AIFS Abroad: Study, Intern, or Study & Intern in England

I interned with GE over the summer of 2018 in London, England and I absolutely LOVED it! I have made forever friends as well as gained amazing insight into what its like to live and work here! I worked at a law firm in central London and had a truly fantastic experience. I worked alongside the firm partners and was able to make significant contributions to their work that really gave me a feeling of achievement! Over these 8-weeks I have learned so much about my chosen career path, and have become even more excited about what the future holds for me, not to mention the resume boost that comes with an internship abroad! GE also does a great job at supporting its participants along the way, we had excursions and group activities that brought us all together. I think interning with Global Experiences, regardless of where you decide to go, is a great thing to do. You grow as a person, you learn a lot, and you make amazing friends. The supervisors are hands-off enough to make you feel independent but hands-on enough to make you feel completely safe in your new (fun) environment.

This summer was an amazing experience for me and it has helped me grow and develop new life and professional skills. I am very happy with my placement, because I was able to try different things and put my illustrative skills to use in a professional environment. I felt very comfortable there and my co-workers were all nice and would help me out whenever I needed it.
I loved the trip we took to Stonehenge and Bath, and getting to learn more about England's history. The staff at the program are all very helpful, especially when I was confused about things like my commute with the tubes. The housing is much better than what I am used to. I was surprised at how nice the rooms were when I first got here, and it was really nice that we all had our rooms.
I felt very safe during my internship as well. I was able to feel comfortable taking walks or going out whenever I felt like it and there were no sketchy areas. I think the housing was in a very convenient spot, because there were so many shops and restaurants in walking distance, so you could get whatever you needed easily without having to take a tube or anything.
I loved the internship experience and being able to travel around London, and I would definitely recommend it!

My summer abroad has been an amazing time or personal and professional growth. The staff at GE is extremely helpful and would bend over backwards to make your trip as best as it could be. When I got sick my third day into the trip, Carmen spent hours with me in the hospital keeping my spirits up and easing my stress, and went above and beyond to ensure my safety. As soon as I started my internship I knew they had chosen the right one for me. I was challenged at work while improving the skills I wanted to focus on and some I hadn't even thought I was interested in, but really benefited from learning. London is an amazing city but what really made it great was our program advisors and they tireless work from those at GE. I'd reccomend this program to anyone who wants to live like a local, work hard for a great resume builder, and have an unforgettable summer!!

This internship experience was extremely valuable to my professional development and growth as an individual. Being somewhat tossed in to a full time and fast paced working environment was challenging in the most positive of ways. I feel that I have learned a lot about my career field, and specifically, the areas that I don't enjoy most about it. That may seem a little funny - but I find that figuring out what it is that you don't enjoy or don't want to do is just as important as finding out where in your career field you do want to be. This internship has allowed me to gain a clearer picture of what I hope to have in my future.
London was a great city full of amazing things to see and do, and I am so happy I chose to intern here!

Studying abroad with AIFS in London was the best decision I have ever made. Studying abroad in London was such a good choice for me, as it was my first time outside of the US. Where London provided the perfect home-base as it is a well balance of not being too foreign yet being a new world to culturally immerse yourself in. Regarding why AIFS in London is perfect is due to it's location and program specifications.

With AIFS, (for most students) you are placed in an American style dorm housing in the greatest neighborhood in the world! Kensington is home to so many amazing things to do, while remaining fairly quiet, and being a 5 minute tube ride into your favorite parts of central London. The dorms of Atlantic House and Ambassador Hall just a few minutes away from all that Kensington has to offer from Hyde Park, to South Kensington Museums, and all the shops High Street Kensington has to offer. The location is truly the best that I know of compared to any of the other programs that my friends have been a part of and I am beyond grateful that I had the opportunity to spend 4 months of my life living in Kensington.

The specifications of the program including the academics, on site staff, cultural experiences offered, and all the other details were so great. The study part of study abroad was a great environment to learn, with students and professors from all around the world are present in the classroom, resulting in not just a typical learning environment but a great lesson in learning about different perspectives of the world. The on site staff are some of the best people out there, as they are so helpful with everything you need or have questions about. And the cultural experiences are very fun activities such as going to plays, the London eye, day trips that are very well planned, and so much more.

Overall, this is the best program if you're studying abroad in London!

So let me give you a little context, I've had NEVER left the country before and I don't speak another language. So I already had those two fears when I thought about studying abroad. I stumbled upon this amazing program where I was able to study abroad for 3 weeks to get a taste of what studying abroad is like, a lot of people think oh that's not enough time. Trust me, it was. We were always going on field trips or exploring the city. Those three weeks are a lot but it's the best time of your life! The staff are amazing like everyone who works there is so freakin friendly and so nice! Rebecca Rankin who was my admission officer was on it from payments, to before I left and what to expect. She made sure I felt comfortable before I arrived in a new country. Residence Director was amazing as well. This was the perfect first trip for anyone who has never left the country before or might be nervous to study abroad for the first time because now it makes me wanna come back and do it again!

My time abroad was one that I will never forget thanks to AIFS. Their all inclusive program and optional flight package meant that all I had to worry about was having fun. I never once had to worry about the logistics of anything, and if I did have to, the staff were more than helpful in making sure we as program participants knew what we needed to to. Once abroad the location and the staff on site couldn't have been better. Being housed in the heart of South Kensington was the highlight of the trip. Food, palaces, and tube stations were all within reach. The friends I made during my time abroad are friends that I know I will have for a lifetime.

My time spent in London, England was by far the best experience of my life. It provided me with both personal and professional growth, while having the time in my life in another country. I was able to become more independent and become more confident in myself and my abilities. My life post-program has been filled with excitement, with graduating from college and obtaining a new job in the field of social work. Some useful tips I have are to be organized, and communicate effectively, before, during, and after the program. The process of preparing all the necessary documents prior to leaving can be stressful, but is definitely worth it. I enjoyed my time in London so much, that I am looking to make a permanent move there in the next few years. If your on the fence about whether or not to participate in the program, that is completely understandable. However, my advice is to go for it and never look back. You won't regret it!