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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- When should I have my application
submitted by?
- What is the cost of the program and
what does that include?
- Is my child eligible for the program?
- Are there scholarships and financial
assistance available?
- Where will the students live?
- What kind of classes will students
take?
- How are the students supervised?
- Will students have access to laundry
facilities?
- Will students have access to the
internet and email?
- What is the best way for students to
carry/get money?
- How much money do students typically
spend while on the trip?
- How will I reach my child if there is
an emergency?
- Are there any special rules or policies
I should know about?
- Can my child visit with family while on
the trip?
When should I have my application
submitted by?
We encourage those students
interested in applying to do so as soon as possible to
expedite the review process and to ensure there is space
available on the program. The application deadline is
generally the middle of March - please check the main Irish
Way page for this year's specific deadline.
Applications are accepted following the deadline but are
subject to availability of flight and housing.
What is the cost of the program and
what does that include?
The program tuition includes all room & board, classes,
field trips, program activities, and airfare to Ireland from
our gateway airport, for 2008 most likely Newark Liberty. Students are responsible
for costs associated with travel to/from our gateway airport.
Students will also have expenses in Ireland for souvenirs,
any activities or meals outside the program, and general
"walking around" money. Costs vary year to year
(although not much) depending upon the current currency
exchange rate and other program costs. Please check
the main Irish Way page for this year's tuition rate.
Is my child eligible for the program?
Students currently enrolled in high school and between the
ages of 14-18 are eligible for the program.
Are there scholarships and financial
assistance available?
The Irish American Cultural Institute has a limited amount
of financial aid available each year that is distributed
based on need. Students accepted into the program may
request a financial aid application. Scholarships are
available from IACI Chapters and other partner
organizations. For a list of organizations that offer Irish
Way scholarships or to find out about creative ways to fund
your participation on the Irish Way, please
contact our
Irish Way Coordinator, Taryn Harrison.
Where will the students live?
Students are
housed on the campuses of Irish boarding schools.
Boarding school dormitory living will be fun, but different
from what students may experience in the US.
Dorms
are efficient and functional, and they do not contain
unnecessary extras. Boy and
girls are separated and assigned to different dormitories
buildings and/or floors. Facilities offer students
private rooms and/or apartment style suites that may sleep
two to six students. Bathing facilities may vary from
private showers to larger facilities that you might find in
high locker rooms.
What kind of classes will students
take?
Students will take classes in Irish history, literature,
Irish language, drama, traditional dance, Irish studies, and
Irish American history.
Classes are lead by Irish secondary school teachers who have
a specially designed curriculum for the Irish Way.
Course
topics will often be combined with field trips and city
excursions. The intent is to
provide a fun and relaxed environment for students to learn
Irish culture. There will be
some reading to do, and students will work on a group
research project that culminates in a fun presentation at
the end of the course. Students will also participate
in workshops including a Northern Ireland informational
session, Celtic art, Irish sports,
tin whistle, St. Brigid’s
crosses, baking, and advanced Irish dancing.
How are the students supervised?
Students
are supervised by a staff consisting of certified Irish
teachers, IACI staff, and American counselors. The
ratio of students to staff is generally 10 to 1 or better.
Students are monitored on campus, given specific curfew
hours, and a safety and behavior policy is enforced.
Parents should understand that students will have the
opportunity to explore local host communities on their own
when free time is available on the program schedule.
Students may choose to spend such time on campus or visit
the local towns such as Waterford, Galway, and Dublin.
Will students have access to laundry
facilities?
Students
will not have personal access to laundry facilities until the last
five days of the program in Galway.
However, program staff collects clothes from the students
for washing at local
or on campus laundry facilities.
Students will be provided a laundry bag but students are
encouraged to name tag their clothing. Also “wash and wear,” durable items are recommended.
Students may also prefer to hand wash some items.
Will students have access to the
internet and email?
Students
will not have internet access on the campuses.
However, there are many Internet Cafés within walking
distance of both Newtown Boarding School in Waterford and
Gort na
Coirbe in Galway.
Students
will be allowed to visit the Cafes during their free time
and it costs approximately € 5-10 to use the internet at an
Internet Café for an hour.
What is the best way for students to
carry/get money?
The IACI
recommends a combination of a small amount of cash and
either travelers checks or a Visa or
MasterCard gift/prepaid card that is independent of a bank
account and offers the safety and protection of a credit
card.
Debit cards, also known as check cards, linked
to a checking account are also an option.
Cards
linked to savings accounts generally do not work in
Ireland. Please be sure to check with your banking
institution or merchant to be sure the account allows for
use in Ireland, cash withdrawal, and the ability to add
funds if necessary (you know how kids can spend money).
Students should become familiar withdrawing money
from ATM’s in the US, before they depart for Ireland.
When
students are in Ireland, they should also withdraw larger
sums of money, as ATM’s in Ireland have a very expensive
service fee.
If students bring cash, we suggest waiting until
students get to Ireland to exchange their money, as the
exchange rate is usually better. There
are banks within walking distance of each campus, so
students will be able to exchange money and cash traveler’s
checks very easily.
How much money do students typically
spend while on the trip?
A rough
estimate of $500.00 should be sufficient for the five weeks
but every student is different. Some will spend much
more and some will spend less - it is best to have a
discussion regarding expenses and budgeting.
Students will need money for incidentals such as
snacks, postage, occasional transportation during their free
time, and souvenirs. Typical
student souvenirs include Irish books, magazines, CD’s, and
T-shirts-all which can be close to double the cost in the
US, depending on the current exchange rate. A
popular, but more expensive souvenir or gift item is the
hand knit Aran
sweater, which can cost from €80
to
€100,
depending on the design and where it's purchased.
How will I reach my child if there is
an emergency?
Parents will be provided emergency and
routine contact information for IACI staff. Because of
the campus style of the program, parents will not have a
direct phone line to the program for non-emergency
communications but parents will be able to get a message
through the IACI staff to their children. Students
will have access to payphones for non-emergency phone calls
home.
Are there any special rules or policies
I should know about?
Students
must sign a Behavioral Contract in order to participate in
the Irish Way and these rules apply during the entire course
of the program. The Irish Way takes the safety and
behavior of its students very seriously. Violation
of any rules could result in a telephone call to parents,
suspension from daily activities and/or expulsion from the
Irish Way Program.
Can my child visit with family while on
the trip?
Students
are allowed to visit family while on the Irish Way, as long
as it doesn’t interfere with classes, tours and planned
activities. Students must also
have a permission note from their parents, with specific
information, in order to be
taken off campus with a relative.
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