Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis | Groups


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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
Ally Hirsh:  I think connecting with other students who have studied abroad and hearing about their experiences is extremely valuable both when preparing to study abroad and throughout the semester. There are some things I felt I could have been more prepared for when I left for Milan and I would love to have those conversation with students to help them be more ready for the experience than I was.
Advice to outgoing WashU students:  Everyone grows so much during their study abroad experience, my advice would be to try to hold on to everything you've learned about the world and about yourself and apply that to your life back at school. Personally, study abroad made me much more outgoing and confident and I plan to hold on to that back at WashU.
Advice to incoming exchange students:  Prepare as best you can before hand to make your transition easier. I would recommend making sure you have a plan for things like you're housing, phone service before you arrive. Other than that, enjoy every moment! Say yes to opportunities and step outside your comfort zone. There is no better time to explore new things.

Brooke Robinson: I've grown up traveling- in first grade my family moved to Barcelona for a year and ever since then I was hooked. Through my experiences of living abroad (Spain for a year, Paris summer after freshman year, and Milan last semester) I've been challenged, I've soaked up so much about other cultures, and I've had a great time learning about myself and growing. I want to be able to share my love of and appreciation for living abroad with other students.
Advice to outgoing WashU students:  Try to do something new, even if it is so small, everyday- there are so many cool and unique experiences abroad if you're really cognizant of all the new that is going on around you, it's very easy to take advantage of all the opportunities you have.
Advice to incoming exchange students:  Join any organization (academic clubs, greek life, etc.) and really get to know us Americans and American culture outside of the classroom. We're just as interested in learning about what your culture is like too!


 
Copenhagen Business School

Regan Banvard: I want to be able to share not only my love for studying abroad, but also the realities that come along with it. Studying abroad was one of the most rewarding experiences in my college career. My experience at Copenhagen Business School’s summer program taught me how to balance studying and sight-seeing, provided me the opportunity to meet students from all over the world, and helped me become more confident and independent. 
Advice to outgoing WashU students: Don’t be afraid to be a bit selfish and independent—do things on your own! If you really want to do a certain activity or see a specific landmark, go do it! Who knows when you’ll have the opportunity again. For example, the first time I heard of Denmark was when I was reading Hamlet in AP Literature. When I was planning my trip to Copenhagen, I knew I wanted to visit Elsinore and send pictures to my AP Literature teacher. However, when I mentioned it to my friends on my program, none of them seemed interested in traveling two hours to go see the famous Kronborg Castle. It was my last week in Copenhagen and I still hadn’t seen the castle, so, I booked a bus ticket and spent the entire day in Elsinore by myself. I used to be the type of person who needed to be with others to go do fun activities, but being abroad taught me that doing things by yourself is rewarding and it teaches you to become more independent.
Advice to incoming exchange students: Try to get outside of the WashU bubble (or even the St. Louis bubble) if you can! This can be a challenging thing even for WashU students, but it is probably one of the most fun things I have done with my friends. One of my favorite things about studying abroad was being able to explore new restaurants and new cities in Europe that I may not have otherwise visited if I wasn't studying in Scandinavia. I encourage you to try different brunch places in Clayton or even plan a weekend trip to The Ozarks or even Chicago! Oh, and you definitely have to try some Ted Drewes while you are here!

 
ESCP & ACCENT Paris

Anna Moros: 
Advice to outgoing WashU students: Spend more time in the place you're studying in than travelling. Travelling can be done again but living in a foreign city without a full time job and few responsibilities will likely never happen again.
Advice to incoming exchange students: Meet as many American students as possible and get involved on campus.





Danni Yang:   In my opinion, the Paris Internship program is so much less known than the London and Israel Internship programs offered. I know that when I was considering applying to this program, the last participant from WashU was a student who had graduated around 4-5 years ago at least. I would love to be a part of bringing greater awareness of this opportunity to Olin students, especially since working abroad has helped me develop so much both professionally and personally and Paris is a great city to live in for half a year. Also, throughout the program I grew very close to the IFE team and they were such a great support system throughout the whole experience -- they run a very well-established and culturally/professionally enriching program in Paris.
Advice to outgoing WashU students: Be very open-minded and willing to learn/adapt! You are now the foreigner coming into a culture where things will be very different from what you're used to. Cultural faux-pas are inevitable, but people will understand that you are still learning -- respect is universal.
Advice to incoming exchange students:  If you came with other people from your university, make an effort to talk to local students and go outside of your social comfort zone. The worst that can happen is that you walk away with an awkward experience, but on the other end of things you make a WashU connection who will show you around campus and potentially become a very close friend.
 
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Abby Bishop:  I would love the chance to help make life easier for any incoming students and have the chance to share my knowledge and experiences with the next group of outgoing UST exchange students especially about the day to day workings of Hong Kong, such as getting a phone plan and Octopus card. I know these basic necessities were a cause of stress at the beginning of my semester since I didn't have much information about how to go about getting set-up in Hong Kong, and I would like to help get the next round of students as comfortable as possible before their semester abroad.
Advice to outgoing WashU students:  Definitely travel and go see all of the amazing countries and experience the different cultures in Asia, but make sure to spend enough time in Hong Kong to really understand how the city works and see all that it has to offer. There are so many fun and unique activities and areas to visit around the city that you can get a full abroad experience without having to travel every weekend. It's also incredibly rewarding to feel like a local at the end of the semester if you spend enough time in the city to get to know it well.
Advice to incoming exchange students:  Don't be afraid to reach out to local WashU students and get involved with clubs and groups on campus. There are so many things to do around campus and some even specialize around Asian cultures and students, so there are definitely great options to get involved but still have a more familiar community within all of WashU. Also, make an effort to expand your network beyond the people you know from your home university and become friends with a few local students who can show you all of the cool things to do around St. Louis. It's incredibly rewarding to make friendships that span the world and it's a cool way to see how cultures can differ in many small day-to-day activities.
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
Katie Zara: 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!
WHU, Germany
Hana Davisson
Advice to outgoing WashU students: Plan if/where you want to travel outside of your home country, but don't be disappointed if you don't get to see everything. Definitely take in your experience in your home country, make friends, join clubs, and try to integrate yourself in that culture as best as you can. It's possible to be both part of a community as well as travel and see many new and exciting places!
Advice to incoming exchange students: Take advantage of all the exciting (and free) opportunities Saint Louis has to offer, and to really make Saint Louis your home. Don't discount it because it's not as well known as Chicago or New York, it has a lot of amazing hidden gems.