I loved learning about history, seeing new places, and making memories with some of the most interesting, funny, and adventurous people i’ve met! MEI has been an amazing experience and I would happily recommend it to anyone looking to grow their knowledge of history while traveling and seeing the world! We have stayed in incredible hotels and had once in a lifetime experiences and adventures! The teachers are very supportive and helpful and everything we learn about is made far more immersive and compelling by the real historical sites we get to visit. Overall, I would highly recommend this trip!

I would recommend to anyone who is looking to travel with other teenagers your age! You will grow so much in just a few months that when you get home you will have a whole new set of school and life skills for what ever you do for work or collage. Its challenging but all worth it, and you will rise to meet it. If you're worried about being away from home for 70 days, Just know that you will be busy and by the time there's only 2 weeks left it will feel like you're group all met at the airport a week ago. From running though Florence, Playing ultimate at the louvre, any MEI program will have you seeing towns and cities in a light that you wouldn't even think about if you weren't do lectures and presentations at the monuments.

My MEI experience has honestly been nothing short of amazing. This trip has pushed me to grow in so many ways not just as a student, but as a person. With the support of incredible teachers and unforgettable experiences, I’ve learned to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself every day.

Being able to travel while learning has been one of the best parts. It’s so different from a regular classroom. You actually get to see and experience what you’re studying, and that makes everything so much more real and memorable. MEI’s hands-on learning style keeps you engaged and makes it easy to connect what you’re learning to the places you’re exploring.

Having a small group has also made a huge difference. We’ve learned how to work together, solve problems, and support each other through everything. Over time, we’ve become more like a family than just classmates. MEI gives you the perfect mix of independence and support enough freedom to explore, but also the guidance you need to grow.

Aside from all the academic lessons, I’ve learned so much about life on this trip. From managing my time and responsibilities to building better habits with exercise and healthy eating, these are things I’ll carry with me forever. I’ve noticed such a positive change in both my physical and mental health.

I’m so grateful for the teachers who made this experience what it was. Rita, thank you for always being there with encouragement and kindness you never stopped believing in us. Zoe, your advice and support meant so much, and you’ve taught me lessons that will stick with me for life. And Joe, thank you for constantly challenging us to be our best and reminding us what we’re capable of. You all played such an important role in making this trip unforgettable, and I truly can’t thank you enough.

MEI International Academy’s fall semester was truly unforgettable. Every country became a classroom, studying history where it happened, art where it was created, and culture by living it each day. The teachers made learning exciting and personal, always connecting lessons to real experiences. Traveling with such a close group built deep friendships that felt like family. By the end, I had grown more independent, confident, and curious about the world than I ever imagined possible. Thank you to Joe, Rita, and Zoe for being wonderful teachers.

On this trip I’ve experienced many amazing things and places. The food has been absolutely amazing and the living conditions are great! My classmates are all super kind and we do a lot of fun activities together. The teaching style and academics are all very well done and held to a high standard. I would recommend this trip because it got me and will get you out of your comfort zone and into the real world and teaches you skills and ways on how to confront it. If you choose this program you won’t regret it!

The trip I went on was two and a half months long and left me with memories that I will never forget. The staff on the program are kind and are willing to offer support when troubles arise. The places that students travel to are nuggets of knowledge and wisdom that are not easily forgotten. When we traveled, the places we ate left me with a new palette and I’d suggest picky eaters like me attempt to try every meal they can get their hands on (maybe skip tripe though). Finally, my one small issue with the trip is there are so many places and learning opportunities that the schedule can feel frantic at times. Besides that, I’d recommend this experience purely because the people I met and the friends I made will not be forgotten easily.

This is a hard program, there is no doubt about it. It is something that will teach you grit and perseverance because you are bound to make mistakes. But the experience is worth it. The friends you make along the way are life long and the material is bound to stick with you. Overall, I’d recommend the experience for those who would like to gain perspective and experience with the real world. The places we visited were beautiful and well worth exploring. The memories I’ve made with my peers are irreplaceable and will be cherished forever

Following my 3 month trip with MEI, I came back home with more academic knowledge and more importantly, a better sense of self. While travelling across europe with an entirely new peer group, I made lifelong friendships and had some huge laughs all while gaining a global perspective on world issues and making interdisciplinary connections. Although the travelling aspect of the trip was fun, the work was challenging and forced my class to deeply reflect on what we were learning and strive to better perform in writing and public speaking. I learned to take better photos, analyse and critique everyday concepts and perhaps most notably, navigate different relationship dynamics. This trip was a great first step towards university and gaining independence from my parents, as well as looked great on all of my post-secondary applications, garnering me numerous scholarships. Since I was in my final year of high school, staff ensured I got the support I needed to send out post-secondary applications, guidance I really appreciated. My class was given freedom to explore while also following a typical expected structure of a day, which allowed for us to do our own exploring while hitting all of the key landmarks for our studies. One thing I will note is that MEI is not for the faint of heart; on my semester abroad I was tested and pushed physically, emotionally and academically, and amid the fast-paced environment I often found myself overspent and exhausted, with minimal support resources. I found myself with very little time to stop and really reflect on what I was learning or even how I was feeling in a given moment. This trade-off was arguably worth it for the 3 months of immersive experience, valuable relationships and sense of individualism I gained from my travels (I replay the memories in my head everyday!). Overall, If you are seriously contemplating MEI, I would say go for it; grit up and prepare for a transformative journey you will certainly never forget!