IES Abroad Amsterdam – Psychology & Sciences

During my time with IES Abroad, Amsterdam, I took classes in Communication and Media Studies at Vrije University, explored the city and surrounding countries, and was able to experience many aspects of Dutch living and culture through the sponsored field trips and taking a Dutch language class. I really enjoyed the different style of education, the VU emphasizes less time in the classroom in favor of independent reading and studying. There were several group projects, which allowed me to get to know my classmates. A highlight of the outings that IES Abroad organized was the trip to Hoorn, where we explored a cute lakeside town with historic architecture, and then took a boat back to Amsterdam. I highly recommend this program for its support of students, commitment to ensuring students can experience the Netherlands' culture and lifestyle, and exciting location.

This is experience was an incredible way to try something new. I really pushed myself to explore things I had never done before. With the support there to catch me when I would fall and stumble, I was given the unique opportunity to do what I wanted without the fear of being on my own if I needed help. I made life-long friends, travelled to places I had never even heard of and tried to make the of 4 short months in a new environment.

IES Amsterdam set me up for a great semester at Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. While the academics were very different than my home school, I was given resources for a smooth transition. Overall, I enjoyed my classes and was glad I was exposed to a different educational system. Outside of academics, I was given the opportunity to participate in the Erasmus Student Network international orientation weekend, where I made amazing connections with students from both America and other countries from all over Europe. This was a defining factor in my abroad experience and I recommend any student studying abroad in Amsterdam to participate. This orientation weekend was one of many events offered for international students studying in Amsterdam, and there was a constant stream of resources about traveling, night life, culture and music.