IES Abroad Reviews

I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is interested in Environmental Studies or Biology; I believe those specifically interested in Ecology or the Galapagos would benefit immensely from this program. It is also a good program for those who do not want to miss a semester at their home institution by studying abroad, or for those who would like a small taste of what it is like to be abroad before studying for a longer period of time. Personally, I wish that I had chosen a semester program because I did not want my short time in Ecuador to end.

The weekly (and often biweekly) excursions in Quito and the Galapagos were fantastic - the following is merely a sample of the many excursions we went on: there were overnight stays in exclusive regions of the Amazon, hiking in the páramos of inactive volcanoes, snorkeling around 5 islands in the Galapagos, visiting artisan markets, and walking around in the cloud forests. These excursions, though fun, were really meant to solidify our understanding of what we had learned in class through hands-on work.

There are also two home stay elements to this program - students will stay with a host family in Quito and another host family in the Galapagos, encouraging cultural immersion and practice of the Spanish language. Although it varies by family and student preference, most of the experiences that I have heard about (as well as my own) were generally very positive.

I honestly do not have many critiques of this program; the only thing lacking was free time that did not have any programming (for instance, it was hard to get out and experience life in another region of Ecuador if it wasn't in the programming) and the fact that a number of us needed to commute on public transportation for over an hour just to get to campus. However, despite those small hiccups, this program has really opened my eyes and my heart to the benefits of traveling and cultural immersion.

Australia is host to many exciting opportunities and places. One of my absolute favorite trips while abroad was the Great Ocean Road, south of Melbourne. My friends from my program and I went on a bus with other strangers who wanted to do that trip as well and drove all day, making stops to see things along the road. We started the day early and had to drive from the city down to the ocean and we made our first stop at a wildlife area where Koalas were in the trees and climbing around, and there were tons of birds that you could feed and they would flock all over you (not as scary as it sounds). We then went to Cape Otway lighthouse for lunch and you could go to the way top of the lighthouse which was really high over the ocean and had an amazing view. Next, and most importantly, we went and saw the Twelve Apostles. I had never heard of the Twelve Apostles until my friends had asked me to go on this trip down to Melbourne with them, and as soon as I saw the pictures of them, I was in. Seeing the Twelve Apostles was surreal, as they're these huge rocks rising up out of the ground (the beach), and seeing them so tall and right next to the ocean, it was like out of a magazine or just something that I thought I'd never see in my life. After the Twelve Apostles, we went to the Loch Ard Gorge which was also gorgeous and amazing, as it was a little inlet from the ocean, but the rockwalls were so high and basically encompassed the entire beach except a small area where water could get in, making the waves pretty big.
Along with seeing feeding birds, seeing wild koalas run and climb, seeing the Twelve Apostles and amazing sites, the view down the Great Ocean Road made all the hours of driving completely worth it. A straight view over the ocean for most of the ride, and maybe an hour or so of rainforest.
This was by far one of my favorite trips and I would highly recommend for anyone to do it and experience this.

My trip to Berlin this past summer marks a before and after in my life. I cannot stress enough how much my perspectives were changed, how much I enjoyed participating in another culture, how much I absolutely loved exploring Berlin's many cultures (Balkan music, Turkish/German cultural exchange, LGBTQ music scene), and how connected I felt with world history while I was there. This trip is perfect for people who need one last push to discover what they want to do after college.

I had the distinct and singular pleasure of studying abroad this past summer in Vienna. I found this experience to be profoundly thought provoking, and having been a part of the IES Study Abroad program was unquestionably one of the highlights of my academic career so far.

During my time abroad, I participated in a Novice German class, as well a Psychology and Society course that explored numerous topics and focused on the techniques and philosophies of many of the world's leading psychoanalysts. In addition to didactic classroom studies, there were several class excursions which allowed for a richer and very meaningful learning experience. On one such trip my class visited the Freud Museum, devoted entirely to psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud and his life and career. Arguably the high-point of my experience abroad was a class trip to Budapest. This trip included a visit to the 'House of Terror', aptly named due to its involvement with the Nazi interrogations of suspected Jewish sympathizers during World War II. My favorite part of this trip was a visit to the Ferenczi Museum, an institution dedicated to Sandor Ferenczi, a contemporary of Freud who shared many of his ideas and techniques before later developing his own system of psychoanalysis. 

IES Study Abroad has given me the opportunity to become a more well-rounded individual and student, and I recommend that every student broaden their horizons with IES Study Abroad!

Being in Amsterdam was amazing, but what made it even better was the program itself. The IES center staff was wonderful, and was always there to help if we needed it. They helped us rent bikes during the first few days in the city, which to me, was an essential part of the experience. I loved my bike, and biking helped foster a relationship between me and the other girls in the program, especially my roommate. My roommate did not know how to ride a bike, so for the first two weeks, she and I took my bike out into the pathways around the apartment complex that we lived in, and I helped her learn. Now she can always say that she learned how to ride a bike in Amsterdam. Biking was also an essential part of the classroom experience to me. I took two classes in the program, a literature course and an art history course. Both instructors brought us to places around the city (or occasionally, around the country) about once a week. Whenever we were going to somewhere in the city for class, a group of my friends and I would bike there, occasionally with the instructors. It brought us closer together and closer to the city itself.

IES Abroad Rabat Summer Studies program was a great experience for me. It was the perfect opportunity for me to use and improve my French in an academic setting as well as pick up some Moroccan Arabic. While I was participating in the program, I also got to experience Ramadan, which was an interesting opportunity to learn more about Islam and its practices. My host family spoke good French but was really encouraging and helped me practice my Arabic every night.

The field study in Senegal is also a major benefit of this program. Before going on the program, I had studied French for several years but wanted to expand my horizons and experiences cultures much different from my own. Morocco offered many fascinating cultural experiences, but my personal growth was definitely multiplied by our stay in Dakar. It changed my previously held views about North and West Africa. If you’re interested in learning more about the Francophone world, I highly recommend this program.

Studied aboard in Bogacizi University, Istanbul in Summer 2015. The staffs of the program were so friendly and always available for help. Before our school started, we had trip at Ephesus, Izmir. And we had basic Turkish language lectures, and they were so useful and practical to "survive" in Turkey. Beyond the classroom, IES also conducted many workshops and walking tours to help us to embrace the local cultural, religion and history. People who are considering study aboard should try IES!

My experience with the IES Summer Music History and Performance Program was rewarding, life-changing, and fun! In just six weeks, I grew tremendously as a performer and a student. The instructors were wonderful, and with plenty of performing experience, they were able to give us great advice on how to perfect our skills. I also enjoyed taking voice lessons with a woman who had a long career in opera. I was amazed at how much I improved in such a short time. In addition, the city of Vienna is absolutely beautiful, filled with parks, historical buildings, and vineyards on the outskirts of the city. I loved being able to spend afternoons in a cafe or park and evenings at the opera. One of the most memorable moments of the experience was getting to see Verdi’s Rigoletto from the sixth row at the Vienna State Opera. Seeing such a powerful musical performance at one of the premiere music venues in the world was surreal, and just one of many once-in-a-lifetime experiences I had during my time in the City of Music. I would recommend this program to anyone who loves music and wants to see a beautiful area of Europe. It is certainly an unforgettable experience!

I've always had a love for travel, and I knew that I wanted to study abroad as a part of my college experience. I was back and forth between a couple of different programs, and I am so glad that I chose IES Abroad in Dublin. From the moment I walked out of immigration and into the Dublin airport to see the smiling faces of Megan and Regina next to the giant IES sign, I knew that my adventure was going to be absolutely wonderful.
The staff at IES was beyond helpful when it came to coursework, weekend travel around Ireland and other countries, and things to do in Dublin. My apartment was comfortable and within a 15-minute walk from anywhere I wanted to go. IES went above and beyond to make sure that we all had what we needed.
My classes and professors were wonderful and very involved. One of my professors, Stephen, took us to the theatre, walked us through museum exhibits, and took us to some of the best restaurants in Dublin. Every Monday he would start class with, "Where did everyone travel this weekend, and where are you going next weekend?" Midway through class every day, we took a break for tea and pastries-the real Irish experience.
If you're looking for an organization for study abroad, IES is most definitely the way to go. I left a piece of my heart in that beautiful city, and I am so thankful for all that IES did to make my journey phenomenal.

This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was incredibly nervous about my adventures abroad...especially because I had not been out of the country since I was 13, but the staff at IES is eager to help students with any situation that may arise. My main focus of studying abroad was to complete my French minor and improve my fluency through immersion, but I learned so much more. I cannot say enough good things about the program! If you can, I would recommend a homestay, if you are serious about learning the French language. Not only will the experience vastly improve fluency in the French language, it will help you make connections for the next time you visit! Additionally, I will forever cherish the colorful dinnertime conversations that would ensue every night. From "how was your day?' to "what do you think about this political issue?" (Parisians love to talk politics). All in all, it was an eye-opening experience that I will take with me wherever I go. I will never forget the summer I spent in Paris.