CIEE Reviews

I arrived to the program late after some circumstantial issues with my visa, so I was worried that I was going to have a difficult time finding close friends and adjusting to the program in some way, shape, or form. Luckily, everyone in this program is amazing so not only did I have no issues, but I was able to make some great friends right off the bat. The staff at CIEE is extremely helpful and always offering opportunities to get to know Barcelona better, as well as connect you with local students. Taking classes at UB was extremely daunting at first and I felt out of my element, but with the help of the great tutors CIEE offers and the professors and program directors, I was able to do well in all of my classes and thrive academically. I chose to live in a homestay with another student, which was one of the best decisions I made in the program. It was a great way to get authentic meals while practicing Spanish in a conversational environment, and the girl I lived with and I ended up becoming great friends. There's a lot of time to do your own thing, I was able to do a lot of traveling while I was there, and I honestly don't have enough good things to say about the program, CIEE definitely contributed to study abroad being one of the greatest times of my life.

I loved my 3 weeks in Peru! Having done two other winter interim courses via other organizations, I can say that this is by far the best program I have done to date. The staff was incredibly kind and helpful, the homestay experience was very rewarding, and I met a lot of amazing people on the trip. Though the academic element was not the most challenging, I still learned a lot. We were able to experience/ witness a lot of what we were learning about firsthand through different field trips, which was very enlightening. The program is flexible enough where you can be doing short trips on weekends and explore the country. Peru is an unbelievable place with a lot to see, do, and learn and I would recommend this experience for anyone looking to try something new and be challenged.

I travelled with CIEE to Argentina as a high schooler. The experience was so great that I fully intended to return to Buenos Aires as a college student for a semester abroad. While researching into their semester programs, I came across the J-Term to study tango abroad. How could I resist?

This study abroad did nothing but encourage me to travel more. I learned so much about the culture of Buenos Aires in relation to tango and relished in the opportunity to explore the city on my own. I reconnected with old friends and made new ones too, and through all of this I learned more about the careers I hope to enter and fields I wish to study. I am literally counting down the days until full semester abroad (only 3/4 of a year to go!).

The program at CIEE Madrid was perfect for my semester abroad! The classes there were fun and interesting and greatly contributed to my experience. The class schedule allows you to take 2 classes at a time for 6 weeks so I was able to take up to intermediate spanish language. I was also able to conduct my own research project with great support from CIEE staff. The schedule also allows lots of travel on the weekends! I traveled to 12 other cities while I was there. The other students in the program were amazing and we became such great friends- we would do cultural things like go to museums or parks and explore the nightlife of Madrid (which is incredible). This semester was an incredible experience for me!!

This was a great program! The course is very accessible and involves many field trips to clinics in Accra. The course took up 3 hours of every weekday, leaving plenty of time for adventure, studying, or volunteering in the afternoon and on weekends. The program also provided a useful tour of the city and a fun trip to Kakum National Park and the Cape Coast castle. It was a great way to blend fun and important history. Staying in the International Hostel was not a great accommodation due to the openness to a variety of sketchy people and the lack of hot water/soap/basic accommodation. There was also a need to lock your door at all times as the campus is not the safest. Overall great trip, 3 weeks was enough in this beautiful city.

Studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland for J-Term was the most amazing experience. I chose to study here because it is a huge technology hub and the possibility of moving here someday. During my time abroad, I met lifelong friends and made unforgettable memories. The locals there were the friendliest and funniest people. The housing was impressive with a private room and bathroom - and it was very clean. The coursework wasn't too much and the excursions were eye opening. The CIEE program was very well organized and the center director, Enda O'Connell, was helpful and always there for the students. I wish I could redo it all over again!

My experience with CIEE Jauary in Rome was wonderful. CIEE was supportive through the whole process, from being accepted and navigating preparations to giving reccomendations while there. The coursework was a little harder than I would've liked, but it brought us together as students and we managed fine. Rome was beautiful and I felt safe walking everywhere for class and social outings, etc. I also wish I had budgeted a little bit better beforehand, as it's easy to go nuts on personal spending, so I had to use my emergency credit card a little bit, but not too bad.

I really enjoyed the course "From Rhodes to Mandela and Apartheid to AIDS"! Interesting content, awesome professor, and great guest speakers. CIEE: Cape Town is in a great location with a lot of food options nearby, and with the amount of security in the building, I always felt safe. By the end of J-term, I felt I knew the city well. The RAs were very friendly and helpful, and were always willing to give recommendations for things to do in the city. There was a good mix of events planned by CIEE and free time.

You don't have to be the most knowledgeable in the environmental field. This program really gives you more than what you put in, as long as you are present and engaged at the moment. The campus is beautiful and the staff are the friendliest out there. Even the locals! Although it is quite embarrassing to not know even just a bit of Spanish, so please learn! Afternoons spent on-campus, you'd still have time to tour the place and its surrounding areas(there are trails everywhere or go downtown), have some coffee(a must-try) or tea by the porch, or pull some mejenga on the field! Most important thing is have fun while learning; Pura Vida!

This was my first study abroad experience and it was amazing. The staff and campus employees were nice and friendly. All the meals were included in the study abroad program and the food was good, but be prepared to eat a lot of beans. It was a great place to make friends. And if you enjoy nature there is a lot of it. The cloud forest is beautiful, and if you keep your eye peeled you can see monkeys, sloths, animals endemic to Costa Rica, and beautiful birds such as the quetzals and toucans. If you are looking for a study abroad experience that lets you get in touch with nature, this is the one.