CIEE Reviews

Last spring, I had the chance to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea. My knowledge of the language and the country was limited, but CIEE ensured that I would be comfortable and that all my questions were answered before departure. I was surrounded by amazing people and had the chance to participate in many activities offered by the program, such as cooking classes and island visits! While I loved South Korea and the culture I was introduced to, my experience wouldn't have been as amazing without CIEE. They made it very easy to communicate with them and are willing to help with any issues you might have. If you decide to be part of the program, I highly recommend taking the class offered by Intercultural class offered by CIEE; it was very helpful to understand how cultures differ and how to be open and inclusive.

Coming to Japan had always been a dream of mine. Getting the opportunity to live out my dream with a safe and supportive community is a great way to truly get a feel for the country. The CIEE program is an excellent program for anyone that is hesitant about taking that first step outside their comfort zone. My advice for anyone is that you’ll never truly live if you can’t take the first step into the unknown, and CIEE will be there to help you every step of the way. Now go out there and have fun.

I completed a three-week January term class in Prague through CIEE. Three weeks was the perfect time to enjoy the freedom of studying abroad while avoiding the stress of being gone for a whole semester. CIEE staff struck the right balance of structure and freedom for us students. CIEE offered optional co-curricular activities but also gave us lots of time to explore Prague independently. Additionally, Prague is a real affordable city. I was a financially conscious traveler and Prague definitely gave me the bang for my buck. The J-term was a great alternative to a semester study abroad!

This January term program was intensive, and I learned so much in such a short time. It was a fun atmosphere that let me explore Paris! I enjoyed the accessibility of the metro and buses using the pass. I wish CIEE had bought the weeks for us because we paid a lot fo the trip, but I appreciate the program giving us the passes at the start. The housing was convenient, but we were split up among 3 apartments, and I wish we were all in one so we could all make connections! I enjoyed the small class size to get to know friends in class. The experiences in class were amazing and the field studies were impactful

CIEE Barcelona Program was an immersive experience where I was able to explore new cultures, meet new people, and travel throughout Europe. I really enjoyed all the activities CIEE offered while in Spain, such as the Tapas Cooking Class and Montserrat day trip! My teachers at CIEE were always willing to give out travel recommendations to all their students. They were fully invested in their jobs as teachers and always made sure to make their classes fun, yet informative. The location of the school was on a quiet side street in the center of Barcelona with purple flowers surrounding the building. I loved my metro and walk to school everyday and felt like a true local!

I completed the CIEE Open Campus Copenhagen program for block 3 of spring 2022. I absolutely loved the CIEE Copenhagen program and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to explore Scandinavia.
In particular I enjoyed the Hygge nights that consisted of lectures about Viking culture, group sing-a-longs and campfire stories.
The program placed me right next to the subway and a short ride from the center of town. I would definitely stick to the warmer blocks because Copenhagen can get cold.

This past semester, I participated in CIEE's Central European Studies Program in Prague. For four months, I learned about the history of Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Germany and Poland and discovered my newfound interest in the region's politics. CIEE immersed me in a completely new culture and provided me with the on-site support I needed to have such a life-changing semester. I felt like I had the independence to explore on my own, but was so grateful for the CIEE-sponsored activities like cooking classes, a trip to Berlin and seeing the ballet that was also offered. CIEE is truly a one-of-a-kind program and I am so grateful for the lifelong friends and mentors I made in the Czech Republic!

My journey with the CIEE program Advanced Liberal Arts was an experience I will never forget. From being immersed in Spanish University classes, to meeting other US students from around the country, to going on excursions, I had such an amazing time. I recommend this program and CIEE to everyone who is wanting to study abroad. I learned so much, experienced so much and wish I could do it all over again. I truly will never forget all of the memorable experiences CIEE provided me with and the amazing staff and classes I was able to experience.

The CIEE staff were supportive and explained about tourist traps and safety tips. They were helpful with recommendations from bookstores, entertainment, and restaurants.

Barcelona is one of the best cities in Europe for nightlife due to the siesta culture. Like anywhere be safe about traveling at night especially as a female.

Public transportation is the best! The metro and bus was fun for first-timers like me. But, I mostly walked everywhere. It's also very accessible other to places in Spain (& Europe) like Ibiza which I took by ferry.

My homestay location was safe. However, think again about housing if you are a picky eater. But it did help my Spanish skills. Spanish food isn't everyone's favorite though. When going out I ate anything but Spanish food.

My favorite part about CIEE was the experiences they offered every week. My first weekend in Barcelona I went with my friends on a day trip to Sitges which is a small town on the coast of Spain. I did another day trip to Girona and Tossa de Mar. Both of these trips were coordinated by the CIEE staff and all we had to do was sign up and get to the meeting point. They also offered small activities during the week such as visiting the best tapas restaurants in Barcelona and going on cable cars up to a castle. These activities helped us feel immersed in the Barcelona culture, meet people and explore the city.