AIFS AbroadReviews of aifsabroad.com

I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain during the spring semester of 2018, which then led me to studying abroad in Rome, Italy for J-Term 2019 and becoming an AIFS Alumni Ambassador. AIFS changed my life in more ways than I could've imagined and provided opportunities that were unlike any other. While In Barcelona, I attended La Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona which was an amazing experience for me as I attended a Spanish university, where I was taught by Spanish faculty and sat in a classroom made up of students for many different countries around the world. This academic setting provided a diverse, exciting, and collaborative atmosphere. Both AIFS programs in Barcelona and Rome planned many different social and cultural activities like walking tours, cooking classes, biking tours, and so much more which were all so FUN and provided us the opportunity to learn about and experience our host culture first hand. The optional excursions both within the country and international trips were fantastic! In Barcelona, I took the AIFS led excursions to Switzerland, Morocco, Pyrenees, and Seville and Granada, Spain. These weekend trips were by far my FAVORITES out of my entire semester as I was able to grow and develop my friendships with fellow AIFS students. The AIFS on-site staff are truly what make AIFS the best study abroad program (in my opinion). They made my Barcelona study abroad experience the life-changing one it was through their endless support, kindness, love, and care. Study abroad can be an emotional roller coaster and times, and to know that I had an office full of people who cared about my feelings was so important and assuring for me. They quickly went from being strangers to family, and for that i'm forever grateful. Over and over again I would HIGHLY recommend studying abroad with AIFS; it's an experience and a program that I assure you, will change your life forever.

AIFS is first and foremost an organization that truly takes care of you, and supports you during the entire process of a study abroad. This includes your program decision, the application process, working with your university, transportation, and on site staff while you're there. They have a large variety of programs that still manage to be targeted and applicable to nearly any major. For anyone who wants to study abroad, this is a organization that should not be looked past. I was able to find the ideal program for me, Public Health in South Africa over the summer of 2018, and it was the best decision that I've made during my undergraduate career. I only wish I could've stayed longer. The AIFS planned excursions gave me opportunities of a lifetime while still allowing me plenty of time to go and do my own thing and a feeling of security while doing so. This was great for my first trip out of United States, and I would recommend AIFS to anyone and everyone.

AIFS was absolutely wonderful! I studied abroad in Spain and the onsite staff was resourceful, friendly, and kind. The program is all inclusive, which provides the most bang for your buck. i highly recommend!

As a first generation college student I knew nothing about study abroad. AIFS advisors and the website made it easy for my to apply, with a checklist of all the documentation to be submitted and answered ALL my questions. I especially loved their website because is makes has everything you need to know for your locations of choice (price of semester or year, dates, excursions, classes and alumni ambassadors). AIFS provides support for you while applying in the US and while away abroad. The orientation when I first got to Barcelona helped to understand the laws and culture right away. The program is Barcelona was great, lots of classes- especially for a business majors (I took a finance, marketing, history & art class). The included excursions were nice but I did prefer to travel alone with the friends I made abroad. The apartment they provided was really nice, better than expected actually and close to class, public transportation and places to see. I personally choose to book my own flight to Barcelona but they have a flight package for students with an over night stay in London to site-see which looks fun! I would highly recommend this program because it is all inclusive, well priced and overall a program that made going abroad easy and possible!!!

This program exceeded all my expectations and changed my idea of what a study abroad program should be like in the best way possible. I had no clue all the opportunities that would come out of it including being an ambassador for the program and getting to share my experiences and change people's perceptions of study abroad. This program was helpful, informative and straightforward. I would recommend to anyone.

My experience of studying abroad with AIFS was terrific, and I can't even describe all of the things that program included. When AIFS is adverting all-inclusive, it's inclusive. I saved so, much money by simply choosing AIFS. My program included so many tours, excursions, and entertainment tickets. For example, I had a chance to watch a soccer game and hockey game as well as I visited several cities in Germany. Despite the affordable program, I have stayed with the host family, and I have been matched to an incredible family that made me feel like I was home. While I was studying abroad I had so many opportunities to network and expand my personal knowledge and believes. I loved the courses and instructors that I had. If you have a chance to study abroad, you should definitely choose AIFS. Nonetheless, the one thing that I am regretting of not doing is studying abroad in multiple locations. I wish I did study abroad for the whole academic year in two different countries.

AIFS helped me not only get abroad and enjoy my time there to the fullest extent, but they also worked hand in hand with me for getting my credits transferred to my university. The staff (international and domestic), host mom, and professors were all extraordinary. While academics were important to them, the most crucial thing was that we were always safe. It felt as if we were a part of a family and knew we had someone we could always talk to if we needed to, no matter the circumstance.

My major is restrictive, in terms of credits and when I can go abroad, so I was in contact with the study abroad office from the start of freshman year and frequented our study abroad fairs. I knew I wanted to teach abroad, so I liked that AIFS had the service-learning option. Additionally, this program offered the most course options to count toward my degree at my home university. It was really important that I stay on track for graduation, and, rather than putting me behind, my experiences abroad pushed me ahead of my peers. I am studying Elementary and Special Education, so the service-learning program in Stellenbosch was very appealing. Just thinking about the idea of teaching abroad filled me with joy. I am in local schools every semester, but this program allowed me to take a more active role in the classroom. I was lesson planning, working with a team of teachers, and teaching English to students that barely knew how to say “hello” when we arrived. The focus on sustainable education, the idea that our students would continue to benefit from our instruction after we left, has also reinforced my opinion that learning is a lifelong endeavor that needs to begin with a solid foundation in the early grades. Teaching in Kayamandi, I saw many parallels to my time in the urban schools of Hartford. Every little success was rewarding because it reminded me that our students were getting something out of the experience as well. This was an enormous opportunity for professional and personal growth that will give me an advantage when I do student teaching next year and in my career.