I couldn't give a more positive review to this program. Very easy classes and great professors. CIEE Rome offer high-quality academic experiences, including a variety of courses taught by experienced faculty members. The cultural immersion opportunities are quite endless. The effectiveness of language instruction, cultural activities, and interactions with local communities in Rome. The quality of housing options provided by CIEE, as well as the availability of support services such as on-site staff, orientation programs, and assistance with logistics and cultural adjustment. Clear communication and well-organized programs are crucial for a positive study abroad experience and that's exactly what Rome did. The responsiveness to student concerns or emergencies that I presented were taken into consideration so I felt seen and valued throughout it all!
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Coming to orientation and not knowing many people, but then many of those faces turned into friendly acquaintances.
I had the best experience and made the best friends. My biggest piece of advice is to go in with no expectations, and to keep an open mind. There is going to be new food, a new culture, new people and plenty of other things you may not be used to. If you're open to what the trip has to offer, you are going to have the most unforgettable experience. The CIEE staff is amazing, and I felt so safe during my entire trip to Monteverde, Costa Rica. I only did the J-term session, and wish I had stayed for longer. I took Sustainable Development in the Tropics, and actually learned so much in only 3 weeks. Could not have better things to say!
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
There were so many monkeys and coatis, which were really cool to see. I also saw a sloth and some iguanas, which was awesome. During our free weekends, my friends and I went ziplining, in hot springs, horse back riding and to Manuel Antonio for the beach. There are so many opportunities to explore and have fun.
Hi! I studied in Tokyo, Japan, and did a homestay! It was a pleasant experience to live in another country and see how others live their lives! Also, learning another language extends how many people you can interact with and how many incredible stories you can hear! I highly recommend it, and going through CIEE is a great choice! Also, the school I attended (Sophia University) was an excellent school to go too! They are adorable and international school-friendly! However, the Japanese class is a lot of work, so be ready to work, but learning another language and talking to others in their language is fulfilling!
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I ate some incredible things in Japan! Like cow tongue and jellyfish! There were things I didn't like, salted squid...but I am glad that I had an open mindset and tried everything!
Pros
Learn a language
Meet cool people
Live abroad
Cons
Miss home
Sometimes stressful
Hard to get what you want sometimes! (language barrier)
I have really enjoyed the CIEE open campus program; it provides an opportunity for students to explore new cities and have a wide range of travel opportunities. The professors are all incredibly kind and personable, and the CIEE staff is friendly and helpful. The CIEE staff provides great recommendations for food, night activities, day trips, and other resources that students may find helpful for exploring whatever region they are in. I have been able to meet so many new people, and make a variety of friends with unique experiences.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I loved my time studying abroad in Rennes. I was fortunate enough to live with a wonderful host family who were willing to answer my *many* questions and who were excited to introduce me to their culture. I enjoyed my classes at Université Rennes 2, and felt supported by CIEE staff as I navigated the registration process. I also grew to adore the ease of transport with Rennes two metro lines and numerous buses (which were almost always on time). I felt safe wandering about the city, even after dark.
I have some major food allergies (peanuts) but I had little difficulty navigating my allergies while abroad. I'd recommend researching what the common allergin labels are for food before you travel. Food allergies are less common in France (due to frequent early exposure), so you may have to carefully explain dietary issues to those around you. However, like I said, I had no issues.
I'd say the most challenging part of this program for me was the number of protests, leading to days where we missed class. Our program leaders did a great job helping ensure we got the number of hours of instruction needed to transfer our credits, and explaining what was going on around us. I always felt safe.
If you participate in this program (and I hope you will) take advantage of all the clubs and trips offered by CIREFE (The Exchange Student Branche of the University) and CIEE. Those were some of the best parts of my study abroad experience.
I also recommend this program to anyone interested in education. I was able to participate in a field experience teaching English in a French high school. There were also opportunities at the middle and elementary level. My host teacher was very helpful and I enjoyed working with my students.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I highly recommend eating lunch at the university. While each day's options are a surprise, the university meals are excellent and very cheap. For 3 euros, they provide you with a main dish, a small side salad, bread (of course) and a dessert. The food was usually good, provided me opportunities to try new things, and allowed me to save money so that I could go out to dinner with friends on weekends or travel.
I also recommend a raincoat and sweaters if you are here in the spring. The humidity makes it feel cold.
Finally, I recommend you visit le Marché de Lices on Saturdays. It's a historical farmers market that has existed for more than 400 years!
This trip was the most exciting opportunity I’ve had in my life so far! Singapore is a hub of opportunity and travel. I got the chance to visit 5 countries in Southeast Asia for very affordable prices. CIEE staff was very helpful in making my travel dreams come true! There were always things to do and see. I really enjoyed my time with my professors and other students as well. In Singapore I have built life-long friendships from people all around the world! I am very thankful to experience this opportunity in the early stages of my career.
What was your funniest moment?
It’s hard to pick one certain funny moment out of all the ones I have experienced. I have never felt happier in my life and had a better time than here. My new friends made me laugh every day!
My time in rome was amazing! It is such a beautiful city and CIEE helped a lot in getting us involved in the host culture. People in rome are very friendly and it is also very walkable! In every corner possible there is something that catches your eye. Rome also has amazing food! CIEE was very helpful in helping experience all of this. They had a lot of fun events like museum visits, gnocchi making class, trying italian street food, pope audience and much more! I really would recommend this program to other students!
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
For me it was getting the courage to go out alone in a completely different city. I was nervous, but I really wanted to explore and take advantage of this opportunity of being abroad in such a historic place. I did it more and more and it was the best decision ever. Rome is also a place that feels very safe. Of course it is important to always be aware and alert, but it is such a friendly environment!
Pros
weekly extracurricular events
local teachers
helpful staff
Cons
no meal plan
communication about scholarships/grants can improve
far walking from housing (if you do not enjoy walking)
When I was deciding on programs I would've loved to see a specific review like this. If you are considering studying abroad DO IT. I am currently a senior in college and just got back from my J-Term program abroad in Paris. I loved every second of it, my only complaint is that I wish the program was a week longer because of how fast paced the academics were. I did the fashion class and learned so much, my professor was great and my peers were great. Living situations were a bit hard because it was so far from the main city and we were spread across three buildings but it wasn't too hard to deal with. I met some amazing people who i am still friends with and am even going to visit! I felt very supported by the staff as well. I also felt that with my class, I really got my money's worth. We took some amazing field trips and did very hands-on assignments. This is your sign that if you are a senior (or any grade) looking to do this program DO IT! Especially if you are a senior I would specifically encourage you to fo the J-Term program, most of the students in this program were seniors and juniors which was so comforting.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go into this program alone! You'll meet so many people and going into it with a friend is fun but a bit harder to make close relationships with other people.
I studied abroad for the J Term in Berlin. For me, one month was the perfect amount of time to experience Berlin. My favorite part of being in Berlin is the fact that it is so centralized and it makes it easy to travel to other places. For example, we traveled to Prague for a weekend and it was super easy because of Berlin's awesome train system.
CIEE staff also made the month very easy and very fun. Our professor assigned us an appropriate amount of work to be able to experience Europe while also gaining information about the class.
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The most unfamiliar thing I ate was something I had never heard of: a Doner Kebab. Let me tell you something; it will be the greatest thing you ever eat. There are multiple Doner stands all around the neighborhood so there are so many to try.
Pros
Food
Train system
Staff
Cons
Students never cleaned the kitchen so it was basically unusable
Dreary, dark, and gloomy were the first things that came to mind when I imagined Copenhagen, Denmark in January. Although the temperatures did not get very warm, Danish Hygge and lots of baked goods made my J-term abroad a wonderful experience. The food was consistently delicious, I did not have one bad meal in Copenhagen. There are a wide variety of bar scenes, so everyone can find a spot to unwind that suits their 'vibe.' Additionally, it is an extremely safe place to visit, and one can travel independently without fear, even in the early hours of the morning. There is shopping galore, from big name-brand stores like Magasin Du Nord to grungy thrift stores like Episode -- and most offer either a student discount, or a foreign discount with a passport. There is a photo op at every corner, but especially in the iconic Nyhavn, which is also home to a plethora of fine dining. Arts and culture are also abundant in Copenhagen. Most museums offer a student discount with a student ID, and are a great place to ride out foul weather while also learning more about the culture of the country. There are also opportunities to attend theatre and opera showcases. I attended two operas during my month in Copenhagen, and was charmed by the architecture and the stage craftsmanship. It is a great spot to visit if you are an introverted individual, as the Danish culture is not very 'chatty' – nobody is going to initiate small talk with you. However, I found that if I asked a question, they were willing to answer it and give me recommendations. Overall, I enjoyed my time, but I do wish that I had more of an opportunity to meet local people who were not involved with the CIEE program.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice would be to take time every evening to plan your next day. In the afternoon after class, you should have a destination spot where you want to end up, and then make your way there, but stop along the way!
Pros
Never a bad meal, I was blown away with the quality of food here.
Monday-Thursday class schedule allows for a lot of free time
Copenhagen is very easy to navigate
Cons
Lack of communication from the CIEE staff -- the schedule was often not communicated until the day before, making planning difficult
Museums are not all that interesting in Copenhagen, often not worth the price (even with a student discount)
Even though almost everyone in Denmark can speak English, they speak Danish on a day-to-day basis, so it is hard to break into a conversation or make small talk with Danish natives