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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
Camille Bianco
Advice to outgoing WashU students: Don't reserve yourself with only [your] WashU group. You can make meaningful friendships with locals!
Bocconi University
Bill Feng: Study abroad and the European Study Tour were the best choices I made at WUSTL. I want to share my experience and feedback on the program, both how I prepared in advance and how the program went for me, to interested students.Erin Kim: I knew almost no one going in, knew zero Italian and walked out at the end with so many new friends across the world and a lifelong penchant for gelato and traveling and art and cultures.
Kate Shikany: Studying abroad—in both Milan, Italy and Madrid, Spain (via A&S Overseas Programs)—proved the most shaping facet of my undergraduate experience at WashU, and I’m not ready for it to be over! Last semester, Milan truly became a second home to me, [...] I can provide advice as to how to seek out help with professors and continue academic excellence when abroad.
Copenhagen Business School
Abby Olan:
Advice to outgoing WashU students: Definitely travel on the weekends but also make sure that you stay in the city you are studying in for a bunch of weekends too. This way you can really explore and get to know the city you are studying abroad in as if you were a local.
Advice to incoming exchange students: Join clubs, activities, or intramural teams. WashU students love being involved and it’s a great way to meet people with similar interests to you!
Ashna Vasa
Advice to outgoing WashU students: If there are countries that you really want to visit, plan in advance because plane/train tickets will get expensive last minute. Also, make sure you get to know locals and other exchange students in your program. It is easy to stick to other WashU students in your program, which is fine, but spend time with other students as well!Advice to incoming exchange students: Studying in the US is a different experience from studying in other countries around the world. My biggest piece of advice would be to get involved in campus activities such as clubs, sports, or Greek life to get the whole experience. And don't be afraid to befriend students in your classes!
ESCP & ACCENT Paris
Elizabeth Liechti: I love helping students go through things I myself have done because I feel I can be a truly helpful resource to them, as well as a source of support and excitement. Studying in Paris was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I want to help others as they embark on that experience.Advice to outgoing WashU students: Find a good balance between traveling outside of your chosen city and staying put. Traveling every weekend can be so much fun, but you chose your city for a reason - take the time to explore it and understand it!
Advice to incoming exchange students: School is important, but so is enjoying your time outside of class. Make as many opportunities as possible to explore both WashU and St Louis. Do it with friends, both old and new!
Elexa Salina: My experience [...] was one that I found exciting, informative, and eye opening. Throughout my preparation for attending ESCP, I lacked the opportunity to consult with a Global Ambassador regarding my time abroad. I learned the ins and outs of the ESCP school system during the registration process, fully immersed myself in the French language with no prior experience, and felt that I was able to integrate with the French culture well. I would be excited to help guide or inform a student going abroad to ESCP about the school's processes, my overall experience, and some other study abroad tips and tricks!Advice to outgoing WashU students: Going abroad on a WashU program is exciting and a great way to get to know more of your classmates in a new setting. Make sure to also get to know some local students at your host university and try to integrate into the other culture to make the most of your experience.
Advice to incoming exchange students:WashU has such amazing resources— office hours with professors, help sessions, and a supportive student body as well! If classes seem overwhelming, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help.
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Cathy Kuang: My semester abroad was an unforgettable experience because it introduced me to peers from all around the world that I've stayed in touch with and has motivated me to consider working/living abroad at some point in my life.Advice to outgoing WashU students: Europe is a great place to study abroad, but it's not the only option! I loved Hong Kong (and Asia in general) because it's so diverse in terms of people and landscapes; it's a mix of expats and locals, and it's a mix of bustling city streets and beautiful oceanside views. No matter where you go, though, be open to changing the way you normally do things, whether it's who you hang out with, what you eat, or the way you think.
Advice to incoming exchange students: You might not know much about St. Louis, but it's a gem! WashU provides a free MetroLink pass to all students, so you can still explore the city via public transportation if you don't have a car or bike. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to an Olin Ambassador as a way to start making friends or for help navigating campus life.
London Internship Program
Harrison Silverstein: This past semester I worked [at a] private wealth management fund located in London. [The company allowed me to research] and then come up with my own recommendations on how I thought share prices was going to look in the future. I want to be able to reassure other students that London is definitely the best abroad program for so many reasons, including the city, internship, and classes we take.Advice to outgoing WashU students: Learn about the country and culture you are traveling to because it could be entirely different from the US. Also, learn about the grading system for wherever you are studying because grading scales change between countries.
Advice to incoming exchange students:Try joining a couple clubs or organizations at Wash U—it will be a way to meet new people and immerse yourself in the Wash U culture.
Maastricht University
Josh Schuftan: I definitely had some friends help me make my decisions along the way and want to be able to provide the same opportunity for those that are in the process of making decisions regarding studying abroad.Advice to outgoing WashU students: You’re abroad, make sure to explore new things and interact with people you would not have the opportunity to meet in the US. Don’t fall into the easy trap of primarily interacting with just WashU/American students.
Advice to incoming exchange students: Make sure that you are consistently doing the work – it is not as clustered at WashU as it may be at your home university. Also, students at WashU are super friendly, don’t be afraid to join a club or two.
Brooke Fraser: I had a fabulous time in Maastricht and would be happy to advise students who are deciding where to go abroad. I think it's important to study abroad, and I would enjoy helping others with that opportunity. I did a lot of research when I was trying to decide which program to go on, so I know a little about many of the other programs as well.Advice to outgoing WashU students: Your study abroad experience will probably be some of the best months of your life, so enjoy every minute and say yes to as many things as you can! At the same time, there will be good days and bad days abroad, so don't be discouraged if you feel overwhelmed (the good definitely outweighs the bad). Download offline Google Maps for times when you don't have wifi, and check Pinterest or Trip Advisor for travel recommendations.
Advice to incoming exchange students: Build relationships both with other international students and local students while you're here! It'll make your experience a lot more meaningful and enjoyable. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it - anyone at WashU will be understanding and happy to help.
Singapore Management University
Daniel Selzer: I really enjoyed my program and had some amazing unique experiences that aren't available in some of the more popular Olin programs. I'd love to share with people why I had such a great time in Singapore.Advice to outgoing WashU students: When you're abroad, it's great to take advantage of cheap airfare and travel to nearby countries on weekends and school breaks. But don't travel so much that you prevent yourself from establishing some sort of routine in your study abroad city. The benefit of a full semester abroad is feeling like you actually live in the country you are studying in, and traveling every weekend can get in the way of that.
Advice to incoming exchange students: You may have to make an effort to meet local students but it's worth it and the local students will be happy to show you around or take you out to eat at a local St. Louis favorite. Once I started getting meals with Singaporeans I learned so much more about the culture from the perspective of a college student.
Adam Tarshis: Studying abroad in Singapore was one of the greatest experiences I've had, and certainly a highlight of my academic career. I'm incredibly excited about my semester in Singapore, and I'd love to share my experience with others. Speaking with previous ambassadors for the SMU program is what helped me decide on Singapore, and I hope to be able to help others make that same decision.Advice to outgoing WashU students: Really try to immerse yourself in the local culture. Getting to know local students made my time abroad so much better and I got to know the country so much better than I would have if I’d spent all my time with other exchange students.
Advice to incoming exchange students: Get to know WashU students! We love our school and our city and are always willing to recommend our favorite spots, whether a restaurant or a neighborhood to walk around or a place to study.
Michael Wang:Advice to outgoing WashU students:Definitely don’t compare your study abroad experience with your friends. With social media so prevalent it’s easy to be jealous of your friends in other countries, but they’re only showing off the highlights of their summer and also, their happiness has no bearing on yours. Study abroad was a period of huge growth for me and that didn’t happen because I was always having a good time, but it was completely worth it.
Advice to incoming exchange students: While you’re in the US, I think it’s important to hit the major cities (NY, SF, Miami, etc), but I think it’s more important to make sure you go out into nature. One of the greatest things the US has ever done was create its national parks and I think it’s what differentiates it from many other developed countries. Though the flights may be expensive, when’s the next time you’re going to be in North America and have enough time to truly visit national parks? Additionally, Missouri has many outdoorsy activities that are close by and able to be done for a day trip.
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid & ACCENT, Madrid
Stacy Curnow: I was fortunate enough to have a couple of friends who studied abroad in Madrid the year before me, and I relied on them heavily for advice and guidance through the entire process, from the application to my time in Spain. After having such a positive experience myself, I would like to be that resource for other students and pass on my knowledge.Advice to outgoing WashU students:Study abroad students are notorious for overpacking, but here are 3 items you should not leave home without: 1) a carry-on size bag or backpack that fits most airline regulations, 2) comfortable walking shoes, and 3) something to document all of your adventures!
Advice to incoming exchange students: Take advantage of opportunities to learn outside of the classroom...join a club in an area that interests you, attend a lecture or panel on campus, or just chat with a professor during their office hours.
Univeristy College Dublin, Quinn School of Business
Holly Baldacci (semester program): I think it's important to emphasize[...]the importance of finding a balance between school and travel. You definitely don't want to miss out on any once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but you also need to make sure you keep the importance of your schoolwork in mind. Whether this means saving PDFs of homemade study guides to your phone for studying on the go or sitting in an Italian airport for 6 hours studying for an accounting midterm, I think I definitely found this sweet spot of school/life balance and would be happy to share my tips. Advice to outgoing WashU students:Make sure you stay on top of any emails from your international school, especially when it comes to immigration and visa information! There were tons of other international students at my school who had a really hard time getting appointments with the Irish Immigration Board in the time allotted by Customs, mainly because they hadn't read some key emails about booking appointments super far in advance.
Advice to incoming exchange students: Wash U has tons of different clubs and activities to get involved in, so definitely try out any that interest you! It's a great way to make new friends and to learn more about the campus culture. In my experience, people here are really welcoming and encouraging, especially if you're trying out an activity for the first time.
Josh Schuftan (summer internship program)
University of Melbourne
Sarah Tanner:I was able to take some awesome classes that have added to my business knowledge, as well some classes that added to my cultural understandings of Australia. I traveled, got involved in clubs, lived with Australian people, and was overall able to have a very authentic and rewarding experience. After being abroad, I feel much more confident in traveling alone, adapting to new cultures, and maneuvering global business settings.I loved being abroad so much that I applied for some international internships afterwards and am now working at Amazon in the UK for a 6-month internship! In my first few weeks, I have already felt the positive impact that studying abroad had on my communication skills as I am constantly managing international teams and vendors. I would LOVE to share my experiences with others to help them discover if abroad is the right path for them.Advice to outgoing WashU students: If you are going to Australia, take advantage of the time before your program starts; consider traveling or doing an internship in January because you may not have time after school finishes!
Advice to incoming exchange students: Don't be discouraged if the first few weeks are tough abroad! Adjusting to a new home, new culture, new people and a new timezone can be hard, but it is definitely worth it in the end! Go meet people outside of WashU, do some solo trips, or do something way outside of your comfort zone... you wont regret it!