The Intern Group and Medellin changed my life! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The Intern Group provided career development materials and support before I even arrived, which was supplemented by incredible career and professional development workshops and events while I was in Medellin. Furthermore, the skills I learned in my internship were undoubtedly helpful in making my resume stand out during my post-grad job search.

On-site administration of your program

The Intern Group team is comprised of some of the most caring, intelligent, and genuine people I've ever met in my life. It's obvious that they truly care about each and every participant and they go above and beyond the requirements to provide a unique and life-changing experience for every intern. At no point in the process did I feel like just a number in their database. The team is one of the biggest reasons that this experience changed my life.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The accommodation was incredible - better than most apartments I've lived in while in the United States! The rooms and apartments were cleaned frequently and anytime the smallest issue arose (i.e. wifi being slow) it was handled in less than 24 hours.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

From day one, The Intern Group helped me to feel acclimated to the culture in Medellin. They provide a thorough orientation to explain culture differences and traditions, so I was well aware of how to act and what to expect before even starting my internship. They also provided us with social and cultural workshops, where we could learn more about Colombia, its history, and its rich culture.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

During our orientation, The Intern Group gave us ample information about our health insurance and what to do in case we had any health issues. During my second month in Medellin, I had a cold and wasn't considering going to a doctor as I felt it was fairly minor. However, upon hearing that I was feeling under the weather, The Intern Group staffed insisted that a doctor come to see me and scheduled an appointment for that same day. The doctor came to my apartment, was extremely friendly, spoke English, and after reviewing my symptoms, prescribed me with medication to get better. I got my medication from a nearby pharmacy the same day, and felt better by the end of the week. The Intern Group staff checked in on me multiple times afterwards to ensure I was feeling like myself again. The entire process was comfortable and above and beyond what I expected.

Many people (including my friends and family before I left) have a negative perception of Medellin, due to its troubling past. However, one of the most beautiful things about the city in my opinion is how far it has grown, even in the last decade. At no point during my internship did I feel uncomfortable or unsafe. During our orientation, The Intern Group gave us thorough information about safety - what parts are the city to go to, what parts of the city to avoid, how to take care of your belongings, etc. Additionally, our accommodation was located in the absolute safest part of the city, El Poblado, with security guards at the entrance.

The support that The Intern Group gave me and the experience that I was provided exceeded my expectations in absolutely every way. I would no doubt do this program again.

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

The cost of living in Medellin is very low (~3,000 pesos = $1 USD), so it was fairly easy to budget. Moreover, The Intern Group program fee is paid beforehand, which includes your accommodation, weekend excursions, events, career development workshops, etc so I didn't have to worry about any major expenses once I arrived.

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

The Intern Group staff would teach us vocabulary that was unique to Medellin, and many of us practiced our Spanish while outside of work (buying things, etc). My internship was completely in Spanish because I could speak Spanish before I arrived, but my language skills improved immensely while I was in Colombia. I had friends on the program who didn't speak any Spanish and they got along just fine, as their internships were completely in English.

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• Apartment

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• International Students

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• Other

• The Intern Group staff
• My internship
• The city of Medellin!

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