University of Wisconsin–Madison

Italy: Jackson Knaus

Program: IES Milan Business Studies, Spring

Jackson’s Majors: Economics, Data Science

Jackson standing on a rocky slope, posing with thumbs up, A steep mountain peak is in the distance behind him.
Me on a hike up Mt. Etna in Sicily. Europe’s most active volcano!

How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?

Milan seems like a different world in terms of academics. There was nowhere to hide because my classes were considerably smaller (15–20 students), yet the syllabi only provided rough outlines, and there weren’t many rubrics. Because of this, I had to rely largely on class conversation to figure out what the teachers expected of me. In contrast to Madison, where quizzes, projects, and participation make up a larger portion of the grade, how you did still relied heavily on a small number of assessments. Slides occasionally came after class, lectures expected you would understand the readings on your own, and the style was more formal. Field trips that made the city a living laboratory—visits to famous sites, business aperitivi—were what counterbalanced the intensity. These experiences strengthened my ability to relate classroom theory to real-world business.

I’ll be returning home with an increased respect for other approaches to managing time, work, and community—as well as a calm reassurance that I can succeed in new environments.

What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?

It wasn’t an easy trip. Before leaving, I had to juggle visa papers and a mad hunt for the best housing choice in Milan. I made it through by asking my advisors plenty of questions and using a color-coded checklist which IES provided. The challenges changed on-site: my Italian plateaued, classes hinged on important tests, and homesickness hit at strange times. By joining a nearby climbing club where English was not widely spoken, practicing speaking finals with classmates, keeping a daily notebook, and making video calls to family and friends, I was able to break through the language barrier. One WhatsApp apartment tour, one stalled espresso order, one 100 percent on an oral test at a time—overcoming each obstacle demonstrated that persistence combined with a strong support system can overcome nearly any obstacle.

Jackson and another student at night, at a distance from a brightly lit stadium. One of the students has a red AC Milan scarf around their shoulders.
Me and a friend I met the first day of my program abroad attending an AC Milan football match at San Siro Stadium.

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

I found myself to be far more resourceful and adaptable than I originally believed when living in Milan. Daily problems, such as unexpected strikes in public transportation or unexpected closings of stores, pushed me to accept unpredictability rather than resist it. My definition of “productive” was expanded by immersing myself in a culture that prioritizes long conversations over clock-watching, and interacting with locals over meals or Serie-A chat made me realize how fast humor, food, and curiosity can overcome language barriers. I’ll be returning home with an increased respect for other approaches to managing time, work, and community—as well as a calm reassurance that I can succeed in new environments.