IES Abroad Reviews

Recently I studied abroad which is an experience that propelled my passion for global health, microbiology, traveling, and human rights. The combination of those interests are unique, but I was enlightened about each of them in my work experience abroad. I was a research intern at the National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty. There I aided in research of candida cell infections and the effects of LAMP and IP3 antibodies on autophagy. I also took the minutes of meetings for the European Network for Health Inequalities where I learned about the actions put into place by doctors and health officials within the the European Union to educate about the rights to access health care and other global health initiatives. I learned so much during my time spent at the National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty and it motivated me even more for my future. In regards to social life, I traveled around Italy and surrounding countries in good company. I met amazing friends in my program who I made amazing memories with and who I still stay in contact with. My living situation and learning atmosphere were nothing less than ideal. I absolutely loved being immersed in Italian culture in an apartment in Rome. Everything about my internship experience with IES Abroad was enriching and surreal.

I could not have asked for a better summer. There is an insurmountable amount of activities and things that you can explore in London. Even after two months of being in London, I still found new things to do every day. London is such a diverse environment- walking along the streets you can hear up to 10 different languages being spoken. Even in my work place we had people from multiple countries. It was incredible to see how everyone interacted with each other given their different backgrounds. Overall, the people at my internship were absolutely incredible and I still keep in touch with many of them today. It was amazing to be able to learn about how they do business and also sharing with them the different methods of business that we use in the United States.

In addition, being able to tell people that I have had work experience abroad has been extremely helpful during the recruiting process back at my university. Not only am I able to say that I have gained a new global business perspective but I also got hands-on exposure and was able to study the British and EU culture.

Before my arrival to Milan, I was terrified. As I sat near Gate 10 waiting to board my eight-hour flight, I thought about all the things that could go wrong. What if I am not prepared at all for my internship? What if I get lost? It was hard to imagine myself working in an entirely different country for two months.
As I got closer to Milan, things began to get more real. I had to trust my instincts and trust that my previous travel experiences had taught me enough. I arrived safe and sound to Milan, was greeted warmly by IES staff and was put in a cab to my new home, Via Pontaccio 15. As I anxiously peered out of the window of my taxi and inhaled the Milanese air, I realized that while I thought about all the things that could go wrong in Milan, I did not consider everything that could go right. It was then that I started to imagine my new life in Milan (if only for two months). What if I found a permanent job here? What if I became completely fluent in Italian? What if I never leave?
These new exciting thoughts flooded my brain as I pulled up to my chic Milanese apartment in the Brera area of Milan. I was taken aback by how comfortable and right at home I felt right away.
The following week, I started my job as an intern with Promos, a business event planning company within the Milan Chamber of Commerce. All of the staff were so warm and understanding of my language barrier and worked with me every step of the way. I had the opportunity to have my own desk, equipped with my own computer and phone—I felt like a real employee.
On my second day with the company, I was already helping the company with necessary duties at a private event to have it run smoothly! I was surprised at how quickly I was helping the company in a very hands-on way. Throughout my work experience with Promos, I had the opportunity to visit the World Expo Fair, which was an incredible adventure.
With Promos, I was respected, and was able to become very close to my co-workers, while also learning so much about Italian business culture. I wouldn’t trade my unique experience for the world. I am thankful to have been placed with such an amazing company in an amazing city.

There are so many stories I could tell but I'll share this one because it shows a good lesson.
My internship placement was in a startup building with other companies. One guy in the building had a videographer who needed an English speaker for another project he was working on. I had made friends with everyone in the office so he asked me if I'd be interested in being in the videos. I said yes, it sounded fun! To film the scenes I got to see more places around the city and I even got 200 euros out of it!
My point is take every opportunity that comes your way, that's how I made the most of my trip. And I left Italy with more connections, friendships, knowledge, and memories than I ever thought I would make.

I absolutely loved having the experience of doing an internship abroad; I was able to gain valuable work experience in my field while experiencing a different culture and taking advantage of the many opportunities to travel.

However, I would caution that my experience was based on my getting the internship that I needed for my professional goals. Some people ended up with internships in kind of random organizations, and to me that would not have been worth it - the cultural immersion was still there, but the classes offered through IES were not particularly valuable.

Initially, I was a little worried about choosing a program in a smaller city but I couldn't have made a better decision. This city became a second home to me and transformed my life. I was really able to get to know the city and become familiar with its traditions and history. I was also able to dramatically improve my Italian and immerse myself in the culture. From my amazing host family, to the wonderful professors and the people in my program, everything was absolutely perfect!

My time abroad in Sydney was everything I hoped for and more. The program staff was with me every step of the way and made everything so simple. The Program Director made the transition to being abroad effortless and continued to go out of his way throughout the program to ensure we were all happy and healthy. I made wonderful, lifelong friends and I had an amazing time living with all of them. The classes were just right - very manageable workload with personable professors. The material was interesting and presented in engaging and fun ways. Living in the city, we were able to take advantage of everything that occurred in the area. Getting to know local parks, restaurants, and bars made us feel at home and I never thought I could miss a city so much. Going abroad was the best decision I ever made for myself - if you are considering studying abroad, go with IES. They will make everything simple so you can focus on enjoying your experience. Overall, the program was top-quality and the memories I have made will last a lifetime.

If you are looking for unsure about the quality of this program, this rest assure it is outstanding. The teachers are experienced, professional, and 100% friendly (I had lunch and dinner with all of them, and traveled with some around China).

If you are worried about your IES friends that will accompany you, then don't. IES knows (for real) how to pick the best group of people. Those people made the experience even more enjoyable. We took care of each other, and we encouraged each other to learn and venture for fun.

If you are not sure about the city, then don't. I came to Bejing thinking about all I heard regarding pollution and wearing masks. Fact: I never wore a mask for any health concern, and trust me I do take care of myself. This trip made understand Beijing real situation and for that I'm grateful.

Language: you will learn a lot.
Fun: Everyday is a new adventure. There has not been a single boring day. (Probably it's the case of study abroad).
Food: you will definitely fell in love with it. (Contrary to what some tourists might say because you will emerge in the culture and gain the real perspective).

In short, If you remotely thinking about this program, stop and just do it!

This summer I had the privilege to study Music Performance in Vienna Austria through IES Abroad. Originally I was not excited to study abroad, but my experience in Austria changed my entire opinion of study abroad curriculum and opportunity.
The IES Music Performance program in Vienna is an exquisite program filled with teachers who have a wealth of knowledge on the performance subject. While their criticism was sometimes harsh, it was the commentary I desperately needed to expedite my development as a musician. My voice teacher, my pianist, and my professors, taught me valuable technique and skill that are truly enhanced my abilities. The teachers broke down my way of approaching new music, German text, and performance giving me new tools, to learn music a lot easier. I am extremely thankful for the advice that was given to me and grateful to have worked with these knowledgeable musicians.
I also hoped to enhance my abilities as a German speaker, and singer while in Vienna. Throughout my vocal studies at home, I struggled singing and pronouncing German music, so I made sure to take German while I was in Austria. Not only was the class extremely helpful with my knowledge of the language, but also being in a city such as Vienna made me practice my German. It forced me to become phonetically familiar with German pronunciation, and more profound in my use of German grammar. I came back with a lot more confidence in my German abilities.
What I learned from this program was to appreciate studying a craft in its birthplace, and the knowledge that a city can provide a student. Studying abroad is a unique experience that allows a student to approach a subject from a new perspective. Being in Vienna gave me the perspective I needed to understand my Vocal craft, and technique. Learning in this new city with new teachers also gave me the perspective I needed to improve in different areas of my vocal abilities. I would definitely recommend the IES program to any musician who is looking to find a new approach to Music Performance, and broaden their level of music understanding. But I would also recommend this program to anyone who is looking to experience life and culture in a European city. While some of the main attractions are in the center of the city, all of Vienna has a lot of central European culture, and beauty to experience. It is a city and a study abroad opportunity that should not be overlooked.

I always knew that I wanted to study abroad. As I was sitting in the study abroad center I saw Vienna was an option. I had not heard much about Austria or Vienna but I did not want to go to a place that everyone went to like London or Sydney, Australia. During the summer I learned about a completely different country, I learned a new language, and I made friends from all over the United States!
The best part about being in Vienna was the culture. It is full of new things that I had never seen in the United States. Beethoven and Mozart are from Vienna so I was able to see the houses they lived in! I was able to travel to other countries for less than 100 euros! I hiked in the Alps and saw the most beautiful view I have ever seen. I was able to communicate with people who did not speak English.
I didn't even want to leave when my departure day came. Living in Vienna for 6 weeks was the best thing I have done in my college career and I would do it all over again!