Program Reviews

I had the best time abroad in Florence, Italy through my internship program. I went into it not knowing anyone and met some of my closest friends now. My internship placement was pretty good. I worked in a local restaurant and ended up doing some marketing and social media work for the restaurant. I loved the people I worked with, although communication was a little rough, but I ended growing a lot from this experience. I also had time to travel on the weekends to many different places. Overall, it was truly one of the best experiences of my life!

I enjoyed my time in Florence! While my internship did not directly relate to what I will be pursuing in the future for my career, I still gained valuable skills. I enjoyed the social events provided and definitely felt like it was worth what I paid for. The only thing I was dissatisfied with was the availability of support staff after hours. Friends and I had trouble getting in touch with them during emergency situations, but other than that I had a fabulous time and would recommend this program if you are looking for an internship abroad (probably better for people not studying psychology, social work, philosophy, and other arts, etc.)

Going into this experience I for sure had my doubts and uncertainties about living and working in a completely foreign environment. But as I started to assimilate and create a day to day schedule in a culturally vibrant place I fell in love with my existence in the moment I’m encapsulated by. From the people and culture to the lifestyles and experiences I have felt nothing but bliss into terms of my perception of the world and overall life. I feel the knowledge ive gained from not only my internship but also my encounters with people and places have been some of the most enriching information I have experienced. I highly recommend anyone and everyone to leave your comfort zone and experience life through a different lens. The world is so much bigger than you think.

As interesting as it was working in Italy, the social activities offered by the program made the experience in Italy even better. From wine tasting to boating on the Arno River, these experiences helped build friendships and bonds with people from all over.

Additionally, the housing was amazing. We were placed in the heart of Florence, where everything was walkable. My three roommates and I had 2 rooms and 2 bathrooms to share with our own kitchen. Also, It was very nice to have multiple ac units which kept the place cool during the hot weather.

This experience has been really great. I loved the first two weeks of the Italian language crash course. I wish we had more classes. My internship took some getting used to but that was a given. Once I settled in more, I became more comfortable in the workplace and with my coworkers. Our Location Coordinators were absolutely wonderful. They gave us so much advice and made the group events a blast. They made the experience so enjoyable and made the whole process of coming to Milan and finding our way much easier.

I am so glad I chose to participate in this experience. I was able to immerse myself in a new culture while learning more about the field I'm studying and also making a ton of new friends. I feel like I have also grown personally and I have shown myself what I can be capable of. My program supervisors, Amanda and Antonella, were so helpful to me and all of the other interns. They were always there to answer our questions no matter how big or small. They dealt with our serious concerns but also became our friends - giving us their genuine advice on how to have the best time possible here in Milan. I will be so sad to leave all the people I met during this experience.

My time with AIFS spread over the entire academic year of 2022-2023. I studied abroad in London, and I had a life-changing experience. I will be forever thankful to AIFS for the experiences I was a part of, the people I met, and the wonderful places that I travelled to. I learned more than I ever could have in a classroom in the US during my time abroad, and this was because of the wonderful program and especially the excellent staff associated with AIFS. The professors genuinely care about their incredible education curriculum but always put student experience and learning first. I feel changed by this experience and would recommend it to anyone that wanted to study abroad.

The support that I have received throughout my experience has been amazing for my personal and professional development! Special shout out to my on-site advisor, Andrea Hays for being such an encouraging pillar throughout my internship abroad in Sydney, Australia! The process of figuring out how to go abroad can be overwhelming but GE and its process makes it so much easier. Just pick your program, submit all of your documentation, and you'll have a foundation to curate your own experience. A going abroad experience is what you make it and this program sets you up so that you have more time for getting the most out of your time there!

While I was on the Spring 2023 London program with AIFS, I had the opportunity to take Bibliotherapy: The Art of Reading with Professor Moody. I can’t recommend this program and this class enough! Bibliotherapy focuses on how reading can provide well-being. This course was personalized to allow us to explore what we were interested in reading and find ways to promote self-care and healing. I found this class to be one of my favorites as we explored bookstores and libraries. (And we even got to picked out two books to be paid for by the class for our enjoyment!) Another class I want to recommend if you are looking into this program is British Drama with Professor Brian. This class was wonderful to explore the development of theatre in London and how modern theatre is today with viewings of performances as class trips or watching recorded versions. Both of these professors were excellent at engaging students and creating wonderful connections from both the material to beyond the classroom. Overall, my time with the AIFS program was wonderful to explore London as I completed some extra credits towards my degree. All the staff was lovely. If you have any concerns financially, there is helpful assistance with financial aid and scholarships. If you get the opportunity to go, I highly recommend it!

London is a great program to get outside of your comfort zone, especially if you aren't from a city. It's really easy to navigate and there are lots of hidden gems for a fun time. Working there will make you realize a whole new world of career possibilities outside of your home town. I had a great time working for a museum, and seeing other parts of London through this job. Even as someone from a warm place, I was able to really enjoy myself (after I bought a new jacket). I also got to travel to Greece, Sweden, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands before I went home! I would recommend this trip to anyone, and especially people who speak English and want to visit a new place without having a language barrier.