CIEE Reviews

I had a great time in this program. Firstly, all staff were incredible- empathetic, smart, helpful, and interested in building relationships with us. I achieved a level of Arabic proficiency I never would have had I not gone abroad. I got to see the most incredible historical and cultural sites in Jordan, and had the freedom to travel on my own or with friends. I also got to meet locals and get immersed in Amman. Another great feature of this program is that you can participate in an internship while there, which I did as well- it helped me gain experience working abroad and is a great thing to have on your resume. Overall, I would definitely recommend this program!

I studied abroad with CIEE in Amsterdam in the January 2023 term. I spent three weeks total in Amsterdam and took one 3-credit course - Dutch Public Health. This was my first time going abroad alone, and CIEE did a great job of making everyone feel safe and at home regardless of study abroad experience. Before the trip, we were provided with a plethora of detailed information about every aspect of our study abroad experience including housing, meals, packing, and an overview of the Dutch culture. I never felt unprepared once or unsure before leaving! They also provided an itinerary for our first few days in Amsterdam so we knew what to expect from the moment we got off the plane. We also had the chance to virtually meet the other students participating in the program via Groupme and Canvas.

I am from Texas, so the moment I got out of the airport, Amsterdam felt like a different world, but I was excited to be immersed in a new city and culture for the coming weeks. On the educational side, we were enrolled in class for about two full weeks with 4-hour class times a day with an hour lunch break in the middle. Depending on your desired course choice, the class format may be different, but for Public Health, it was lecture-based with one day of excursions. The CIEE program scheduled time for 3 group excursions in various parts of the Netherlands including Leiden, Rotterdam, and the Red Light District of Amsterdam. Each excursion showcased a different side of the Netherlands and made our time there more worthwhile.

We were housed in a popular student housing dormitory/hotel that many international students live at. It was very modern and fun, and included a café, free laundry, a gym, and plenty of social and work spaces. Each student had their own room and private bathroom, which were both of great quality and cleanliness. The location was very close to the city center, had a grocery store across the street, and was near plenty of restaurants.

Overall, it was a great experience and would recommend it to any study abroad experience!

I was a student in the Summer 2022 Moroccan Language and Culture program and since I returned home in July, I have been trying to find a way to return. I loved Morocco so much, and I am so glad that I chose this program to be my first experience in the country!

I have seen other reviews talk about the people and the program staff, and I wholeheartedly agree that was the best part of the program. The Rabat center staff were absolutely amazing. They were so enthusiastic about teaching us about the country and consistently went above and beyond to make sure that we all had a great experience. We were able to request some of the excursions and activities that we did, including a trip to the Rabat zoo and a day with migrants and refugees from the Foundation Orient-Occident at the beach where we had some great discussions about immigration and race in Morocco. The weekend excursions were truly unique because of the connections the staff had, and we got to learn so much just from having conversations, tours, and workshops with the locals. On top of this, all of the people I met in Morocco were so kind and welcoming and made me feel at home.

I learned so much on this program about Morocco and about myself. This experience truly changed me, and I cannot emphasize how much I recommend this program!

I had an excellent experience in the CIEE Amsterdam: Social Sciences & Humanities program. The staff was helpful and kind, and they made the transition seamless. The CIEE courses I participated in did a great job of integrating us into the culture while also challenging us academically. The social scene in Amsterdam was so much fun and fairly easy to navigate. The city has a great variety of activities, including expansive flea markets, museums with amazing history, and unique attractions such as the Red Light District. I would absolutely recommend this program and Amsterdam as a city itself.

I took Sustainable Development of the Tropics while at CIEE for January. I think it was possibly my favorite class I have ever taken. The professor was awesome. He was super interested and well versed in the subject, which made him super engaging. The format of the class was awesome, we had lectures and then would go to various locations that illustrated what we had learned (about sustainable agriculture and energy sources). We also got to experience some of the different kinds of tourism, which was one of our units in class.

I have never been abroad and Amsterdam has been in must for SO long so when I found out about this trip I was incredibly excited. This trip has been great, it was definitely a rocky transition to adjust myself not only to the time zone but just being alone in a new place. After I felt more settled and there was a schedule things began to get better. The culture here and the art and especially the architecture is amazing here. It was nice having to go to class everyday because it forced you to go into a new part of the city and explore that area on lunch breaks. Learning to ride a bike as soon as possible in the city here was very helpful and I’d definitely recommend biking everywhere. It helps you really experience Amsterdam!

If you've never been out of the country be prepared to immerse yourself in a fun culture! I knew beforehand I wanted to live in Germany and after coming to Berlin I knew this is definitely on the top 3 list of places I would want to live. The culture here both day and night is always alive with richness in history, art, and food. Every corner of the street is something new and a market to go to on Sunday with second-hand items such as clothing. The history is also something you should not miss out on learning if you come here, there are so many museums to explore! I highly recommend coming here to get out of your comfort zone and learn a new culture.

I loved my time in Copenhagen with CIEE. I learned so much doing this program academically and culturally. Study abroad changed my life!! I learned about happiness and met so many different students from diverse backgrounds. The classes were taught by a group of knowledgeable instructors. The excursions were very fun. The housing was great I stayed in a brand new apartment with my own room and a shared bathroom. The room also had its own washer and dryer and came with a whole array of kitchen appliances

I loved my experience in Copenhagen. We had 20 students in our J-term class and we were a diverse group from many different schools in the states. The CIEE staff provided great support for our cohort and it was obvious that they cared about us, our happiness, and our safety. Despite being here in one of the "worst months" of the year, the city was gorgeous and we were able to explore a lot. We had a ton of time for independent activities and were able to make friends with locals. It was easy to get around by bike and the metro was simple! I highly recommend going to Copenhagen through CIEE!

Overall Educational Experience:
During my time abroad, I spent 6 weeks at Yonsei University. The professors spoke Korean and English equally and were very flexible with the 6 week semester. There were several libraries/study areas around the campus and the majority of textbooks/ebooks were free.

Host Country Program Administration:
Yonsei and CIEE staff could be found quite easily. CIEE staff had their own office at Yonsei University and Yonsei staff was also on duty- day and night at the dormitory. All of these staff members were helpful and would find the answer to questions that would arise.

What to do for fun?
CIEE had planned out several activities and excursions for us each week. Aside from this, you will have plenty of time to adventure out on your own/with friends.

Housing:
I will note that CIEE has nothing to do with how clean the dormitories are. I resided in a single-room dorm, which was smaller than expected but worked for me. Within my room, I had a twin bed, which was very, very hard and left my back very sore. After some time, my back adjusted and I got used to it. There was a desk with plenty of shelf room and a wardrobe closet, again, with plenty of room. A plus of the single room is that you get a mini fridge which I appreciated greatly. The bathroom is a wet bathroom, so I would advise you to wear sandals when you step into it, and also to keep your feet clean. The shower was always nice and hot. The cleanliness of the room was decent, but not thorough. We were told to clean our rooms before we left, and I suspect that is what the last students did, so some areas were missed.

Food:
At the entry-level of the dormitory, there was a convenience store filled with goodies and 3 restaurants. I believe one was a burger place, another was a pork cutler place, and another was a soup place. I really enjoyed the burger place. I recommend the Western burger. If none of those suit your appetite, there is a number of convenience stores and restaurants on campus. Let's not forget that you can find many more restaurants and grocery stores just across the street.

Social/Cultural Integration:
I was a guest, and my country was not my host. This means, just because I came to visit, it does not make them my host. I was to remain aware of my actions because one thing that is considered normal in my country, may come off as rude in another. I educated myself on the social etiquette of the country I was visiting beforehand. You do not want to stand out. You want to blend in, and because I educated myself, I did blend in quite nicely. Aside from this, while the language barrier did cause some problems as I am not fluent, I did not worry too much as many places had kiosks that had an English option- this made purchasing items a breeze. On top of this, as noted above, CIEE provided many activities and excursions that allowed students to work together and encouraged them to interact with the locals and explore the area.

Healthcare:
I became ill during my study abroad, and with South Korea's guidelines for COVID, I had to be tested. I first emailed a CIEE staff member asking for advice. She directed me to the on-campus clinic, where I was seen, asked about my symptoms, and tested for COVID, all for free. There were some language barrier problems, but it was sorted out. I was given 3 types of medication pills and was told how to take them. I paid for those there and went on my way. I cannot compare this clinic to my home clinic at my University as I've only been once and that was to get an ice pack, but what I do know, is that there is no fee when you visit my University's clinic as it is already paid for when you paid toward your tuition.

Safety:
Yonsei University seemed like a very safe place, even when it's in the heart of a large and busy city. South Korea is a safe place in general, so I was never worried. In the dormitory, there was always a Yonsei staff member in the lobby to watch those who enter and leave. There was only one way to enter the area that takes you to the stairs/elevators, and you could only enter this area after your temperature was checked and your card was swiped. Separate floors separated the sexes. There were never males and females residing on the same floor. And to enter your room, you would have to tap your key card (kind of like a hotel). There is no jaywalking whatsoever. There are many safe places to cross at, so never attempt to do so elsewhere because while the city is relatively safe, drivers can be careless. Keep an eye out for bicycles and motorbikes of any kind. They WILL drive them on the sidewalk where people walk, so be aware of your surroundings. I have even seen them drive them on the pedestrian crosswalks. They're not supposed to, but again, you must remain aware.

How did I afford it?
Apply for scholarships!!! The sooner you do it, the better because it is a process. Look into your school and program resources, they will usually have a list of scholarships that will help you. Your GPA not high? Do not let that stop you! Not all scholarships look at GPA. The scholarship that allowed me to study abroad is the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. This scholarship is exclusive to students who receive the Pell Grant. The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship gives a voice to those who have been underrepresented: The minority, the disabled, first-generation college students, etc. Gilman looks at what makes you unique and what makes you do what you do. They want to know what obstacles you have overcome. This is the scholarship that wants to hear how you have blossomed and wants to be the one to give you that extra push. Money should never stop a student from learning. If you have any questions about this scholarship or any others, please get with your college/university as they can assist you with this.

Would I do it again?
Absolutely. It was definitely worthwhile. While the trip cost a pretty penny, the impact on my character and life is priceless.