Program Reviews

The pre-departure for my study abroad experience was fraught with personal uncertainty. I didn’t even decide I wanted to go for sure until the day of the application deadline! Working with IFSA helped make this logistical process smoother for me. Guidelines on filling out visa applications, access to detailed course catalogs, and flexibility on deadlines helped me feel less daunted and actually capable of going on this new journey. If not for that, I wouldn’t have had the incredible experience I did.

While I was in Sydney, I felt myself becoming more confident and independent. I planned a solo backpacking trip up the east coast of Australia during one of our reading breaks. I was able to meet a few people in hostels and pushed myself to have the independent travel experience I wanted. I saw some beautiful places and was also able to take the time for self-discovery.

In the classroom, I became clearer on what I wanted to do with the rest of my undergraduate education. At my home university, I am a double major in economics and environmental studies. Until Sydney, I had never taken courses explicitly combining those two interests. But, seeing the intersection of economic management and environmental justice concerns opened my eyes to new perspectives. In an interdisciplinary field, it is important to have a broader view of the issues, as different regions around the globe have different approaches. I was able to see environmental policies employed in Australia that I had never come across in my studies in North America. Through the IFSA partnership, I was even able to secure an internship at a local company, which I did for school credit. The skills of cross-cultural communication in the workplace and at school deepened my experience and have served me in new situations ever since.

The time I spent on the south island of New Zealand through IFSA’s University of Otago program is something that I will hold dear for the rest of my life. IFSA facilitated the experiences that defined my time in New Zealand and provided me with the resources and support needed to make the most of my semester abroad. From the moment I was accepted, IFSA helped lay out exactly what I still needed to get done, from housing forms to visas to what to pack. IFSA’s orientation was incredible and helped me get over jet lag, showed me some of New Zealand’s beautiful landscape, and introduced me to many of the friends I would spend the next 5 months with. During my time abroad, IFSA provided structure, friendly faces, goal tracking, incredible trips, and countless resources. The IFSA staff in Dunedin with me were lovely humans who stayed relevant and were always ready to help with academics, housing, any medical issues, and whatever else life threw at me or my fellow IFSA kids. The trips IFSA took us on, specifically the overnight boat cruise in Doubtful Sound, were simply amazing. I would have never been able to organize such a trip myself and looking back on my time abroad this boat cruise was one of my favorite memories (which is really saying something as New Zealand gave me a lot of favorites!). In summary, choosing IFSA made my abroad experience the wonderful time it was, and I cannot encourage other nature-loving, kiwi enthusiasts enough to go to New Zealand through IFSA!

IFSA study abroad has a commitment to engaging its students with the community, and I was given the opportunity to shadow a local doctor at the public hospital in Merida, Mexico. The time I spent shadowing during my semester abroad allowed me to see international medicine up close and personal. I learned about Merida, Mexico, in a way I never would have otherwise. I spent time in the public hospital, speaking with patients whose first language was Maya and second language was Spanish. I could define this experience as professional development, and probably will in the future, but it was more than that. I connected with patients in a way I had never believed possible in the American healthcare system.

Living in New Zealand was hands down one of the best times of my life, and I have the IFSA program to thank for that. Through the IFSA program, I was able to find an internship as a research assistant for Brain Research New Zealand in their Alzheimer's and Dementia Research Clinic. Not only did this experience give me much needed lab experience to build my resume, but it also gave me the opportunity to work in an international setting with professionals in my field of study. I was able to make lifelong connections with the people I worked with, and I still keep in contact with my internship mentor!
Another aspect of the IFSA program that I loved was the balance between academics and adventure. We went on several IFSA sponsored trips throughout the semester, where we were able to bond as a group and experience all of New Zealand's natural beauty while learning at the same time! For one of our trips, we went to an island off the coast of Auckland to plant trees with a conservation group. They explained to us how the island used to be a cattle farm, and now it is being completely replanted to bring back some of the indigenous plants and animals. It was such a cool experience to learn about New Zealand conservation efforts and also contribute to what makes New Zealand such a beautiful place. This semester abroad really changed my view on living outside of the US, and IFSA has helped me to make amazing memories that I will cherish forever.

IFSA in Buenos Aires was a great program that really allowed me to engage with the city and the country. Class schedules were very flexible, and it was amazing being able to choose classes at 4 different universities. The add/drop period allowed me to try out multiple classes before settling on my schedule. In addition, IFSA organised trips to Tigre and Uruguay, guaranteeing city breaks and excursions. The staff at the office were also great whenever you had any problems. Overall it was a great program

Pura Vida- meaning pure life, is a popular slogan in Costa Rica which reflects the easy going and relaxed nature of the country.
This program was absolutely amazing. I felt I got to have a challenging academic experience at the Universidad Nacional as well as explore the Pura Vida side of Costa Rica. The direct enrollment lets you choose from a variety of classes. My program friends took classes that ranged from computer science, biology, gender studies, film, music, and psychology. The IFSA team also has connections to local programs if you are interested in volunteering at schools, vet offices, etc. They truly have the most wonderful staff who will go above and beyond to make your experience meaningful. You can fill the weekends traveling around the country (transportation is cheap and effective!), spending time with your host family, or exploring the city life in San José (be careful of pickpockets and thieves though). Overall however, it is a safe, peaceful country with kind, easygoing people.

Any concerns- As many Latin American countries, there is a culture of machismo which can result in a catcalling from men, but if you are logically cautious, it is not a problem.

I am a mechanical engineering student, so the liberal arts courses offered were outside of what I was used to studying. This was a great way for me to expand my horizons and learn some new things. The professors and staff on this program are all amazing. The program size is usually small, so you get to know your classmates super well. The homestay component is really amazing. There are also opportunities to learn art/dance/music forms and perform in the closing ceremony. There is time to travel independently, and the staff even helped us arrange weekend trips to nearby cities. I completed a full-time engineering internship the last month of this program in the prosthetics center of a very large hospital. I would recommend this program for anyone looking to go well outside their comfort zones.

My time in Shanghai was full of unique experiences and fun memories! It was the perfect mix of learning and adventure. Being able to explore the city while learning about the culture and history of China deepened and expanded my experience even more. The IFSA staff were supportive and always willing to help students navigate life in China. I had incredible opportunities like an internship with a local non-profit, an organized trip to western provinces, and guided adventures around the city to museums and other historical sites.

IFSA staff at Lima, Peru was super friendly and helped me with all of my questions regarding academics, health, good places to visit/eat, safety, how to use the public transportation, and etc. I loved how intentional each programming was, focusing on different aspects of the local culture, such as sustainability, history of Peru, and different social issues, such as racism, gender inequality, education, and etc. All the friends that I've met during this semester were great, and we still keep in touch even today.

My experience was unique as I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the local community through playing pick up soccer and joining the USAL women's soccer team. This enabled me to learn about the culture and the people through playing. It was also a great opportunity to improve my Spanish. The ability to take classes at multiple universities offered me a very diverse academic experience as well which I am very grateful for. I also had the opportunity to live with a host family where I had homemade Argentine meals every night and learned about their culture through speaking Spanish. I had the opportunity to travel throughout Argentina as well and explore the vineyards in Mendoza and the mountains in Patagonia.