Program Reviews

There's a cliché that study abroad changes your life, and I'm here to say that that is 100% true. The academic opportunities, travel experiences, and connections provided by the IES Abroad Freiburg program all made for a truly life-changing experience for me, and I cannot recommend this program enough.

Academically, this program expanded my interests in a variety of subjects, such as migration and human rights, and inspired me to pursue these interests beyond the end of my time in Freiburg. The course-load was also very manageable, allowing for me to actually engage with the topics and readings rather than worrying about weekly small assignments.

I took part in the EU program offered by IES Abroad Freiburg, which included various course-related trips across Germany and Europe. These travel experiences gave me the opportunity to apply what I learned in the classroom IRL and allowed for me to bond with my professors and IES staff members outside of the classroom. Furthermore, these trips included free time to explore the cities, expanding my worldview.

Finally, the connections I made as a result of this program are connections I will honestly cherish for the rest of my life. The friends I made are some of the best people I have met, and the professors and IES Freiburg staff members were and continue to be great mentors.

Not only did I grow academically because of this program, but all of the traveling and connections I made have taught me an abundance of life lessons that I'll always hold dear to my heart. Study abroad with IES Abroad Freiburg, and I guarantee you won't regret it!

With IES, I lived in the heart of Dublin, which allowed me to not only visit Ireland, but to live in it. The accommodations came with a private bedroom and bathroom which was amazing. I made friends in my program and met people studying at other places in the city. The prime location allowed us to easily walk to Croke Park for a Gaelic football match, or to discover new pubs with traditional Irish music. My classes were just a short tram ride away. Many classes involved exploring Dublin, whether that was visiting the Dail (Ireland's parliment) or Croke Park. On weekends, my friends and I explored Dublin's surroundings. IES really helped me make the most of my time aboard by fully immersing me in Irish culture, introducing us to traditional music as well as Irish literature and history.

My experience studying abroad was life-changing. I think back to all the doubts and hesitations I had initially applying to study abroad. I was afraid of leaving my friends and family in home, I was afraid to immerse myself in an unfamiliar culture, I was afraid that I would not meet any new people, I was afraid I would be homesick...Oh, I would have never forgiven myself if I had given into these fears and did not study abroad. I made an entire new group of friends: we travelled together every weekend, we studied for our classes together, we went out to eat every night and tried new foods together (CACIO E PEPE IS NOW MY STAPLE FOOD), we explored beautiful art and architecture together (I GOT TO SEE THE LAST SUPPER IN-PERSON), we grew and developed together. We are still spending almost every minute together as we all go to Penn State (who knew I would meet new people abroad who went to the same school as me and who I never managed to meet on campus before!) And I can't forget about our guy friends who we met that are back at IU right now - they were always good sports when we would make them take tons of pictures of us.

My younger self saw the Lizzie Maguire movie when she went to Rome, Italy with her class. It was in that moment that I wanted to follow her steps and go abroad to Italy. And yes, I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain in Rome! Not only did I explore Italy (which by the way you must go on a gondola ride through Venice & go on a wine tour in the vineyards of Tuscany), but I had the opportunity to travel to 10 different countries in the span of four months (thanks to our 3 day weekends through IES Abroad). I got to live my Mamma Mia moment in Greece, go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, live in luxury at an all-inclusive (that was actually very cheap) in Menorca (an island off of Spain), ate at the oldest restaurant that was built in the 1400s in Vienna, Austria, go to afternoon tea in London, go on a tour in a vintage car through Prague, explored on a catamaran boat in Lisbon, Portugal, and experience so many exciting other opportunities.

Let's not forget about the "study" part of study abroad. I actually got to learn a ton of Italian, which made it fun to converse with the locals. AND, I got to participate in a Language Exchange Program with a local Italian student, who I am still in touch with today. I got to take classes that were not offered at Penn State and were also so exciting (tons of fun field trips). I am SUPER into fashion and merchandise, so I was thrilled to take classes such as Visual Merchandising (all about retail window displays) and Managing Luxury Goods (I got to go to the Armani museum for this class). I also got super immersed with the enriching history and culture through my History of the Great Italian Cities class (because Europe has such an incredibly deep history that America does not have as we are babies compared to the age of other country's cultures). I even still got leadership experience through participating in the IES Abroad Student Council, in which I was able to collaborate with other students and provide my feedback, which was always taken into consideration.

In terms of my housing, it was so cheap (like less than half the amount I pay at Penn State), and it was gorgeous. I was in a very modern apartment (and yes, there actually was AC) with my own bedroom and bathroom. It had a big kitchen and a balcony (also a super fun rooftop). There were also plenty of amenities like a gym at my apartment complex. I ended up making most of my friends at the apartment complex. So don't get too worried about not having a good living situation...Trust me, it will work out.

I grew so much as an individual and developed more confidence and independence through this opportunity. I got to explore so many parts of the world. I would have never been able to do any of this if I had not studied abroad. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (not to sound too cheesy). PLEASE DON'T LET YOUR FEARS STOP YOU FROM HAVING A LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY. I am living proof that studying abroad is absolutely worth taking the leap of faith.

Studying abroad with IES was an incredible and life-changing experience. The support I received from the staff before and after departure was very helpful and they were always there if I had any questions about anything. IES made a great job at smoothing my transitioning into living in a place far away from home for one semester. I really appreciate everything that IES did for me as the process for the Italian student Visa as a non-US Citizen was a little overwhelming, and the staff was very helpful and supportive.

My experience was unique because I went out of my comfort zone and did what I wanted to do. I was not afraid to venture off and try new things. I made an effort to see as much historical sites as I could. I went to the most scenic views around the city, tried different foods everyday that I would not be able to try in the US, and I went to as many sporting events as I could. Going to a European football game is unlike anything I have ever seen.
Through class I was able to practice my Spanish around the city when talking to locals, learn the history behind the city, and indulge in the business of sports in Europe, which is a lot different than the US. I definitely recommend this program to future participants because how much the city has to offer. If I were to say one thing, it would be to go out and try new things. It might sound cliche, but you are only there for a few months, and you do not want to look back and wish you did more. I know did as much as I could, I hope others can say that too.

I studied abroad in Dublin with IES in the Spring of 2022 and had an incredible experience! Ireland itself is a great place to study as it is full of rich history and beautiful sights with plenty of things to do. With this, going abroad with IES really enriched my experience. All of the staff was incredibly supportive and willing to help at all points. The professors were all extremely knowledgable and I thoroughly enjoyed all of my courses and came away with great knowledge from each one. At no point did I feel unsafe or unsupported; in fact, everyone in the program was more than willing to help in any way, whether that was an academic issue I was having or if I needed recommendations on where to take a day trip to. I truly cannot recommend this program highly enough as I had the most incredible experience through them.

I studied abroad in Madrid during the spring semester of 2022 and it was the experience of a life time. Actually getting abroad was a little rocky, but from talking with other friends who went abroad, this seems to be a universal experience. I ended up accidentally arriving a week early for my program, so I spent some time in Spain by myself. This accident was great for my transition from home to abroad life because it gave me the chance to explore and come out of my comfort zone without the frenzy of the start of school and orientation activities. IES had a lot of resources set aside for students that I used frequently throughout the year. I had weekly tutoring for both of my biology classes, when I became sick during my time abroad, a physician came to my room to treat me, and the organized field trips throughout the semester really helped keep all of the abroad students close and connected. Over some weekends, I would travel with my friends to other countries. From this independence, I learned so much about myself and the way I fit into the world. I came to learn what empowers me and what I value/lean on in the midst of change. Going abroad was a huge period of consistent adjustment and readjustment. As stressful as this sometimes was at first, I am so much more flexible in the way I live my life, and my life is easier. As I was initially adjusting to the new stresses of life abroad, it was really important for me to have a safe space. I needed to create my own home. Having a really safe and homey bedroom was important for my relaxation and decompression from daily life. My apartment provided by IES was perfect. It was called “Mi Casa Inn,” and it was basically a hotel that only students lived in. There were other abroad students, and Spanish locals who lived there. This was amazing for integration and quick connections with other students. This was also really safe when going out at night because I always had friends who were going back with me. I am one hundred percent sure that IES was the best choice for my abroad program.

I decided to go to Milan because fashion has been my greatest passion ever since I was a kid. I had high expectations before going to Milan, and Milan certainly didn't fall short of them. IES offers so many great educators who are extremely knowledgeable in the field of fashion, and one of the professors who teaches management of fashion and luxury businesses actually inspired me so much and answered so many of my questions regarding fashion. She was patient with me and willing to share her resources with students who are interested in fashion.

I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain in the semester of Spring 2022. It was quite literally one of the best periods of my life so far, both personally and also academically! I made some incredible friends, got to learn about a new culture, practice and improve my Spanish skills enormously during my time there. Madrid itself is also an incredibly city to live and study in. It's full of culture, life and things to do. It also has amazing transportation systems, healthcare and the people are super friendly and welcoming too.

The IES staff were also so helpful and easy to reach out to during my time abroad. They were there to help with any issues I had, which was greatly appreciated. The classes were also fun and interesting, even though they were pretty different in comparison to how US classes work. Expect more lecture based classes, as well as the classes being entirely in Spanish!
My housing was great too, I had my own dorm with plenty of space and an en-suite bathroom. It was about a 3 min walk away from my classes and a 10-15 min walk from the metro station, shops, etc. I couldn't have lived in a more central location.

Overall, I would recommend this program to ANYONE interested in studying abroad, even if you feel your language skills are not that strong - this is a great chance to improve them whilst having fun doing it! It truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you should do it.

Everyone tells you how studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I know I sound like a broken record. But taking an intern position takes that experience one step higher. This was my very first time outside of the US and I was terrified but eager. I took a research position as well as a teaching assistant position, both of which would not have been possible without the Barcelona internship coordinators who answered one million of my questions. Whether it be the IES staff, other US students I met in the program, my intern advisors, the teachers and students at the school I was placed in, or locals I met while exploring the city, the people changed everything for me. I was challenged and learned more about myself than I thought possible, as well as gaining some lifelong friends that have fit into my life even after returning home.