AIFS Abroad Reviews

When I was choosing a study abroad program, I wanted to make sure that I felt like I had a support system while I was abroad. Since it was my first time leaving the country and I was doing it alone, I knew that I wasn't going to be as sure of myself as I usually am. The on sight support through AIFS is unimaginable and from the beginning until the end, I felt like I always had someone on my side. I felt safe to really explore and have the time of my life while also feeling like I was getting a school experience. It was an amazing experience. The faculty is well educated and also well versed in all of their perspective areas of study. Housing was very near central London, so you truly got the city experience. Traveling was easy and mostly inexpensive. Since everything with AIFS is all inclusive, you truly had the chance to use extra funds for school and things you wanted to do. I would recommend this program over and over again! Even after being home for a few months, I still feel so connected to AIFS and professionally prepared to graduate and talk about my study abroad experience to potential jobs.

It was one of the best experiences I've had so far. From the very beginning to the very end, GE were very kind and enthusiastic, did what they could to help make the journey and experience as smooth as possible. I got to experience a lot of the local culture during those two months in DC, especially through events organised by GE, like going to a baseball game and a tour of the Capitol. Through the internship they provided me with, I also learned a lot about myself and about the 'working world', and that definitely helped me get a clearer idea of what I want to do in the future.

I had a wonderful time in Dublin, the GE staff did an amazing job and placing me in the exact internship that I was looking for, and the staff was great at helping us all settle into life in Ireland. It was great to have the staff so accessible, and they had a bunch of fun events to help us enjoy Ireland. Dublin is a very lively city, and it was fun to just walk around and pop into different restaurants, and shops and exploring the city. This experience was one that I will take with me the rest of my life, and that is largely because the staff was able to give me great internship placement, as well as matching me up with others in the housing that I could get along with. The friends I made there I feel are people I will keep in contact with, and have fun with for years to come. It was truly and experience unlike anything I have ever gone through before. I would recommend the study abroad program from GE to anyone that is looking for some great learning experiences as well as a lot of fun.

My experience with Global Experiences was amazing! The program spends a lot of time getting to know you by identifying your strengths and preparing you for a desired internship in your field. The relationships they build with companies is key to your success. Global Experiences is like having a friend who knows there's a position open (that you want!) and they're friends with the hiring manager. Their relationship with credible employers that provide quality internship experiences is what you're investing in.
My internship placement was spot on! I spent the summer as a PR intern at the largest integrated communications agency in the UK. I learned everything I wanted to know about working in a press office plus so much more! By the end of it I was not ready to leave as my colleagues were incredible and I felt like an essential part of the team.
London is an incredible global city with so much history, art and culture. There's tons to explore. That was my favorite part about London, exploring, you will stumble upon treasures everywhere you go from art exhibitions in the tube station, getting lost and having to find your way back but seeing things you normally wouldn't, vibing with the city and immersing yourself into their culture. You will learn so much about yourself.

My advice- You are going to the largest most expensive city in the world, it will challenge you! Embrace those challenges that is how you grow.
For your internship- research the company on every level; web, social and LinkedIn. Are you a good fit? Do you like the companies mission? What is the news saying about them? What does their social say to you? Make sure you know who you're working for, it will make a world of difference on how you spend your time abroad.
Make friends! GE does a fab job in pairing you with your flat mates so take the room mate questionnaire considerably and introduce yourself before arriving to share what you are interested in doing with your time abroad.
People in Britain tend to be more stand offish but embrace them be polite and ask questions/recommendations it will open conversations.

The housing is in a prime location next to the train station and it's in a safe/secure building.

Tips:
-For packing bring toilette paper and a towel with you so you have something when you first arrive.
-Don't overpack. London is the best city for shopping either on High Street or Markets
- Factor in your cost of transportation, once you know where you'll be working figure out what it's going to take to get there.
- I set up the free month of Amazon Prime UK it came in handy for room essentials like a fan (OMG 2018 was the hottest summer in the UK a place where AC is like finding a unicorn make sure to get a fan asap if you're there during summer)
- Food is affordable. I did not cook one meal. I did buy a case of protein shakes that were equivalent to a full meal to supplement during the day if needed.
- Health. Keep your immune system up, you're being exposed to new germs and office cooties.

I had a truly wonderful time in Washington D.C. thanks to Global Experiences. My internship was challenging yet such good fun, I thoroughly enjoyed going to work throughout the week. I met such fantastic people at work, in the city and on the programme. The city itself is magnificent and truly unique and I loved immersing myself in a foreign environment. I received constant support from everyone at Global Experiences who made it so easy foe me to settle into a new country. Overall it was a brilliant experience and one I will never forget.

I studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina with AIFS during my Spring 2018 semester. As a Global Health major and Spanish minor, I knew I had to practice my language skills abroad. I wanted to gain practical experience living in a non-English speaking country and decided to live with a host family in order to push myself out of my comfort zone. While abroad, I studied at the Universidad de Belgrano where I took all of my courses in Spanish. Learning was really apparent in and out of the classroom.

Argentina is a beautiful blend of European and Latin American culture and serves as the perfect location for a true cultural immersion experience. Buenos Aires is a diverse city filled with numerous cultural outlets and opportunities to learn. Choosing to study abroad with AIFS gave me the confidence I needed to travel to such a foreign location. The excursions offered by AIFS gave us the opportunity to see different parts of the country and truly understand what makes Argentina so unique.

Through Global Experience I had an incredible internship in Washington DC. Doing an internship with Global Experiences has been the most amazing and rewarding experience. From the initial interview to the visa process and travelling, GE has been there every step of the way, with guidance and the best advice. Moving to a new country for a few months could have been a scary and stressful experience, but with GE they made it so easy and as stress free as possible.
GE listened to my concerns about what I wanted to get out of the experience and found me the most amazing placement with an incredible company that I will have connections with for the rest of my life. I have grown so much both professionally and personally, developing myself in ways that I had not anticipated. I had the most amazing location coordinator who met us at the accommodation and organised events and activities that we could participate in throughout our time in DC and she was always available for advice and help.
Overall this experience was incredible and a great way to travel and experience different cultures, but be able grow professionally and learn new skills at the same time.

I was very unsure of which Affiliate program I wanted to use when choosing to study abroad in Spring 2018. When I first researched Affiliate programs AIFS was one of the first to come up and they offered so many different locations and schools that I was interested in. Being a business major my biggest concern was not being able to graduate on time and having access to business courses abroad. AIFS had so many business options and I chose to go to the University of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic! From the first initial time I got to Prague, AIFS was there with open arms and ready to answer any questions or concerns that I had. The on site staff felt like my family when I was over there and I truly felt like I could rely on them with any concern that I had. I got very sick when I was over there, and remember the AIFS staff being there for me and help me schedule a doctor's appointment immediately! I cannot thank AIFS enough for being there during my entire semester. I would not want to pick any other provider!

I studied abroad in the fall of 2017 and was able to experience the full immersion of the Austrian culture thanks to my homestay. AIFS worked hand in hand with me from beginning to the end, by helping with course selections all the way until I had my transcript sent to my home university. Having a program that is so easy to work was seen as even more of a plus of the program as many my friends had gone programs that were not all inclusive so they had to make a lot of their arrangements themselves or work with multiple people.
I definitely believe that the program structure itself is a great starting point for students to challenge their German, and get to know something outside of what is considered to be normal on their home university's campus. However, while you learn a lot, a large portion of that also comes from a willingness to push yourselves into harder situations so that you can grow through those challenges. If you do happen to find yourself in a predicament that you are unable to get out of yourself, i.e. medical, visa, etc. the on-site staff from AIFS are always able and willing to assist you in whatever ways it may be or direct you to someone who can. They want you to get the most out of the experience and enjoy your time doing so. All in all, if I were to do it all over again, I would choose Salzburg, Austria in a heartbeat with the help of AIFS.

Not only did my semester abroad in Salzburg help with my development and fluency of German, but it also made me realize that living abroad is definitely something I want to consider because I have discovered a love for other cultures, the ability to meet so many people and life at a bit of a slower pace compared the American rush that we so often experience.

I want to make a difference in my students’ lives, even if it is in a small way. Each week, as we taught our students English, they taught us Xhosa and imparted some of their culture, building their confidence as competent and valuable sources of knowledge. While the students were always excited to see us, and I knew I was getting something out of the experience, I often wondered whether I was actually making a difference. While I cannot guarantee that our students' lives are better because of this program, I did see some positive outcomes during my time there. On the first day, our teacher started hanging up the vocabulary words we covered so the students could practice English every day of the week, on their own. One day, some students were finished coloring early and were sitting by the wall. Usually, they’d sing songs or play games amongst themselves, but this time, one of them stood up, went to the front, and began to quiz his friends on the vocabulary from that day. In all of our talk about sustainable development, this image replays in my mind. It gives me hope that, even after we leave, our students will continue to educate themselves. We cannot instantaneously change the fact that knowing English and Western culture increases opportunity in life, but we can attempt to bridge the gap and make those opportunities more accessible. This experience has inspired me to become a more informed global citizen and to practice sustainable education. Throughout my career, I hope to empower others through education and help bridge the socioeconomic gap.