AIFS AbroadReviews of aifsabroad.com

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.

Studying abroad with AIFS is a great way to expand your views of the world. The program allows you to explore on your own while also giving you support throughout your experience when it is needed. The classes that AIFS offers vary by destination, but they are all very interesting. Three out of four of my classes often had onsite visits to famous areas and landmarks across my host city. Also, AIFS allowed me to participate in a volunteer program, which consisted of assisting teachers in English classes at a local primary school in my host city. This experience had greatly impacted me and my time spent through the AIFS program will always be greatly cherished. The opportunities that AIFS allowed me to have helped me gain a better understanding of the world around me and allowed me to find new confidence in myself. I highly recommend it!

AIFS is honestly the best study abroad program! This was my first time living abroad, so the experience was new for me, but I felt taken care of the whole way. The AIFS staff was extremely supportive: they brought me to the clinic when I got sick and allowed me to borrow money when I lost my wallet. AIFS is the only program with a student office in San Jose, Costa Rica, so I had a lot of fun hanging out with other students and going to the activities they had for us - cooking, Valentine's Day gift bags, playing music, always a fun time. They honestly made us feel at home. The excursions were amazing and we got the chance to visit Nicaragua and Sarapiqui, so exploring the country was a huge plus. Going white-water rafting and zip lining were great activities to do with the group. I still meet up with the friends I made through AIFS, and I'm so grateful for them. A really solid support system.

I absolutely loved my time with AIFS in Salzburg. The program was very well planned and prepared and the staff was incredibly helpful throughout the whole process. Following my time abroad, I also took advantage of the Alumni resources available, which has been instrumental in the realms of professional development and preparation for attending grad school overseas. Overall, AIFS is a study abroad program provider that I would recommend to everyone, whether you're new to travel or already a globetrotter.