CIEE Reviews

My time in Madrid with CIEE was absolutely incredible! I had a full immersion experience, taking classes at the local university (UC3M Getafe) and living with a great host family. CIEE offers many options in terms of studies, housing accommodations, and activities. They also held weekly events to visit new spots in Madrid. Some of my favorite include a cooking class, a trip to an art and history exhibit at Circulo de Bellas Artes, watching the sunset at Templo de Debod, and a Flamenco class. They really touch on every "Madrilena" experience I wanted to get. I truly believe CIEE allowed me to have the freedom I needed to grow independently as well as the support I needed to feel safe while miles away from home. I could not recommend CIEE enough and would love to answer any specific questions anyone has before choosing a program.

This was my first time abroad and this program exceeded my expectations. The CIEE Paris staff is amazing and friendly. They love to get to know the students, and they are always around for questions. The professors really know their subjects and are always there to help students understand and learn more. Classes are longer than in the United States but not too long considering the classes are only six weeks long. The classes are taught English except for the French language classes. The language professors are patient and understanding but also strict enough that English isn't spoken during class. Most classes have some field trips which definitely help enhance the learning experience. My french history class went to the Pantheon which was really neat. I saw where Voltaire and Pierre and Marie Curie are buried. The study tours for were a big part of my experience because I used to be afraid to travel alone and with the study tour the whole program goes generally. The study tours were an opportunity to learn, and meet people in my program, and create some fun memories, from visiting a soccer stadium in Marseilles, to a chocolate museum in Belgium, to Omaha beach in Normandy. I made some friends that will last a lifetime, learned somethings I will never forget, and became more independent and even stopped being afraid to travel alone. It was overall an awesome experience and I definitely plan on coming back.

Amsterdam is such an amazing city and I am so glad I came on this CIEE program this semester. CIEE staff was very helpful and supportive throughout my time in Amsterdam. They also planned fun and interesting excisions for us throughout the semester. For my semester in Amsterdam, I chose to live with a host family. Living with a host family allowed me to learn so much about Dutch culture and feel more comfortable during my time here. I was able to travel around Europe and throughout the Netherlands. These past four months have helped me learn so much about myself and the world around me. I have experienced so many amazing thing and seen so many beautiful places. I have made friends and memories to last a lifetime. While I am sad that the semester is coming to a close, I know that this will not be my last time in this city that I now feel so connected to.

Berlin is a great city to study in. When comparing places, it won't wow you with beautiful tourist attractions (although those are in Berlin too) but it is a very dynamic city where there is always new stuff going on. I would feel bad when I saw people visiting for the weekend because it's a city that can't be captured in a weekend. In terms of making the transition, I would definitely recommend going in the fall when the weather is still nice, because around November it gets gloomy, cold, and dark very early. So in January and February it would make it tougher to get out and explore, and might make the transition tougher. CIEE is a very solid program to study with. They care a lot about the students and make a large effort to get there students out into the city and community with class excursions and several weekly optional excursions

CIEE gave me a support system that many people here did not have. Yonsei does not have good support for international students, so CIEE was a huge help to me whenever I needed help with something (like going to the doctor), and they were always willing to help. It is pricey, but it is worth it in the number of excursions that they organize for you. I was able to go to Busan and stay in a nice hotel with CIEE, all included in the cost. This was especially great because we went during the Busan International Film Festival, and I was able to see a movie there! They also pair you with a Korean student, called a Seoulmate, and they take you on activities as well. My study abroad experience would not have been the same if I had not gone with CIEE. I recommend it to anyone looking to go to Seoul.

Picking Russia for my study abroad, especially before I left, seemed like a big risk. As an Amerian, you hear many things about Russia... the people, the infrastructure, Soviet time... It creates a lot of preconceived ideas of what my study abroad experience will be like. The visa process also seemed daunting, with all the requirements and precision needed on the application. That's where CIEE came in-- and the staff at CIEE were instrumental to how successful my semester abroad was. CIEE as a study abroad provider has been around for a long time, and it really shows! I was helped every step of the way, especially while in Russia.

I was able to experience a lot of great things through CIEE excursions, Fabrege Egg painting, pub trivia nights, cooking classes, Russian ballets, and lots of great museum trips. The cooking class was especially fun, and a great way to practice my Russian. I was also provided with great real-life tips from the office, and I was getting around and acting like a local in no time. Classes were also very informative, and I especially enjoy the professors here, who have a lot to teach students about Russia and about the world. I was able to learn a lot of new things about Russia's political system and culture, as well as get an in-depth view into Russia's ethnic make-up. I felt like my classes really enriched my understanding of Russia, and that I got good value.

St. Petersburg is a really beautiful city too, and I didn't want to leave! I visited so many amazing churches and museums, even an amazing Soviet Arcade Museum, which was one of my favorite places to visit! Another one of my favorite memories for sure was going out to a Russian Disco with all of my friends and just having a great night out. I also received an amazing Sobesenik (conversation partner) through CIEE, and I highly recommend all prospective students coming to Russia to find one. My sobesenik offered a great look into everyday life as a Russian student, and how Russians my age live, work, and study. It was definitely another of my favorite experiences in Russia.

I think my experience here in Russia has impacted my life for the better, for sure. I learned so much about a culture different from mine, and I got to learn about a place often alienated by the West first hand. I think I also learned a lot about culture shock and cultural integration, and I came home wiser and more in touch with the world. Picking a country 'off the beaten path' of study abroad is a great challenge, I think, and I highly encourage students to consider Russia. You'll get to meet great people, and you'll learn a lot about yourself and the world!

Prior to studying abroad, I had never travelled to Central or Eastern Europe before and did not know what to expect. Now having spend nearly four months in Budapest, and visiting the surrounding countries, I am beyond grateful I chose to study abroad here. Budapest is alive with culture, food, music, and new experiences that set it apart from Western Europe. The city is affordable for college students, easy to navigate, and beautiful in summer, fall, and winter. In November christmas markets and ice skating rinks pop up all over the city! There are many museums, restaurants, memorials, thermal baths, and festivals to enjoy. Because it is so central you will also have the opportunity to travel all over Europe, and visit many countries you may have never considered visiting before. If you are looking for a fun, central, and colorful city - than Budapest is for you!

I had a great semester studying at PKU in Beijing thanks to the support and services provided by CIEE. From the excursions they planned for us throughout the semester, to our weekly tutoring sessions with graduate students, I feel that I have improved my language skills and cultural understanding of China incredibly. I was also always impressed with how available our program director was, as no matter the issue or the time she would be able to help us. I know there were a few hairy moments for others on the program and Ms. Jiang was always immediately available to help resolve the issue. I also think the office atmosphere was great, as anytime we needed help or wanted to chat or ask questions, we could go to the office and speak with any of the program employees there. It was also a great atmosphere to do homework or wind down after a long day of classes. I've been most impressed with the staff on the program.

CIEE Arts and Sciences in Legon offers all that one can wish for to get profound insights into the local political, economic and social environment in Ghana and beyond. The program offers a few very valuable features: CIEE lets students choose their preferred type of accommodation (either to stay with a local family or to live in residence halls). The program also ensures that students are engaged in learning about Ghana's history and traditions through excursions and cultural events. Furthermore, everything which is needed to frame the students' experience - such as safety, logistics and administrative matters - are largely taken care of or made significantly easier by CIEE. Students who know what they want to get out of their experience and are eager to engage as much with the locality and its people as possible will find this program particularly suitable since it gives students significant freedom in shaping their own experience. For instance, I traveled relatively often during my stay in Ghana, and local staff was always happy to provide resources, tips and other support for whatever I planned to do. Lastly, what stands out as one of the most unique features of CIEE in Legon is the ability to take courses at the University of Ghana, thereby enabling students to engage with academic material as local students would. While this is one of the best features of the program in my view, it is also one of the most challenging aspects since academic norms and expectations are very different from those in the U.S. During my time in Ghana, I have found that the best way to maximize one's learning experience is by taking local context-related courses which are unavailable elsewhere, and to look beyond the classroom for academic fulfilment. Overall, it is therefore up to the student to take advantage of CIEE's great enabling environment and to take initiative in maximizing one's experience according to one's own expectations.

I loved my semester with CIEE in Hyderabad! India was a big switch from Indiana, but the CIEE staff was incredibly supportive every step of the way. Culture, classes, travel, health, and emotional health - they were there for everything! The semester allowed me to stretch myself and learn in ways that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do elsewhere. Besides being loads of fun that I will always remember, it helped me deepen my relationship with my then boyfriend / now-fiancee (originally from nearby Visakhapatnam), enables me to connect with Desi people wherever I am, taught me to think in new ways, and helped me get into a career in economic development.

It's easy to travel to and get around in other Western countries at any point in your life, but a semester with CIEE in India is absolutely irreplaceable. Definitely the right choice for me :)