CIEE

Amazing experience! Supportive staff and good academics, good lodging, and Amsterdam is a wonderful, safe city to travel in alone. The classes offered are great and provide insight on Dutch culture that enhances the experience of studying abroad. There are many activities through class and through the program that allow you to explore museums, other parts of the city, and complete activities you may not have previously considered. The staff members at CIEE are super approachable and always happy to help out when you need it.

CIEE Madrid created an unforgettable study abroad experience. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad in Spain. The program offered substantial help with finding a place to live, organizing events, and creating a great environment to immerse students in Madrid culture. The classes weren't overwhelming, but still provided the intellectual stimulation that I look for personally. The professors, staff, and organization as a whole created an unforgettable experience.

CIEE is a great program that truly gives students the opportunity to see the world while still remaining focused on academics. The full semester program in Berlin was an amazing experience because it gave me the opportunity to take four courses while still having enough free time to genuinely enjoy the city, travel, and immerse myself into everyday life in Germany. One thing I really appreciated about the program was that the atmosphere never felt overwhelming. The schedule allowed students to balance school with actually experiencing Berlin instead of constantly feeling stressed or rushed. The support from the staff was also phenomenal. Anytime issues came up, whether academic or personal, the staff were always willing to help and guide students through the process. I would absolutely participate in another CIEE program in the future.

One of my favorite aspects of the program was the academic experience, especially the history-focused courses. I took courses such as Berlin: Capital of the 20th Century, Holocaust Studies, Culture and Cuisine in Germany, and German. The history courses were absolutely phenomenal because they connected so well with my political science courses back home in the United States. Being physically present in Berlin while learning about German history completely changed the way I understood topics such as World War II, the Holocaust, fascism, political division, and the rebuilding of Germany after the war. Instead of only reading about these events in textbooks, we were able to visit memorials, museums, historical sites, and former locations connected to the history we were studying in class. That made the learning experience much more emotional, impactful, and memorable.

One of the most meaningful parts of studying abroad in Berlin was being able to see how history still exists throughout the city today. Walking through Berlin, visiting memorials, and seeing places connected to important historical events gave me a completely different perspective than I could have gained in a traditional classroom setting. I found myself constantly connecting what I was learning in Germany to my political science and legal studies coursework back home. It made me think more critically about politics, human rights, democracy, and how history continues to influence societies today.

I also enjoyed the excursions and activities organized by CIEE. They gave students the opportunity to explore different parts of Berlin and Germany while also meeting people from different backgrounds. The group dinners, excursions, and cultural activities helped create a sense of community among students. It was nice being able to meet other students from across the United States and internationally while sharing experiences together abroad.

The only course I personally found difficult was German, mainly because learning another language can be challenging, especially while balancing multiple courses and adapting to a new environment. However, even that experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me appreciate the challenges that come with learning and adapting to another culture.

Overall, studying abroad with CIEE in Berlin was one of the most impactful educational experiences I have ever had. It allowed me to grow academically, personally, and culturally while giving me memories and experiences that I will carry with me long after the program ended. I would highly recommend CIEE to any student considering studying abroad because it truly provides an unforgettable experience.

I had such a great experience studying abroad in Rome with CIEE. The program was really accommodating, which made everything so much easier, especially being in a new country. Anytime I had a question or needed help, there was always someone there to support me.

I also really enjoyed my classes. The professors were engaging and made the material interesting, and I liked how a lot of what we learned connected to being in Rome. It made the experience feel more real and not just like a typical classroom.

Overall, I had such a positive experience. Living in Rome was amazing, and I felt like I grew a lot personally while I was there. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone thinking about studying abroad, it was such a fun and memorable experience.

The academic challenge was moderate. Classes weren’t overly difficult, but they still required consistent attendance and effort. Some courses felt more engaging than others, especially those that incorporated the city into the learning experience. Overall, it wasn’t academically overwhelming, which made it easier to balance school with travel. The program staff were helpful and generally accessible. They provided guidance when needed and were supportive in adjusting to life abroad. There were a few moments where communication could have been clearer, but overall I felt like I had support when it mattered. The social scene was one of the best parts. Being in Rome made it easy to meet people, go out, and travel on weekends. There were plenty of opportunities to explore Italy and other parts of Europe, and I met a lot of great people through the program. Housing was decent but not perfect. Living standards were acceptable, but there were occasional issues (I lived in a dorm), space and food became a big problem. The location was a big plus, though, and being in Rome made up for some of the downsides. I generally felt safe both at the school and around the city. Like any major city, you have to stay aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded or tourist-heavy areas, but I didn’t have any major safety concerns. Overall, I had a really positive experience. The chance to live in Rome, meet new people, and travel made it incredibly worthwhile. This experience as a whole was memorable and something I would 100% recommend.