Program Reviews

I didn’t know I needed something like this. Being abroad in Florence was the best fit adventure and opportunity for me. I majored in English and applied for either journalism or tourism and eventually got placed in a new placement that had a mixture of both. I worked with a business owner one-on-one and it gave me the chance to build a true and lasting connection, it never felt like a serious or unenjoyable commitment, I felt as if I was a valued person with my supervisor.

This placement allowed me to explore my options for my career, and I could have complained about it not being the traditional office job or set schedule, but it allowed me to explore more of the city on my own and work remote to be on my own schedule which I loved.

This was a great chance to build independence and gain a little insight on what kind of person you are. I always knew I had some qualities within me but this was a time for bringing it out of me. I felt very comfortable in Florence and felt safe and had lots of outlets like the advisors and their information and resources. Erica was an amazing location coordinator, she made time to meet up with each of us throughout the program and prioritizes the people who need the most help. She will always get back to you with answer and is willing to research for you and lead you to your connections. Her and I have a great friendship too, so it is worth knowing there is reliability from her.

Housing was a good fit for our roommates, we were separate from other groups but it still allowed us to arrange get-togethers and not lose touch. The events held by the program were perfectly spaced out and allowed us to catch up with other members that we might not see as often.

I came here to travel foremost and I got work experience with it, which upon my arrival, I now have the connection with my supervisor to be a recommendation to future jobs.

I offer the advice, it is what you make of it and the advisors even suggest to have an open mind and little expectations, that’s what will make your experience something you didn’t know you needed.

My experience with Global Experiences was amazing because it opened a whole new world in my eyes that I had not known before starting with my internship organization. Step by step, GE followed me and helped me overcome any questions and comments I had. What is unique about GE than the organizations is that I noticed GE was faster than any other one. They do not leave you in doubt and ensure you're comfortable when applying, in the process or when your internship is finished. I am currently a student and was able to complete this internship without any problem surrounding time management because of the help that was provided.

It was amazing being in a city where fashion is such a big deal. I would recommend this program to anyone that is in a creative field and especially interested in fashion. I learned a lot and feel like I applied my major to my job. This was such an eye opening experience and has pushed me outside my comfort zone so much. I really do feel like I have grown a lot and now have realized I would maybe like to live in a different country at some point in my life. Amanda and Antonella have been so helpful during this experience and have always been there when we needed it.

I had such an amazing experience! I gained so much valuable experience to add to my resume that helped to prepare me for me future and I also learned so much about what I do and don’t want for my future career. I loved having the opportunity to experience life and work in a totally new city and environment, as well as being able to travel during the weekends. My housing was definitely another plus, as it was such an amazing apartment in a great area. We also had amazing program advisors, who truly made the experience so special.

This is a great place to go if you want to learn some Italian but also be able to speak English everywhere you go! People are very friendly and Milan is very easy to get around using public transit. Also a great location for traveling to places outside of Milan! I had a great time and loved being able to work vs study because I feel like I am getting to improve my real life skills can get comfortable in a real life work setting! You definitely get a little bit more of a sophisticated abroad experience!

I did the GE internship program in Madrid, Spain! The living situation was great, very central and close to a metro station. My roommates and I were matched well, I had a really helpful and personable program advisor, Lourdes who I could go to with questions and concerns. I was matched with a company I liked for my internship, and was given opportunities to get involved and learn from my supervisors The program had excursions and activities every week, and my work was flexible to my traveling plans on weekends. Great experience :)

I'd always known that I would study abroad in college, but when I was introduced to programs that would allow me to be an exchange student in high school, I knew it was something I wanted to do. Unlike college where you've already had a few years of independence as an adult, going abroad in high school can seem quite daunting, but is so worth it! My time in Sardinia, Italy taught me not only another language and culture but helped me become more mature and independent as I learned to advocate for myself amidst changing host families and taking 3rd year Latin (in Italian) at a scientific high school when I'm more linguistically/artistically inclined... I still keep in touch with the friends I made during my year abroad and have visited a few of them in their home countries in addition to reuniting with my host siblings as adults in various European countries.

From start to finish I felt fully supported and that my voice was heard. Global Experiences helped me find an internship that was best placed with my desires & skillset. The accommodation was located in a perfect area with a 1 min walk to a subway and convenience stores and importantly I felt safe! My in-country co-ordinator Maoimie was amazing. She curated a great list of activities for us to do, was able to answer any questions we had & made us feel VERY welcome! The experience I have gained from this internship is PRICELESS. Thank you GE

Overall, my time abroad was an amazing experience! I made a lot of new friends and experienced an entirely new work culture I had never been exposed to.

The only criticism I have was the communication and organization between my employer and the program prior to the start of my internship. Since I was doing an architecture internship, I was working with a lot of software and computer programs on my private computer. One specific program was not on my resume and was not mentioned in the interview. My employer and I struggled to share drawings because of this, and not having it risked ending my internship early. Luckily I was able to solve the problem and find an educational license for the software.

The use of my private computer also prevented me from finishing the project we were working on. The softwares I had to download made it shut down permanently near the end of my internship. My advisors did what they could to help me, but in the end, I did not feel like I was set up for success. For internships that require a significant amount of software (and *very* expensive software at that), there needs to be better communication as to what the employer is providing the intern (computer, software, etc.) and what the intern needs to come prepared with. There was a lot of potential for me to walk away with more experience than I did, but due to the above circumstances, that was not the case. This program is not cheap, so if you are thinking about enrolling, ask more questions and make it clear with your early advisor what your capabilities and expectations are.

Aside from my internship, the program did a great job of immersing us into Italian culture. By the end of my time there, I was very comfortable with Florence and traveling to other cities/countries in Europe. I will always be influenced by my time there and can’t wait to return in the future!

Going into this program abroad I didn’t really know what to expect being so inexperienced with something like this. There were times I felt out of my comfort zone, but thanks to other interns, my internship supervisor, and the program coordinators I felt super supported there. The people I was surrounded with would always make me feel so much better to know I am not alone! I am so thankful for the guidance and help from the coordinators Erica and Anna. When I had challenging moments they were great with checking in. I can’t express enough how absolutely incredible Anna Gomez was for the way she showed up for me! Her kindness, dedication and determination goes unnoticed. I’m so glad I chose to take on this adventure that made me learn and grow so much!!