AIFS Abroad Reviews

There's always a worry for those seeking an internshp that they may not get it. You won't have to worry about that with Global Experiences! The GE staff was able to get me an internship, but unfortunately I did not get the position. The GE staff then really worked hard to find me other opportunities. Thanks to their amazing efforts, they found me three different employers interested in interviewing me for an internship! This was unheard of not only for me, but also for the staff at Global Experiences! I had the luxury of being able to pick from three companies which I never though was possible (I picked two by the way)! Thanks so much to everyone at Global Experiences. 10/10!

I'm forever thankful that I chose Grenoble as the city I would call my second home! This city was the perfect mix of history, culture, and individuality - there is undoubtedly something for everyone here. The number one recommendation I have for anyone who wants to leave their time abroad feeling immersed and connected, instead of traveling every weekend, make an effort to take part in many of the cultural experiences the city has to offer all year long. I made some of my favorite memories attending operas, visiting museums, and hiking the French Alps with my host family!

Prague is the place to experience many new things and I guarantee you will quickly fall in love. I was abroad in the spring of 2020 when the global pandemic hit, so we did have to come home early. However, even with 2 months less, it was still one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The AIFS Prague staff are there for anything you need from a friendly conversation, to important questions, to leading students of cultural excursions included in the AIFS package. I still know I can talk to them whenever I need to about the program, future travels, or just life. I found the city to be intimidating at first, but then not even a month later it felt like home. I would want to go to the store by myself, or even purposefully get lost on the tram. I wish I could go back right now and explore more because it is limitless what you can do in that city.

I was inspired to choose London as my study abroad destination because I’m an English major and I wanted to study all the literary greats in the best place in the world to study English literature. I’m also a huge fan of British pop culture and history, and I knew a short-term summer program was too short, so a fall semester program was the perfect length for me to be able to fully enjoy the city to its fullest!

I chose AIFS because of the appeal of their all-inclusive program fees. It can also include airfare if you choose the flight package where and AIFS will arrange your flights and have someone pick you up straight from the airport and take you there when your program ends. I didn’t choose this option because I wanted to explore Europe with my mom after my program ended, but this option is unique to AIFS that I didn’t see with other study abroad providers. They also provide lots of scholarship opportunities through their super easy application, and I won two! They accepted all of my financial aid, and they provide cultural activities with the cost of the program as well as covering all housing and meal plans.

My favorite part of London was how different each borough felt. I lived in the Kensington borough, and I always felt safe in my area. There’s always something new to explore, and London is the perfect city for anyone who loves food and museums. Almost all museums are free, which is something that surprises most London visitors. It is an expensive city to live in, but I found many ways to make it affordable, including shopping at Sainsbury’s for food on the weekends, Primark for clothing, and Boots for hygiene products.

Local staff supported students before the program started with lots of access to online resources, and they developed a great orientation program before classes started so students can get acclimated to the city and connect with other students in the program. They were great people to talk to about anything and get recommendations from. I only had one incident with a student where I needed to report inappropriate behavior, and I wish the consequences were heavier for the actions the students made, but going forward I think AIFS is taking diversity and inclusion more seriously, so improvements will be made in that regard.

Studying abroad with AIFS was one of the best decisions I have ever made. From the unmatched support from on-site staff to some of my favorite classes I have ever taken to the weekend trips of a lifetime, this study abroad program changed my life for the better. My favorite class I took with this program was a communications course: Luxury Fashion in Rome. At least once a week in each of my courses, we would have on site class and would travel around Rome seeing in person examples of what we were learning about. Thus class was my favorite because one of the on site trips we took was to Via Condotti which is the designer store strip in the center of Rome. Our professor brought us to some of the most popular designer stores in the world and learned and admired them in person! I also got to live in an apartment with 2 other girls in my program which was extremely immersive and amazing to see what it was like to live among local Roman people. I lived in Trastevere which was a 15 minute walk from school. Our school building was in the center of Rome and within walking distance of the Pantheon, Colosseum, The Trevi Fountain and more. The social and culture aspect of the program was above and beyond anything that I expected as well. There were always activities planned for us during the week including art tours, cooking classes and wine tastings. My favorite trip I took with the program leaders was a weekend trip to Krakow, Poland. I would 100% recommend this program to anyone looking for a A+ study abroad experience in Rome. I learned independence and discovered parts of myself I never would have without AIFS.

I have wanted to study abroad for years and studying abroad with AIFS in Grenoble, France in Spring 2020 exceeded my every expectation! The AIFS staff was incredible in supporting me from the moment I began the application process to the end of my program. The on-site Resident Director, Miranda, went above and beyond to make Grenoble feel like home the moment I arrived. The French Language and Culture Program ensured that my academic goals were met while having fun in all the cultural activities and excursions AIFS offered. Some of my best memories were making crepes with the friends I made there and snowshoeing in the French Alps (the views can't be beat!). My program was unfortunately cut short due to COVID-19 but I am grateful to AIFS for navigating the pandemic with students' health and safety as their top priority. I was able to finish my courses at home to still receive my credits and Zoom reunions with friends have been a must to relive those amazing few months. I wouldn't trade my experience with AIFS for anything!

The GE Virtuoso program was amazing, and it really enhanced my overall internship. All of the meetings had a different benefit and theme, but all of them were extremely helpful and supportive. The GE Virtuoso organizers were super enthusiastic about helping interns get the most out of their programs and internships. It was really helpful and beneficial to collaborate and talk to other interns during the Check-In meetings to see what internships they were doing, which is something I really appreciated. I think that overall, the program really enhanced my internship, and allowed me to develop critical skills that really transferred to my internship. All of the GE Virtuoso organizers and leaders provide amazing support and tools during the meetings, and are really there to enhance your internship and allow you to be as success as you can!

I studied abroad with AIFS during the spring 2020 semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I was able to spend six weeks there in person before my semester was moved online and I was sent back to the United States amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.This was a difficult experience, but AIFS on-site and U.S. staff were incredibly helpful and understanding during this time. My resident director in Buenos Aires was there every step of the way to ensure I was able to get a flight out of the country, and while my semester was online she would send weekly check-ins to see how I was doing. I was incredibly thankful for her kindness and helpfulness

Aside from the pandemic I chose AIFS for its all-inclusive programs, the in-flight package helped relieve a lot of my stress around traveling. My home stay, extra activities, and most of my meals were included in the base program fee. The home stay I stayed in was conveniently located near my university and some really cool neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. I would highly recommend AIFS for their helpful staff, well-thought out programs, and the amount of choices you have for studying abroad!

I couldn't recommend AIFS highly enough for those looking to study abroad! The staff was extremely helpful from the start of my application all the way up to my return home. They were there to assist with any questions I had about my visa forms, scholarship applications, choosing classes, etc. They also offered a flight package for a very affordable cost, and I had the opportunity to meet a bunch of people in my program during our 2-day layover in London! One of the reasons why I chose AIFS is because of how much is included in the program costs (classes, housing, food, public transportation, a group excursion to Moravia, etc.), which made budgeting abroad a lot more easier. AIFS partners with Charles University in Prague to offer classes which were easily transferable to my home institution. I made the choice to live in a suite-style dorm hall just a short tram ride away from classes, but students also have the option to look for their own apartment if they wish to. While in-country, the staff also offered cultural excursions and events which made it so easy to explore the city more and meet more people in my program. Although my experience was cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic, AIFS had everyone's safety at their highest interest and made sure that we all got home safely and efficiently. I could not recommend this program enough!

Going into my internship, I was pretty nervous. I am majoring in Psychology, and there are few opportunities to get experience. However, Global Experiences was able to find me a great research opportunity with a professor in Ireland. The internship itself was amazing, and I learned so much! I have gained confidence in my strengths and understand my strengths I bring to the workplace. However, Global Experiences made the internship so much better. Through career development and different tools to enhance my internship and future careers, I feel much more prepared to take on the future! The support from GE made my experience a great one!