CIEE Reviews

I thought I was going to become friends with Spaniards but I was closer to the students in my program. However, there were friends of mine in the program that became closer with Spaniards. What I want to say by this is that there is opportunity to become friends with a lot of nationalities, and the best is that you would not expected. There is always something to do. Studying abroad is a great experience and it definitely makes you go out of your comfort zone for the best. You will know yourself better and become more open minded.

Prague truly is the perfect place to study abroad, and CIEE is by far the best program in Prague. Classes are interesting but not too challenging and program coordinators are communicative and kind. Above all else, CIEE plans unique and free excursions. Some of my personal favorites include glass blowing and an overnight trip to Berlin.

Prague is an incredible city. It is centrally located and very cheap, as well as full of life and history. The nightlife and culture are both unmatched, which make for a great opportunity to meet other Americans studying abroad. There is something for everyone in Prague, as it is a large city full of different areas to explore. I could not imagine studying anywhere else.

For me, Prague was the perfect city to study in and experience. It is perfectly centralized, making travel to other European countries very easy and accessible. The size of the city is big enough to never get bored, but also small enough to feel like a community/home. It is also super affordable with unique restaurants and night life. The perfect place to study abroad and CIEE is the perfect program as their activities and staff were amazing! They planned events that really submerged the students into the cultural and were very available and responsive to questions/concerns.

South Korea, mainly Seoul, is a great place to live as a student or study abroad if you want something different from a lot of non-major cities in the U.S. It’s vibrant, entertaining, has a lot to do and experience, and a good mix of modern and traditional. It’s a very safe place to live and study abroad. There’s a good amount of different ethnic foods like Vietnamese, Italian, French, Indian, Mexican, and more. You can never go wrong with KBBQ though! (unless you can’t eat meat..) Overall, highly recommend!

My experience in Prague was very noteworthy. the CIEE staff does a great job with organizing the program. there are activities, events, and excursions that are through CIEE that you have the option if participating in. The staff members are nice, approachable, and are always willing to help. Prague is a beautiful city with a lot to see. there just saying history, beauty, and charm embedded throughout Prague. From the food to the language, it is all a great experience. 10/10 recommend. Prague is also very inviting and accepting of Americans too which was helpful.

I had an amazing time and CIEE made it all the more better. The weekend excursions provided gave all students the opportunity to embrace the great culture and sites all across Spain. The teachers in the program were very nice and helpful. The teachers created a collaborative environment and even took us on field trips throughout Barcelona that helped us better our understanding of class content and the city itself. I highly recommend to any college students who are looking for a easygoing- relatively neutral place in Europe to study abroad.

Lisbon is one of my favorite cities in the world. From the bright tiles, to the charming neighborhoods and scenic lookout points-- it feels like living in a postcard. Due to its location on the river and oceanfront, it is not only beautiful but easy to access surfing and incredible coastal towns. The city itself is eccentric, young, lively, and affordable. There is something for everyone. Portugal as a whole also has endless opportunities for adventures and travels. The Lisbon airport is an easy metro ride from downtown which made traveling to other countries seamless and convenient. I could not have picked a better place to study. Portugal is a place I will continue to return to for the rest of my life.

I commend CIEE for placing a lot of emphasis on navigating cultural differences and self-reflection with respect to one's social standing. Emphasizing those skills really helped me grow more aware as a person and opened my mind to unthinkable concepts that were new to me and the cultural framework that I come from. CIEE is really strong in highlighting difference and how to approach it with an open and willing personal attitude. Some of the logistical aspects could have had more transparency, but no program is perfect. In comparison to the profound cultural discoveries CIEE facilitates those things seem like smaller obstacles in the bigger picture. Every obstacle you face is an opportunity to grow and learn. The most important thing about CIEE, is that your growth and intercultural tools will only reach high levels of satisfaction if your own attitude and willingness to have an open mind are strong when going in.

All of the high marks in this rating can be attributed to Santiago itself. It is a beautiful city with interesting customs and a complex history. I would not recommend studying abroad through this organization, though. In summary, the pre-departure to on site orientation process was disorganized and some of the program leaders seemed unknowledgeable about the visa and class registration processes. They also asserted during the cultural orientation that racism doesn’t exist in Chile, which (which just isn’t true) and can alienate POC participants. Staff was available to help participants’ issues throughout the semester, but most of my fellow participants felt a loss of respect with this company. This was due to a lack of accountability or even apology for inconveniences that were within or out of their control. For example, I spent $400 USD on a student visa that never got approved, and also wasn’t necessary to temporarily reside in the country. The program also promised an equal opportunity to attend Santiago’s UChile, UCatolica, and Universidad de Diego Portales, however 80% of our orientation week time was spent at UDP. It is fine for legal business relationships to exist between CIEE and UDP but it is patronizing to sell American students a false promise of that not being the case. If your US university permits, I recommend researching other programs that arrive to Santiago BEFORE the week of registration. This program is by no means inexpensive, so you’re better off choosing another one.

CIEE Prague is carefully designed to allow students the opportunity to study in an academically challenging environment while taking advantage of their proximity to local culture in Prague, day trip excursions in the Czech Republic and nearby travel to dozens of unique cities throughout Europe. The close knit nature of a program suitable for an ideal capacity around 100 students allows for personal growth, strong friendships, and ample opportunities to succeed while immersing in a completely new cultural environment.