蜜桃视频

For Anya Bansal and Filip Sentypal, studying abroad at Bocconi University in Milan meant stepping into the unfamiliar.

Both Tepper School of Business juniors arrived in Italy excited to experience a new country, travel, and meet people from around the world. They also arrived knowing that daily life, from the classroom to the people around them, would look different from what they were accustomed to at 蜜桃视频.

Through Carnegie Mellon鈥檚 departmental exchange with Bocconi University, Bansal and Sentypal spent a semester immersed in one of Europe鈥檚 leading international academic environments while experiencing life in Milan and traveling well beyond it.

For Bansal, the transition was immediately noticeable in the classroom. Courses at Bocconi introduced her to a different academic environment than she was accustomed to at the Tepper School, with new approaches to teaching, classroom dynamics, and student engagement.

One course in particular, Social and Political Philosophy, gave her an unexpected way to connect what she was learning with the country around her. Discussions tied philosophical theories to Italian history and figures such as the Medici family, adding context to her experiences visiting museums and exploring Italy.

鈥淚 also enjoyed gaining a new cultural perspective, since many of my previous courses had focused primarily on the United States,鈥� Bansal said.

Sentypal found a different kind of academic challenge. He chose math and technical business courses and encountered an assessment structure where a midterm and final, or in some cases a single final exam, could determine an entire course grade.

鈥淭he stakes were high, but it was definitely doable if you stayed on top of the coursework,鈥� he said.

At the same time, one of his favorite academic experiences had as much to do with the people beside him as the material itself. In a Corporate Finance course, Sentypal worked on a group project with students from England and Romania. The experience gave him the opportunity to learn about their backgrounds and lives, while building friendships along the way.

Those international connections extended well beyond the classroom for both students.

Bansal made friends from Kazakhstan, Singapore, Germany, Italy, and elsewhere, learning not only about different world perspectives but also the small details of everyday Italian life, from expressions and food traditions to social customs.

Sentypal found a sense of community at home with his roommates, all Bocconi students. Shared meals became one of the most memorable parts of his experience. The group cooked lunch and dinner together, spent evenings talking and watching soccer, and became an important part of his life in Milan.

Life abroad also gave both students opportunities to test themselves in ways they hadn't expected.

During spring break, Bansal completed a longtime bucket-list goal by walking more than 100 kilometers of the Portuguese Coastal Route of the Camino de Santiago. It was her first solo trip and an experience she described as physically and mentally challenging, but incredibly rewarding.

By the time she returned to Pittsburgh, Bansal felt more comfortable meeting new people and navigating unfamiliar environments. Her finance coursework at Bocconi also helped prepare her for her summer internship, while the broader experience sparked a desire to continue making travel and international experiences part of her life.

For Sentypal, the semester prompted a different kind of reflection.

Before studying abroad, he said he often approached college by focusing on whatever came next: the next test, interview, or goal. In Milan, he saw students balancing the demands of a rigorous university with a culture that made room for community and everyday enjoyment.

Whether that meant meeting friends for an aperitivo after class or eating gelato in the park between classes, he began to appreciate what he described as a more laid-back but intentional approach to life.

It is a perspective he plans to carry with him.

For Tepper School students considering whether to study abroad themselves, both Bansal and Sentypal offer similar advice: go.

鈥淒o it, and if you're nervous or scared about something, do it anyway, 鈥� Sentypal stated.

Bansal points to the rare opportunity to travel while still having the structure and community that comes with being a student. Her semester brought friendships she continues to maintain, trips she never expected to take, and experiences ranging from walking the Camino de Santiago to seeing the Northern Lights.

If you are a current student interested in travelling abroad, we recommend meeting with your academic advisor and the Office of International Education (OIE) to confirm course plans, eligibility, and timelines. Please check the for more information.