t help but feel like I’ll be leaving a piece of myself in Dublin, and am already planning on when I can come back. Thanks to Connect-123, I was able to have one of the best summers yet!
Internships in Dublin
Brooke Wendling
I couldn’t ask for a better internship here in Dublin. Everyone I have met, has been super friendly and welcoming. The Irish like to banter with and tease their co-workers, so if you intern/work here, don’t be nervous when they tease you, that means they like you. Also, I learned so much about how offices/organizations are managed. While here, I got to work with a small private charity organization to help people with a chronic disease. I also then worked a little bit with the Public Health services. I worked in two very different atmospheres, which I enjoyed immensely, because I got to see the different aspects of public and private offices/companies. In addition, I got to attend many different meetings regarding health and COPD. Ireland has so much to offer, from the Cliffs of Moher to Galway to Belfast and many more! Also, RyanAir sells super cheap flights to different places all throughout Europe, so you’ll not only be traveling a lot throughout Ireland, but through Europe as well (at least this is what I did). The nightlife is great too! All the pubs have live music and you become friends with everyone there. I can’t begin to explain how many amazing people you will meet if you intern here! Ireland truly is the place to be if you want to meet and make new lifelong friends. I advise anyone to intern here with Connect-123, you will not regret it!
Internships in Dublin
Michaela Bromm
Interning in Dublin was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made. I had the opportunity to live in a different city and work for a great non-profit organization! I made so many friends through the Connect-123 program, which was fantastic. I always had someone to go on adventures with me around Ireland and Europe. The Connect-123 staff was incredibly thoughtful and helpful. The staff always answered my many emails with no problems. They made applying for my internship and living in Ireland an easy and welcoming experience. It was nice having people there for you actually in Dublin if you needed something. What I found extremely helpful was that Connect-123 gave us sim cards, public transportation cards, and directions on how we should get to our work. This definitely helped prepare me for my internship. Dublin was a really great city to travel around. I enjoyed walking around the city (which is what I did most), taking the Luas tram on the north side of Dublin, using the DART train system to go to different coastal towns, and using the Dublin Bus system. My internship experience was quite rewarding. I am very interested in International Relations, Foreign Affairs, and Geography. I worked for a human rights organization that supports, advocates for, and promotes awareness for the trans community. My coworkers were incredibly kind and respectable. They answered all the different questions I had, and I learned so much! I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to intern or volunteer abroad. I recommend coming to Dublin as it is a very easy-going city. It was very easy getting to know the people and the culture. Traveling to Ireland for this internship was my first time leaving the country, and I had absolutely no problems! I cannot wait to go back!
Internships in Dublin
Anne Bryan
The time I spent in Ireland was such an amazing experience it's hard to put into words how easy it is to fall in love with the city, people and culture that surrounds you. While I was in Ireland I was able to work with and live by locals who welcomed me with open arms. The Connect-123 program found an internship that was tailored specifically for me and my career path. The program placed me in a clinical and laboratory setting which provided me with an invaluable learning opportunity, of which I took full advantage. My Connect-123 roommates and I were regular tourists, frequently traveling to other countries or to the countryside of Ireland, it was hard to find idle time. The live entertainment you will find at any bar, pub, or restaurant is just another reason as to why this city so easy to love. Another benefit of living in Dublin is how easy it is to travel. The Dublin airport was 30 minutes away by a cab and finding cheap plane tickets was not a hard task. We were able to travel to 5 different countries and over a dozen cities, it was truly an experience I won't forget. I will always cherish the time spent and the people I met during my internship in Dublin. I can't imagine a better way to spend an internship while also having the experience of a lifetime. There is no doubt in my mind I would do it all over again the same way if I could, and for that I am forever grateful.
Internships in Dublin
Tini Thomas
I graduated from medical school and had some time before moving to the next level, so I decided instead of just sitting and waiting, why not do something useful? I knew I wanted to do an internship in Dublin Ireland so I started googling for agents who could help me find one. I saw a couple but it was just so much work, then I stumbled on Connect-123. They were pretty straight forward with the process. They don't just abandon you when you get to your destination either, Connect-123 had all these events planned and always ready to assist. Thank you so much Connect-123, I met amazing people and enjoyed my time in Dublin. Definitely going back!
Internships in Dublin
Lacee Wagner
I can't thank Connect-123 enough for my experience in Dublin, Ireland. I traveled alone to Dublin with not only the hopes of gaining experience overseas, but to learn more about myself. Little did I know that I would come across some of the greatest people I've ever met. Throughout the few weeks of being there, Connect-123 was amazing when it came to showing me around Ireland and making me feel right at home, it's truly the most beautiful place I've ever been. I feel extremely blessed to have been given this opportunity and would recommend it to everyone. I wish I could have stayed longer and can't wait to go back!
Internships in Dublin
Jaimie Grace
Connect-123 was an amazing experience that allowed me to live in Dublin and work at an Irish law firm. Not only was I able to experience day to day life in an office, I was able to attend a number of court cases my firm was involved with. Besides an amazing work experience, Connect-123 gave me the opportunity to travel around Ireland and other parts of Europe. I can honestly say this was one of the best experiences of my life!
Internships in Dublin
Nina Epifanova
I was looking for a journalism internship and my first preference was Cape Town, but then this opportunity in Ireland came up and before I knew it I had a Skype interview with the head editor. A week later I was on the plane to Dublin in chase for a new adventure. Connect-123 might seem a bit expensive, but they do work fast and once I said yes to this internship proposal it went really fast. They helped me with accommodation and everything else on site. I shared a room with another Connect-123 participant which was nice since it gave me a bit more feeling that everyone was in the same boat. My internship was a great learning experience and I actually really worked as a journalist. I would really recommend Connect-123 as it is really hard to get such a work experience on your own. I've also enjoyed Ireland more than I expected at first and I will miss all the new friends I've met in Dublin.
Internships in Dublin
Kaitlin O’Brien
To say my choice to intern in Ireland with Connect-123 was the best decision of my entire life would be an understatement. I honestly owe so much to Connect-123 and I will never forget my experience in Dublin. Connect-123 set me up with not one but two internships working in two children's hospitals in Dublin. I learned so much about what I want to do with my life and where I want to be. I was able to meet some of the greatest people I’ve ever known through Connect-123 and I was never lonely or out of people to explore Ireland with. I can’t recommend this company enough! If you are looking for a life changing experience, look no further. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Internships in Dublin
Alexandra Aldieri
I always knew I wanted to intern abroad and Connect-123 helped find a great opportunity in Ireland. I worked for a college research department in Dublin, and everything about my experience was unforgettable. It’s difficult for an American student to find pharmacy research abroad, so I can’t thank Connect-123 enough for helping me find the perfect research position. The professor that I worked closely with was an incredibly kind and generous mentor. He often treated me for tea and we would sit and discuss anything from our research project to life and travel. It was something I never expected from my internship, but something I’ll never forget. I came to Europe alone and not knowing what to expect, but I met so many people along the way that were supportive and a lot of fun. Dublin felt like home and everything good you’ve heard about the Irish is true. My best memories are thanks to my Dublin Connect-123 family. I miss it and I highly recommend working with Connect-123 for the opportunity to travel, work, and have the time of your life.
Internships in Dublin
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.
Internships in Dublin
Mariam Said
Dublin! THE best decision I have made to date. At first I was doubting the decision but I always say to myself, "if it does not work out, that is a lesson I will learn, and if it does work out it will be the best experience of my life". Interning in Dublin WAS the best experience of my life. Not just because I was in a beautiful country with beautiful people but because Connect-123 introduced me with the best intern firm EVER! My manager was amazing. The most terrifying thing about working abroad is if you will like your workplace, but Connect-123 made sure that they put me in the best environment possible. My manager was extremely helpful, he was a mentor… a friend. I also met wonderful other interns at the same time. I never once felt alone, despite moving to a country for 8 months without knowing anyone, but in these situations you can never be worried because everyone in Dublin are just genuinely friendly and helpful and have so much love and respect to give. Most importantly Connect-123 are always by your side, theres always someone that you can reach out to. I can vouch for that. I was extremely lucky. I learned so much about architecture, about living and surviving on my own. I learned about myself and other people and culture too. Dublin is a spectacular city and there is always so much to do. My advice is "don't think about it too much, experience makes you wiser. Whether it is a good or bad one, always learn something from it." Just do it, especially with Connect-123 they are truly the best! Honestly, Connect-123, THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Internships in Dublin
Mary Malone
My time in Ireland was an experience that I will never forget. Because of Connect-123, I was placed at an internship at a museum that I absolutely loved, and I gained valuable experience in my field. In addition, I made friendships and went on adventures that I will always treasure. I am so grateful to Connect-123 for making my summer in Ireland possible!
Internships in Dublin
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.
Internships in Dublin
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.
Internships in Dublin
Craig Marshall
If you're looking to go abroad as well as gain experience in your field of studies, then Connect-123 is the program for you! I went to Dublin, Ireland in the fall of 2016 and my time spent there will be cherished for the rest of my life. The staff is extremely helpful in finding an internship to fit your interests. In the time I was there, I interned for both a publishing company and a radio station working on tasks like promotion, journalism, and presenting. Along with working in your field, Connect-123 also offers various opportunities to network with other people in the program as well as others who cross your path on this amazing journey! Thank you Connect-123 for making this dream of going abroad become a reality.
Internships in Dublin
