Student Testimonials

“Living and working abroad in London was truly the best experience I will take away from my college years at Iowa. It helped me to grow both personally and professionally, and most importantly it has given me friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”

—Emily H.

In June of 2008, the Tippie College of Business will offer its second annual London Summer Internship Program. This program is for undergraduate students who want to make their resumes distinctive with an opportunity that will provide them both international and professional work experience.

To get a better sense of what this program might offer you, read more testimonials from the interns who participated in the 2007 London Summer Internship Program.

“This experience has been one of the most positive things that I could have ever done for myself and for my future career in the financial banking industry. It is extremely difficult for a college student to get an internship in this industry but this program allowed me the opportunity to get my foot in the door at one of the top banks in the world, JPMorgan Chase. I learned so much during my 8 weeks at work and it was so enjoyable that I really wanted to stay the whole summer. This program also provided me with the opportunity to network with fellow employees. I have obtained so many contacts at JPMorgan Chase that I am going to try and work in New York next summer. None of these contacts would have been possible if I didn’t go on this program. I would really recommend this program or a similar study abroad program with an internship attached to it to any Tippie College of Business student.”

—Jim B.

“My job was something unique to me, something no one else had. I had my own challenges and successes, and I was exposed to things that no one else was. But each one of us had a unique experience; that is what is so great about this program. Working abroad immerses you in the culture and makes you feel like a local citizen. This is something I do not think I would have experienced if I studied abroad…I am not sure what I liked most, my job, or the city of London. I suppose it was a combination of the two that made those two months so amazing. London is the most unique, beautiful, lively, and personable city I have ever set foot in.”

—Kendra S.

“Everyday came with new adventures and new lessons that I would never be able to learn in a classroom…The type of office that I worked in gave me the opportunity to observe everyone from the company accountant to the junior account manager work…The first week I was just getting into the swing of things and my boss was getting to know what I was capable of doing. I was given little tasks, such as reading a magazine to catch any press that our client could have received. Once I proved myself I was given more and harder tasks. I would be calling large media companies, create press books, and even promoting the new fall lines of our clients…[Furthermore] I was able to improve my communication skills by communicating with multiple media companies on a daily basis, and use my teamwork skills in the office to complete my daily tasks. Finally, I improved my multi-tasking skills because of the constant flow of work that needed to be finished by the end of the day. Through this internship I was not only able to improve skills I already had, but learn things that would not be taught in the classroom.”

—Caitlin O.

“Living in London allowed me to go beyond just sight-seeing, I was able to observe and adjust to a completely different culture. This was especially true in my internship at Barclays Wealth, where I was able to work alongside a very diverse team and learn about the British office environment… My internship allowed me to improve upon my communication skills, technical ability, as well as my confidence. It has also given me a better perspective regarding where I see myself working after I graduate and specifically what I’d like to do. I’ve learned so much about myself through my working abroad experience, most importantly about what my own strengths and weaknesses are. There have been many challenges and obstacles to overcome, and in the end I’ve become much more independent, pro-active, and patient.”

—Emily H.

“My summer London internship was a great experience from which I have learned a great deal. Throughout my internship I developed many skills and gained valuable insights that will be useful throughout my future professional career. I interned with the tax, audit, and advisory firm KPMG. I believe that my experience at KPMG was truly a unique one. I was placed within the Alternative Investment Group at KPMG. This group was newly created in February 2007 to meet the demand for the converging market of the hedge fund, infrastructure, private equity and real estate industries. KPMG is the first in the industry to create such a group and it speaks multitudes about their drive towards innovation and excellence. Being on the forefront of this new group, I was allowed to gain experiences and knowledge about several sectors of the finance industry. Not only was I working with clients and colleagues in the hedge fund industry but also those involved with infrastructure and government, real estate and private equity. This allowed me to get a true feel for what type of position I want to pursue upon graduation.”

—Lindsay C.

“I was able to explore all the wonders of London, experience an entirely new culture, and gain valuable work experience all at the same time…The city of London is truly spectacular. There are so many cultural and historical sites that are amazing. I spent weeks trying to discover everything that I could. I loved being able to take trips to Big Ben, Westminster, the Tower, and the British Museum. Besides these well known tourist sites, there was also a lot to see off the beaten path. There were dozens of street markets that provided all kinds of goods and allowed for interaction with the locals.

The work experience was also amazing and I could not be happier with the internship that I received. I told EUSA that I wanted to work at a smaller company because I thought that it would be a more personal experience. EUSA delivered and I was able to work at a small hedge fund company. I learned more than I can explain.”

—Gabe D.

“Studying abroad was something I had dreamed of doing since becoming a freshman at Iowa, but it had never worked out for me to do a whole semester abroad; senior year was approaching and I still hadn’t gotten my opportunity to head overseas. I had almost given up hope when I heard about the Summer Internship Program in London that the Tippie School of Business was sponsoring. What a perfect solution to my problem!  My time in London is something that I will never forget and if I could do it all over again I would certainly do so. I made new friends (both that attend school at Iowa and who don’t), learned again to live with new and different people, learned a lot about working and living in another culture, and mostly I learned a lot about myself and realized that I could do things that I had previously thought I was incapable of doing. I walked away from the experience with a sense of accomplishment and am so glad that I finally got to have the abroad experience that I had always wanted.”

—Katie F.

“Living and working in London, England this summer gave me invaluable experiences that have developed me professionally and personally. As opposed to merely traveling or studying, the experience of actually living and working in one of the economic centers of the world gives you insight into the “global business environment” you learn about in the classroom.

Professionally, I interned at London Bridge Hospital and worked on an independent audit of their patient registration process. Everything I learned at London Bridge Hospital ranging from the complexities of working in a private healthcare system (in a country with a National Health Service); to the professional work culture of London, improved my own skills in a professional setting. I now have a new perspective and understanding of a quality healthcare system and can return to the United States to apply what I have learned in my future career. Most importantly, my placement gave me a “global mindset” in the workplace. This will help me be more culturally aware of and able to face challenges that may occur when working with international employees and patients that are increasing in the United States.”

—Jared V.

“I had an internship with the Royal Bank of Scotland [RBS] in London. It was a great opportunity to learn about cultural diversity as well as the banking industry…[And] because the RBS in London deals with many other countries in Europe, it was not uncommon to work with people from all over the Europe. Everyday, I constantly heard people speaking in Italian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and even in Arabic.”

—Phil K.

“In the seven weeks in London I have experienced more…[than] I have in my entire college career…After completing the internship I have come back with more confidence and a better understanding of world as a whole. Knowing that I was placed in a foreign country and had only myself to depend is a good feeling…  Now I know I am able to pursue goals in my life that before I might have thought would be impossible. Also my understanding of the career world is much clearer and I know what type of work goes on daily and the kind of abilities that are essential in the work place. With all this knowledge I have to say that completing this program was one of the most beneficial experiences that I have completed…“

—Ryan C.

“Not everything related to this trip [was] easy…At times it [felt] extremely frustrating, but in the end these struggles [were] often the ultimate cause for personal growth. This program has given me these opportunities, and I have returned a stronger, better person for them.

The professional experience I was afforded through my time at the Royal Brompton National Health Service Trust helped create this change. EUSA reviewed my interests and paired me with an organization that would give me the freedom to both make a contribution, and achieve my learning goals. In particular I had hoped to learn how the National Health Service model differed from the healthcare delivery in the United States. Through my project of creating a database for my hospital, I scheduled my own meetings with hospital executives, traveled to other hospitals for input, and participated in discussions regarding the needs of the National Health Service. This range of activity gave me incredible exposure to an internationally known organization, and has better prepared me to lead a hospital in the United States.

During my time abroad I was also able to travel to Scotland, France, and Italy. In less than two months time I was lucky enough to: play golf in Scotland…visit the Royal & Ancient Club of St. Andrews…attend mass at Notre Dame…see the Eiffel Tower…tour the Louvre…visit the ancient city of Pompeii…tour Vatican City…stand inside the Coliseum; and much, much more. It is even more incredible to think that I experienced all of this on the weekends, when I wasn’t living in and enjoying the great city of London. These travel opportunities really made the trip, and have given me a lifetime of memories.”

—Justin V.