The Olin Ambassador Program is a way for students looking to study abroad to learn more about the available programs by being matched up with a student who has already been abroad. The ambassadors have studied in a diverse set of locations (Europe, Asia, and South America) and programs (traditional study abroad and internship). Below are our current ambassadors, feel free to reach out to any of them to learn more about their program and study abroad experiences.
Ambassadors also serve as local guides for incoming exchange students, available to offer advice on adjusting to life in the US, St. Louis, and Washington University.
Asia Pacific Internship Program
Want to speak to a past student? Contact Sara Stratton
Australia – University of Sydney
Brittney Tong
Although I was extremely excited to study abroad, when the time came around, I was very nervous to leave the states for five months. This was unlike any experience I’ve had before and I didn’t know if I was prepared for it. After my time in Sydney, Australia though, I can say without a doubt that it was one of the best experiences of my life. Traveling to these new places opened up my eyes to the world around me, allowing me to realize that there is so much more to this world than what we have been exposed to. Additionally, I was pushed out of my comfort zone many times throughout the five months, from figuring out how to open up a bank account to dealing with homesickness to learning how to get around Sydney. But these challenges and experiences helped me mature and develop into a more independent and confident person. Coming back to WashU, I have a new perspective on my life, on both the academic and personal sides, one that I could not have learned through the classroom.
China – Chinese University Hong Kong (CUHK)
Want to speak to a past student? Contact Ryan Kearney
China – Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
Want to speak to a past student? Contact Ryan Kearney
Denmark – Copenhagen Business School
Valerie Abbattista
Take as many pictures as you can, even of the silly things like food, your dorm room, classrooms, and buildings on campus. You’ll cherish all of them and you’ll be grateful to have them to look back on (plus it’ll make your family happy to see your adventures).
Try to meet as many new people as possible. Not only will you build an international network, but you’ll also expand your mindset and make wonderful memories.
Finally, don’t be afraid to continue to take risks. Go on a solo trip, try a new food, join a club on campus, or even just say hello to the local students in your classes.
Alissa Geller
Advice to outgoing WashU students: I had an amazing experience yet figured a lot of things out on my own. Since I didn’t go to Copenhagen with any of my closest WashU friends, I had to figure things out myself, from housing, classes, residence card, phone plans, etc. I encourage students to get out of their comfort zones to really get the most out of the experience. My advice would be to not live with WashU students and make sure you sign up for all the school offers as it will allow you to try new things.
Advice to incoming exchange students: I would encourage them to try to join clubs that they are interested in as this could make WashU a smaller school and help them make friends. I would also encourage them to make friends with the other exchange students since they are all in the same boat and could relate about being at a new school together. Lastly, since classes can be different from their home country, I would really push them to get to know their professors through office hours as this will make the whole academic experience easier.
Samantha Haubenstock
Advice to outgoing WashU students: Travel with different groups of people and not to be afraid to travel with people you don’t know very well.
Shivani Jindal
Abroad is an incredible opportunity to try new things, meet people from all over the world, and immerse yourself in to a new culture. Take advantage of your time away from WashU and home to learn something new and push yourself out of your comfort zone. The highlights of my semester included renting a bike and using it to explore the city, becoming friends with other international exchange students from my dorm, joining a Danish consultancy, and taking a solo trip!
Amrata Mehta
Advice to outgoing WashU students: Study abroad was one of the most transformational experiences of my life. It taught me life skills and was a great global exposure outside of WashU. I met people across so many different countries and would have never had such an opportunity. I was also able to travel and learn so much across the different countries I visited. I want to do all I can in my capacity to ensure other WashU students have as much of a rewarding experience studying abroad as I did during my time. If I could, I would do it all over again!
Neal Mintz
Advice to outgoing WashU students: Please reach out with any questions. Going abroad is an opportunity you should not forgo.
Michael Rembold
Advice to outgoing WashU students: For a variety of reasons, this experience changed my life for the better and allowed me to return to WashU with a fresh mindset. Taking a break from the campus and people of WashU did wonders for me, and I think everyone could benefit from a change of scenery.
France – Paris School of Business
Study abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Give yourself some time to adapt to the way of life, and once you adjust, be adventurous. Travel, try new foods, meet new people, and most importantly, enjoy yourself. Your semester will fly by, so have fun and step out of your comfort zone.
Germany – WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management
My biggest piece of advice would be to step out of your comfort zone. Going abroad can be really scary, but it isn’t worth it if you don’t expose yourself to new people and experiences. Most importantly, try to meet as many local students as possible – they are the best people to help you get settled in more quickly and give you a much better insight into student life abroad.
Ireland – University College Dublin
Try the local cuisine!
My advice for students in this program is to not be afraid to say yes. Yes to new friends, yes to new cities, yes to doing things you have never done before. Like the movie Yes Day, say yes to everything. Some of the most memorable experiences I had from abroad, especially in Dublin, came from me saying yes to an experience I was unsure about whether I should go. The most exciting part of abroad is meeting people from all over the world and getting to experience a new place, so why not say yes when a new opportunity arises?
Israel – Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya (IDC)
Want to speak to a past student? Contact Ryan Kearney
Israel – Israel Summer Business Academy (ISBA)
Julia Chandonnet
I absolutely loved my ISBA experience. I was a bit nervous going in just because Israel is the farthest that I have ever traveled from home. Yet, I truly cherish my study abroad experience. Living independently in different apartment scattered throughout Tel Aviv gave me the opportunity to experience the city first-hand and learn new communication and critical skills. I also loved taking classes on the Israeli start-up nation and creating my own venture! If you have any questions I would love to help answer them!
Italy – Bocconi University
Marleigh Friedman
I would love to talk to students traveling to Milan! I had the best experience and would love to speak with anyone and answer any questions.
Anne Kramer
My time in Milan was an incredibly formative experience. It was one of the hardest experiences of my life but also one of the most rewarding. I learned so much about myself in the process and was forced to handle a whole new culture in an immersive way. I was able to pick up some Italian along the way, which was definitely a bonus! I’d recommend going abroad to most people, especially if you’re ready to learn more about yourself in a completely unique way.
Sophie Leib-Neri
Loved my experience, would love to share it with others!
Leslie Siegel
I’m a great resource to someone applying to the Milan study abroad program as I am familiar with and can give an honest opinion about what classes to take/not to take, where to live depending on what type of experience a student is looking for, what to explore in Milan and travel tips.
Advice to outgoing WashU students: For WashU students going abroad, I would say learn how to be comfortable with being flexible and adaptable, not everything is going to work out the way you want it. Also, don’t become complacent; you have to go outside of your comfort zone to experience the city you’re in and meet new people.
Advice to incoming exchange students: For exchange students attending WashU, I would say that the school work is very different than Europe; there are a lot more little assignments throughout the semester, but it teaches hard work and time management. Also, WashU is a great place to be to feel comfortable at a different university as there are so many resources.
The Netherlands – Maastricht University
Singapore – Singapore Management University
Want to speak to a past student? Contact Ryan Kearney
South America Emerging Economies – Chile & Argentina
Lexie Jackson
As the inaugural student for the South America program, I can share valuable insights with students that were not available to me.
South Korea – Korea University
Want to speak to a past student? Contact Ryan Kearney
Spain – ESADE Barcelona
Katie Sissler
I was so nervous to go abroad to say the least. I was that girl that bawled to her dad when he dropped me off at the airport. I had never left the country, I was going abroad not with my friends, and I was going to a country that spoke another language and was supposed to hit the ground running. It was a mess of an experience in the beginning but that is SO NORMAL. It is supposed to be a mess. You are in a new environment and a new country for four months and you have everything at your disposal. I simply had no idea where to start. I started school with confidence and took if from there. I took advantage of everything that was offered to me in Barcelona and Europe and as a result abroad was the best 4 months of my entire life. You get to travel and eat some of the best food and listen and learn from people around you. You get to see how your life has been different from theirs and realize what you are grateful for and how we all play a unique role in this life we have been given. Abroad taught me to be my most independent and happy self, and I could not be more grateful. Most of abroad is WashU throwing you into a new and vulnerable situation and seeing how you can grow and adapt, and I can say with full confidence that I am not the same person I was six months ago in the best way possible, and I have Barcelona to thank for that. My advice for abroad is to go in with open arms and learn and experience as much as you can. Four months seems like a long time, but I promise you it goes by in the blink of an eye when you are in it. Cherish it and treat abroad well, and I promise you will have the experience of a lifetime.
Spain – UC3M Madrid
The UK – London Internship Program
Advice for Students Going Abroad:
- Pack as few things as possible. You will thank yourself when you see all the decadent chocolates and cute clothes you want to bring home.
- Don’t need to plan vacations before study abroad starts. Booking travel is fairly easy and cheap while you’re in Europe.
- Get to the airport at least 2 hours in advance. Seems unnecessary, but you will thank yourself once you see the security lines at budget airports.
- Find a routine activity in your home city, whether it’s a yoga class or gaming café. You’ll be able to make a community outside your school and WashU which will definitely enrich your experience.
- Keep an expense log. Keep yourself accountable!