Hi,
I thought it might be helpful to outline some of the areas that applicants have questions regarding their applications about in my blog.

Academic Courses:
Yes – you are taking 4 courses while you are here – 2 are IIB specific: Introduction to American Public Relations & American Business Communications and Culture. These are just for the IIB class, and required for all IIB participants. Here is a link to some more information about these classes: http://www.newpaltz.edu/iib/program_academic.html

You also are going to attend two (2) school of business courses with other students on campus. We ask that you give us between 4-6 courses that you have an interest in, and have met the prerequisites for. This is due to the fact that classes fill up, scheduling conflicts, and sometimes classes are dropped when they do not fill up. We need several options to ensure you get into 2 business courses.

The courses typically meet either one night a week for 2.5 hrs, or 2 times a week (during the day) for 1.25 hrs each. The PR class is the exception – it meets multiple times a week, and is a semester’s worth of material packed into 8 weeks.

Financial Certification:
You need to demonstrate that you have the funds to pay for the program (currently priced at an economical $9950, which includes health insurance & housing in both New Paltz & NYC!) as well as cover your personal expenses while here in the United States. This has been estimated (probably conservatively if you like to shop) at $3000. That is why we ask for documentation showing either you or a sponsor have access to $13000 USD for our program. You will need to demonstrate this at your consulate visit as well. Examples of acceptable documentation include:
Letter from your financial sponsor, and recent bank statements showing the necessary funds available; scholarship letter, or student loan documentation. If you have any questions – please contact me.

I think this covers the main questions I have been getting this past week. If you have more questions – please contact me.

Jeff

The European Chambers of commerce sponsored a networking event this past week in Manhattan. It was held on a cruise ship, and we went around the southern tip of Manhattan – with full open bar and buffet! It was a very nicely held event, and quite well attended. I was pleasantly surprised to see many of my IIB students there. I think everyone had a good time, and I made some good contacts.

Hi,
Well we moved the students to NYC on Friday with little problems. The housing they are in were ready, and had id cards and keys ready when we came in the door! Students were in their rooms and unpacking within 30 minutes- a new record I think!

Internship placements this semester include:
Ardistia, Benetton, Bertelsmann, Chanel, Donna Karan International, Polo Ralph Lauren, Skandinviska Enskilada Banken (SEB), SONY Pictures Entertainment, Taconic Investment Partners LLC, Museum of Modern Art, Tommy Hilfiger, Trafelet Delta Funds, VH1 Production, Viacom and Wing Latino.

Congratulations to all the students for competing for and winning internships in these great companies!

Time seems to fly when you are having fun, and when you are busy. I’d like to believe that both apply to our IIB students this semester.

The students have 2 full weeks left here in New Paltz, and then we move them to NYC on Oct. 16. All of them have internship offers by now (ahead of schedule) and all but 2 have accepted an internship already! This is outstanding.

Companies accepting interns this semester include Bertelsmann, Ardistia, Tommy Hilfiger, Trafelet Delta Funds, Chanel, SEB, MoMA, Donna Karan, Viacom, Wing Latino and VH1. I am quite proud of the job my students have done in landing some GREAT internships!

It is time that I start shifting my attention from internships to incoming applications. We have a rolling admission policy – so if you are thinking you would like to apply for our spring 2010 program – get your application in to our office soon!

I just got this in the mail from my friends at Bertelsmann – seems our past student who interned there won an award for his internship at Bertelsmann while an IIB student. Wow – congratulations! His message follows:
********************
Hello dear friends!

I write to you briefly just to tell you that I won the First Place in
the nationwide Top 100 Young Entrepreneurs Awards organized by the
Coordinating Council for the Entrepreneurship.

As you know, the work I’ve submitted is called “My Internship Experience in Bertelsmann” and consisted in a book where I compiled some of the work I did as an intern, the corporate history, and the recommendation letters that you kindly wrote for me.

I can now be considered as the best intern in Mexico thanks to the
opportunity that you gave me and because of you constant support.
Thank you guys!

The price (sic) I won consists in a full paid scholarship to make another
internship in any part of the world that I decide for one year and six
months; this covers all the costs of transportation, food, etc. I think
I’ll do this as soon as I have my B.A. degree (May 2010).

Finally, I attach you a scanned image of a paper that covered the “Expo Joven” event where the award ceremony took place. It is in Spanish but I know you’ll understand it.

This is an award for all the team, so congratulations!

Best,

Alejandro Servin

Students are interviewing pretty heavily now – down to 4 weeks before they start their internships. Half of them have accepted internships already. Ardistria, MoMA, SEB, Trafelet Delta Funds, Bertelsmann, Tommy Hilfiger, SONY, Viacom, G2, and Donna Karan have all interviewed some of our students. While it is exciting – it’s also quite nerve racking for the students. That was a great interview, this is a great company. .. but I might also get a call from. . . .

I have put out an incentive to the students. All of them placed by Oct. 1 – and I will host a celebration party at my house. I will buy food, drink, and let them cook or cook for them as they wish. . . I hope all are placed by Oct. 1, and some of them want to cook – I am so looking forward to some enchiladas. . .

Hello,
I have decided that I would like to try blogging about the Institute for International Business (from now on referred to as IIB) and my experiences as the coordinator of this program. Why? I am hoping that by describing it from my perspective – program administrator, student counselor, placement site coordinator, academic liaison, and chief bottle washer that I might be able to inform others about this wonderful program. If I am miserable at this – let me know. . . I am open to feedback and would like to know if I am adding value, or wasting time.

Ok – looking forward to seeing you online. . .

Jeff
IIB Coordinator
SUNY New Paltz

The last days I spent in NY were not as wonderful as I thought they’d be. I was not in the NYC mood and the consequences were that -during the week- I didn’t get to enjoy as much of the city as I wanted and in the weekends I put aside my personal beliefs to make up for the lost days. At work, people was not even aware that I was leaving. I’m happy for everyone who got a nice farewell party or gifts…I didn’t even get a recommendation later (it’ll be mailed to Mexico)…my bosses didn’t go to the ceremony…and well, I kindda understand them, but it got me really sad. Altough, I was blessed to have the company of great friends to cope with my blue mood.

Tonight is my last night at NYC, still my favorite city in the world. Now it means a lot more to me than what it meant two months ago. Every place, every smell, every sound and even every rat in the subway will remain in my memory. There will be trivial things that will fade away with time but some others I’ll embrace and try with all my heart not to forget…

Apparently to comment on every member of the IIB Program has become a fashion so…

ALEXIA: Simple, random, “centered”!! I will miss you a lot, thank you for every morning …for every breakfast and for waiting for me to get in the subway even when I wore high heels. “Keep that brethless charm” !!! You’re awesome woman and in NY you’ll never be alone. Take care and do not trust people so easily.

KIKI: Teddy Braham!! So charming and sweet! How do you do it? Always so polite and well educated. Tell your mom she did a good job . You are the kind of girly girl I wish I could be. Love your sense of style and how caring and thoughtful you are. It’s really hard not to think that I’ll miss your friendship =(. AwWw…

OSORIO: STAY AWAY FROM BREAD!! IT’S AN ORDER!! hahah…chek your email, I’ll send you something soon. Thanks for showing me that I’m not as careless as I thought i was. Mexico City is deff. on my priority list of things to do next semester. Take care woman! Whatever you lose, don’t lose that sparkle…keep smiling every day!

ROSSANO: You have the nicest name of all in NY. I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you when you left. I wish I had half the energy you do. Send me your pics ok? That pink camera ROCKS!! We will change the world just like those students in Chicago.

PAULINA: SOoOoooo LoOouD!! I’m gonna miss your northern accent! Always so excited and always so caring. I love how passionate you are about the things you like. Have fun in merry old Canada

MEL: AY AY !! hahaha You have a way to talk to everyone ..always!! I wish we knew each other better, but i’m grateful that i actually got to know you. You, Alex, Kiki and Pau will be my reason to love VIVA AEROBUS!! AHAHAHA

ALEX: I write about you last ’cause I’m sure you would say “Ladies First”. I can say that you are an example…ITESM’s mission statement came to life in you. Thanks for taking care of us, for showing us your kindness and for always being patient and friendly. I’m glad I had this time to share with you.

So, this is how I say goodbye to IIB and New York…grateful for every moment, grateful for the people I got to know here.

Thanks guys. It would have been nothing without you here…

AGUSTIN, GUSTAVO, BETIANA, ESMERALDA, RUUD, CRISTOBAL, KENJI

I’ll try to never forget about you…

ALL MY LOVE …

When you get into a taxi, you’ll notice right away the screen with NYC gral info displaying. The last time I got in a cab, th eguy asked me if I was watching, ofcourse I said no, because I wasn’t so he said “Im sick of it”, can you please turn it off? yeah! for real! I love NYC people, you can expecting anything! and by saying anything, I mean sometimes you go away with the taxi man asking for a tip.

Times in the internship are getting better.
By the end of the month, you get to know everyone pretty well after working 8 hrs a day, and also you are now used to know what your doing, and how efficient you can be.
Its sad because time to go is coming soon.

Make sure that you do everything you want. Doesn’t matter if its snowing, raining whatever, you gotta go for it and do it. NYC its here, but who knows if you’ll be here again!!