IES Abroad Milan

I chose to go to Milan for multiple reasons, all which held true. First the food. As an Italian food fanatic, living in Italy was heaven. Only the best and most fresh food every day. Second was the location. Milan's central location in Europe and three major airports makes flying to any other European city quick and easy. Lastly, Italy's diverse geography and culture provided for an amazing new destination every weekend. The IES staff were always very nice and supportive, and ensured that I had the best experience possible.

My experience studying abroad was life-changing. I think back to all the doubts and hesitations I had initially applying to study abroad. I was afraid of leaving my friends and family in home, I was afraid to immerse myself in an unfamiliar culture, I was afraid that I would not meet any new people, I was afraid I would be homesick...Oh, I would have never forgiven myself if I had given into these fears and did not study abroad. I made an entire new group of friends: we travelled together every weekend, we studied for our classes together, we went out to eat every night and tried new foods together (CACIO E PEPE IS NOW MY STAPLE FOOD), we explored beautiful art and architecture together (I GOT TO SEE THE LAST SUPPER IN-PERSON), we grew and developed together. We are still spending almost every minute together as we all go to Penn State (who knew I would meet new people abroad who went to the same school as me and who I never managed to meet on campus before!) And I can't forget about our guy friends who we met that are back at IU right now - they were always good sports when we would make them take tons of pictures of us.

My younger self saw the Lizzie Maguire movie when she went to Rome, Italy with her class. It was in that moment that I wanted to follow her steps and go abroad to Italy. And yes, I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain in Rome! Not only did I explore Italy (which by the way you must go on a gondola ride through Venice & go on a wine tour in the vineyards of Tuscany), but I had the opportunity to travel to 10 different countries in the span of four months (thanks to our 3 day weekends through IES Abroad). I got to live my Mamma Mia moment in Greece, go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, live in luxury at an all-inclusive (that was actually very cheap) in Menorca (an island off of Spain), ate at the oldest restaurant that was built in the 1400s in Vienna, Austria, go to afternoon tea in London, go on a tour in a vintage car through Prague, explored on a catamaran boat in Lisbon, Portugal, and experience so many exciting other opportunities.

Let's not forget about the "study" part of study abroad. I actually got to learn a ton of Italian, which made it fun to converse with the locals. AND, I got to participate in a Language Exchange Program with a local Italian student, who I am still in touch with today. I got to take classes that were not offered at Penn State and were also so exciting (tons of fun field trips). I am SUPER into fashion and merchandise, so I was thrilled to take classes such as Visual Merchandising (all about retail window displays) and Managing Luxury Goods (I got to go to the Armani museum for this class). I also got super immersed with the enriching history and culture through my History of the Great Italian Cities class (because Europe has such an incredibly deep history that America does not have as we are babies compared to the age of other country's cultures). I even still got leadership experience through participating in the IES Abroad Student Council, in which I was able to collaborate with other students and provide my feedback, which was always taken into consideration.

In terms of my housing, it was so cheap (like less than half the amount I pay at Penn State), and it was gorgeous. I was in a very modern apartment (and yes, there actually was AC) with my own bedroom and bathroom. It had a big kitchen and a balcony (also a super fun rooftop). There were also plenty of amenities like a gym at my apartment complex. I ended up making most of my friends at the apartment complex. So don't get too worried about not having a good living situation...Trust me, it will work out.

I grew so much as an individual and developed more confidence and independence through this opportunity. I got to explore so many parts of the world. I would have never been able to do any of this if I had not studied abroad. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (not to sound too cheesy). PLEASE DON'T LET YOUR FEARS STOP YOU FROM HAVING A LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY. I am living proof that studying abroad is absolutely worth taking the leap of faith.

Studying abroad with IES was an incredible and life-changing experience. The support I received from the staff before and after departure was very helpful and they were always there if I had any questions about anything. IES made a great job at smoothing my transitioning into living in a place far away from home for one semester. I really appreciate everything that IES did for me as the process for the Italian student Visa as a non-US Citizen was a little overwhelming, and the staff was very helpful and supportive.

I decided to go to Milan because fashion has been my greatest passion ever since I was a kid. I had high expectations before going to Milan, and Milan certainly didn't fall short of them. IES offers so many great educators who are extremely knowledgeable in the field of fashion, and one of the professors who teaches management of fashion and luxury businesses actually inspired me so much and answered so many of my questions regarding fashion. She was patient with me and willing to share her resources with students who are interested in fashion.

Milan is a beautiful city and I am so glad I chose to study abroad there! I can't say enough positive things about my experience in Milan and my experience with IES. The program was so proactive about making sure students were ready to embark on this journey and followed through with their support once we arrived. Another one of the huge reasons I chose to study abroad with IES in Milan was because of the opportunity to complete an internship. I knew this was something I wanted to do and would give me a unique experience to put on my resume. The IES internship coordinator was extremely helpful in finding a placement for me that matched up with my career goals and desires. I ended up completing a marketing internship for the British School of Milan. Everyone was so welcoming and always made sure I was comfortable with the work I was assigned, not to mention answered any of my questions. Lastly, I had a great housing experience with IES. I chose the apartment option and had 6 roommates. Our apartment was spacious and in a great location, about a 15 -20 min walk from Duomo! I lived in Brera and that neighborhood and they are known for having superb restaurants! I never had a bad meal while I was over there!

Everything in Milan is so much better! The food, style, culture and language are so interesting in a way that made me want to continuously learn and experience more. My time abroad through IES has put me at peace with myself in a way I didn’t know was possible. Give me a couple of years and I’m moving to Milan!

The faculty at IES Milan also played a huge role in shaping my experience abroad. Each of my teachers truly cared about me as not just a student, but also a person. They went out of their way to offer advice, recommendations and helpful tips so that we could have the best possible experience in Milan.

I lived in the Collegio di Milano Residence Hall which gave me a completely different experience than many other students studying abroad. I lived with other Italian and foreign students, and 6 other IES students. The residence hall made my experience so much of what it was because of the incredible people I met. In the Collegio I was exposed to a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds everyday. I can proudly say that I have friends from all over the world now!

I love that IES Milan offers so many different opportunities for students to fully engage and connect with the culture. WIthout the classes, internships, living options and trips, my time abroad wouldn’t have been as successful or as life-changing as it was.

Patrizia (the voice teacher) is caring and very informative in recomending rep. Truly, studying with her infinitely changed my voice-- for the better! As well, there are plenty of performance opportunities, even if you are not in an ensemble or performance class. As well, the Italian classes were informative about Milanese culture and Italian history. The upper level classes are engaging and thought provoking. Some of the classes in other disciplines are very easy and feel like introductory classes, even though they are marketed as upper level courses. The IES Abroad faculty and staff are caring and considerate towards any mental or physical health issues you may run into!

I had the amazing opportunity to study and intern abroad in Milan through IES. I absolutely loved my experience in Milan, and the IES team was extremely helpful in preparing me for my time abroad. I especially appreciated how easy they made the pre-departure experience. They helped with all preparation aspects, from the visa process to packing for 4 months away!

While there, I took classes in subjects I was interested in that helped me learn more about Italian culture and contributed to my major. Through my internship, I expanded my cultural awareness and developed skills I know will be beneficial in future work experiences.

I also had the opportunity to explore the city and other parts of Italy through field trips IES planned. Whether it be taking cooking lessons, touring historical sites in Milan, or flying to the south of Italy, I will remember these experiences forever. I am grateful that IES planned them because I would not have been able to do them on my own, and they made my abroad experience even more amazing.

The apartment I lived in was also great. It was in a safe area and was very secure. The Italian student living with us, called a CA, was extremely helpful and helped me adjust quickly!