The Greatest Experience of My Life! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned so much while studying abroad with IES. They really take their internships seriously and are committed to finding something that fits the goals and desires of each of their students. In addition to working with an amazing psychologist (which is the field I wanted to study), IES Abroad also offered a cultural socioeconomic class and a FREE Italian language class! Both of those classes were also available for college credit! IES Abroad gave me the best experience of my life. I highly recommend them!

On-site administration of your program

The staff is always available and are highly organized. They have an open line of communication with all students, and their office is very conveniently located! In addition to friendly and knowledgeable staff, everyone also had a live-in community assistant, who is a native Italian that goes to the university in Milan. The staff made the whole experience safe, educational, and fun!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

In terms of location, I was in the HEART of Milan, in a gorgeous apartment, with three other American students and one community assistant (a native Italian college student). It was so safe and secure, which was something that made everyone so much more open to exploring their surroundings and really immersing themselves in the culture. T

I lived in Milan, Italy for 8 weeks -- I think it's safe to say the food was AMAZING!!! There's restaurants and bakeries and gelatos everywhere -- it's every foodie's dream.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

In addition to the free Italian language class IES Abroad offered, the students were also able to travel on weekends, and I visited many places, such as Verona, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Rome, and even London! Every day was a new experience, and being in a constant state of awareness really brought me out of my shell and showed me a different side of myself that I never knew existed. Never in a million years did I think I'd have the guts to travel outside of the country alone and live in a different country and WORK! To this day it was the greatest thing I have ever done.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Every student received health care through IES Abroad, and the fees were included in our tuition. I as well as several other students utilized this service and appointments were made same-day with the help of an IES Abroad staff member, and they made the whole process smooth, safe, and efficient.

I lived in a very nice and secure apartment in the heart of Milan. I was never scared for my safety and even when events were happening (for example, there were several metro strikes, where the metro station would be closed for several hours at a time), the IES Abroad staff were always quick to email the students in advance to let them know alternative plans.

I spent weeks looking for internships that could apply to my interests while also providing the security that I wanted as someone studying abroad alone. When I discovered IES Abroad, my entire life changed. From the beginning of the application to when I arrived back in my home state after my 8 weeks living in Milan, Italy, the staff was there 100%. They helped me get my documents together for school and were very organized in helping all of the study abroad students get acquainted with the schedule and their expectations of us once we arrived. Also, they offer SCHOLARSHIPS!! In addition to a class focused on cultural differences, society, and economics, they offered a free Italian language class, which was SO helpful when it came to my internship site and when I travelled to other places over the weekends (which they let us do!). I wanted to explore the Psychology field as it isn’t really discussed in my program, and they partnered me with a psychologist who had just created his own psychology company. It was so educational and enlightening, and my former boss and I still talk to this day! They have an incredibly vast array of programs and subjects, and they even give you the choice of interviewing with your potential boss while studying abroad before you even arrive in your study abroad country! I really liked that they were committed to helping me find a good fit from the very beginning.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

It was very easy to live on a budget. I allocated about $100/week minimum, which allowed me to splurge on weekend vacations (of which I had 7 trips outside of my home city). It was very affordable!!

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

They offered a FREE Italian language course, and it was so helpful! My Italian teacher was incredible and patient and explained things very easily. I've been back in the states for 2 months now and I still study my Italian language book from class!

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The Avid Adventurer