Alumni Spotlight: Conor Jordan

I was looking for somewhere that was comparable in cost to my school's tuition and where I could take classes that would apply to my major. Another key aspect in choosing a program was finding a place where I could travel to and from easily. Fortunately, Salzburg checked off all of these boxes for me. The central location in Europe was great for traveling; I bought a 3-month Eurail pass before I went, which allowed me to take the train anywhere in Europe.

My only answer is: DO IT! I tell people this because when is the next time in your life that you are ever going to be able to pick up and move to another country for 3 months without any repercussions. Studying abroad is also great because you have onsite program directors who are there to meet with you and support you in your trip. I know that it is scary to think about leaving your friends and family for an extended period of time, but it is going to be the best time of your life if you choose to study abroad.

I would suggest taking advantage of all the activities AIFS provides as part of the program. The staff does a great job getting you acclimated to Salzburg. My two favorite experiences were the bigger trips to Prague and Vienna.

My favorite story is from a trip my friends and I took to Bled, Slovenia. Bled was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and the hostel we stayed at offered trips outside the city. The trip took us to a hiking trail along a gorge. At the end there was a waterfall, and my friends and I jumped into the cold October water.

One thing I learned from traveling is that it is totally okay and really awesome to get lost in a city. You can sometimes see and find things in the city that are off the beaten path, which is really fun.