IFSA Study in Shanghai: International Business

I went abroad with a very specific set of goals in mind. First and foremost, I wanted to improve my language skills. I wanted to immerse myself in the local culture and develop close relationships with locals. Finally, I wanted to gain professional experience in a Chinese business setting. IFSA International Business in China provided me with the resources needed to achieve these goals, all I needed to do was take advantage of them. Firstly, the language instructors at IFSA were outstanding. I had taken over 10 years of Chinese before the program began; my instructor from IFSA was one of the best Chinese teachers I have ever had. IFSA also placed me with a local family to complete a homestay. They found me a caring family and a safe home for the duration of the program. Through the homestay, I was able to practice my Chinese on a daily basis and get to know locals of Shanghai. The program director at IFSA also worked very hard to find me an internship that matched my professional interests. I worked multiple days a week and grew close to my coworkers, allowing me professional skills in a Chinese business context and contacts in an industry that I may pursue later in life. It was extremely impressive for the director to place over twenty students in internships related to their own personal and professional interests. These examples demonstrate the opportunities that come with an IFSA program. The IFSA staff furnishes your abroad experience with all the opportunities needed to reach your goals, all you have to do is take advantage of them.

Throughout my IFSA experience, from being interested, applying, and studying abroad, all the way to coming back and becoming a global ambassador, I have always felt taken care of. The semester before I was in China, I was in Japan through another study abroad program from my school. IFSA was very accommodating and helped me figure out visa procedures. One thing about IFSA that stands out is that there is always someone there to make sure everything is going well and that you are getting the best experience that you can. IFSA thinks of YOU, not just of the general group of study abroad students, in everything they do.

Overall, my study abroad experience is one that I would never give away. I would honestly do anything to go back to China with the same people that I was living with. I believe that the people I met on the program along with the experiences I made living in a new country are unforgettable. I was able to really appreciate and integrate myself into the Chinese culture. I felt that the people I met on the program, made all parts of this abroad experience worth living. I have no regrets going to China through this program as I received good mentorship from my professors and program directors as well as made great friendships on the way. Furthermore, IFSA provided me with the opportunity to learn a new language while at the same time taking elective courses for my major. On top of that, IFSA provided me with an internship which ultimately gave me experience to land my first internship over the summer of 2019. This program helped me a lot in discovering my career and academic paths.