CIEE Reviews

The program strives to give students tools so that they may learn in their own time the many valuable lessons that come with studying abroad. The staff and communities we studied under provided the dots, but it was up to us to connect them. This sort of empowerment in education is important for young people to experience. Our most valuable lessons are learned outside of the comfort zone, often with tears, interpersonal communication, and striving towards a common goal. I believe CIEE gave us all the opportunity to take as much as we needed/wanted from the experience.
My experience with the CIEE Khon Kaen program was shaped by many factors, least of which was the peers with whom I worked and learned along side. Our student group was made up of some very passionate people, but there was an undercurrent of tension and stubbornness that resulted in our group being unable to achieve harmony by the end of the program. I vividly remember the optional “wrap-up” retreat to mark the end of the program, and only a fraction of the student group chose to attend and reflect on our experience. At the time, I thought that was a problem but in reality, it was a reflection of the priorities of the group. They were prioritizing having fun and exploring Thailand which was indicative of the natural curiosity and eagerness we all had entering and leaving the program. Often that youthful energy created some magical moments; our group danced and played with village children in the pouring rain, went on trips together, and laughed. I believe that the student group grew a lot together and loved our experience in the villages and in creating projects together.
Some valuable lessons I gleaned from the program revolved around human relations. I saw my patience and ability to connect with others grow through village stays, roommate relations, and interviews. By stretching my boundaries and comfort zone, I was able to be a more mindful and present person. Being in a different culture engaged my mind at a deeper level and forced me to observe more and speak less. This changing of my ego allowed me to learn more from others without bias. I learned how to be an ally and a part of the group, as opposed to an individual with self-serving goals. At the end of the program, I had an epiphany: that our inability to come together, inevitably was our downfall. I realized then that I had not contributed to the group as much as I should have. I saw the senselessness in the very “American” pattern of behavior that compels the individual to only act on their own behalf and prioritizes the individual over the group. There must be a balance, of course, but this epiphany shifted my focus so that I viewed myself more as a global citizen than as an American citizen. We are all united, and I saw that more in Thailand than I had before.

I spent the full 2017 school year studying at Murdoch University with CIEE Perth. Paul Hollick, the director, supports every student in the program incredibly well. I absolutely loved being in Perth - the weather is stunning, the people are open minded, and I was able to take classes very different to the ones offered at my home university. I highly recommend this program and cannot wait to return to Perth as soon as possible.

From day one, the teachers and staff are here for you. They truly make the experience personal and genuine, and will help you work through any cultural difficulties or academic struggles. The program usually consists of a small group of students, averaging 8-10 students. But unlike the other China programs in Shanghai and Beijing, there is no real distractions often accompanied with large cities. The cultural lifestyle of Nanjing is very safe and friendly, being a city mostly comprised of students and the elderly. This perfect location makes for a perfect chance to learn and enjoy the culture which can greatly complement your Chinese language studies. The teachers themselves allow classrooms to become a very inviting space for learning and sharing, and often every semester in this program, teachers and students all develop a deep relationship. Whether you're feeling homesick for the holidays, you have nothing to worry about. We celebrated Thanksgiving and Halloween, and even coordinated unplanned hiking trips with our teachers. As evidenced by everyone else writing reviews, the experience you can have in this program will be among the most memorable because of the teachers and friends that you meet here and the experiences you will create together.

I can honestly say this semester was the best semester of my life and I think I learned far more his semester than I have ever learned at my home university. Through week long community visits, I became closer to understanding the issues that many communities gave in Thailand, and that are relevant in the states too. What made this program even better was that we got to use what we learned to work with villagers on projects that they wanted help with. The experiential learning was amazing and I learned so much. I also loved that there was such a huge emphasis on the group process. Students were in charge of what they learned and how they learned and it made our learning and our group that much stronger. Also the staff are incredible and truly felt like family!

Studying abroad with CIEE Nanjing has opened my eyes to a whole new world. But before I talk about the good stuff, what I learned, I want to touch on the excellent management and nature of the program itself. Upon arriving I immediately had a problem with housing. I registered for a student dorm but was listed as registered for a homestay. The staff at CIEE pulled some strings and helped me smooth over the matter and found a room for me. Right away they proved that they are there to help as best they can. I can't speak for other programs, but because there were only nine students participating in CIEE Nanjing, the staff was able to pay close attention to our problems and spend a lot of time making our experience as smooth and comfortable as possible. In addition, the student to teacher ratio was 3:1 in one class and 5:1 in another - something very hard to come by and invaluable in the learning experience. The ability for CIEE Nanjing staff and teachers to pay close attention to every student's needs is one of the best aspects of this program and helps in more ways than one can imagine (like when my tooth chipped or I had stomach issues or needed to exchange money to travel abroad etc., the staff was able to plan and help me any problem within a day or faster). Apart from the excellent staff and teachers, the environment in which we studied and lived together felt like home - close-knit, safe and sound. Whether it was on a program-organized excursion to the deserts of Dunhuang or the Purple Mountains in Anhui, or just us kids going out and exploring Nanjing, we always felt safe and welcome. Nanjing has dozens of colleges and universities and the highest student to population ratio in the world, so if you like going out and meeting people at cafes or karaoke bars you will have a great time and plenty of opportunities to meet people and practice speaking chinese. Which brings me to what I learned. My vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar improved greatly, but schoolwork doesn't leave a lasting impression or deepen your understanding of really communicating in the language. The best part of this program is the opportunity to really immerse yourself in the language by going out and meeting everyday Nanjingers and students from around the world.

As a rising college Junior looking out onto the horizon of a study abroad experience, expectations are often set unreasonably high. Mine were no exception – I searched for the most culturally, academically and socially fulfilling experience of my life.

When recounting my experience with CIEE in Barcelona it will be challenging to characterize the memories as anything but outstanding. From the classes to the housing options to the staff, CIEE did nothing but exceed all expectations I had going into this experience.

I communicated with the CIEE Barcelona team extensively before setting foot East of the Atlantic, largely in the context of making arrangements to accommodate my surgically repaired left shoulder. As a college-athlete, it was a priority of mine to rehab the injury to the best of my ability while chasing every opportunity I had originally set out to experience pre-injury.

With the help of CIEE’s staff – especially Professor Alberto delRio – I received support throughout the rehab process. I was able to customize my ideal class schedule, while completing physical therapy and still leaving large chunks of time to explore the city and beyond.

One of the truly remarkable features of CIEE is its excellent and diverse slate of housing options. Students are offered the chance to live in a homestay, a shared apartment or a dorm-style residencia. My close friends ended up in each of the three housing options, and I have heard nothing but phenomenal reviews. The homestays were wonderful matches, and added a uniquely local touch to the experience. The apartments allowed for extra autonomy, and the residencias provided ample space and resources.

I should note: my residencia was less than a year old, and was double the size of my dorm at college in the states – complete with a personal bathroom, bed, futon and two desks. I even had a full kitchen with 4 stoves and 2 ovens at my disposal; however, one of the few things I did not improve was my cooking.

From the weekend excursions to sought-after destinations such as Bilbao, San Sebastian and Tarágona, CIEE offers unmatched opportunities to access the expertise of the staff outside the classroom setting.

Classes themselves were stimulating, lively and pushed me to take calculated risks within the comfortable confines of the CIEE home base. I took classes on topics I’d always been enamored with, but felt hesitant to explore prior to arriving in Barcelona such as Literature and Film, and Romanticism & Literature. I also made noticeable strides in my verbal and written proficiency in my language class with Professor Mar Forment, who pushed me academically, and made coming to class an absolute delight.

I arrived in Barcelona a month before elections were to take place, as the city’s status within the country precariously hung in the balance. Rather than a stressful situation, CIEE helped me navigate it in a way that allowed me to feel 100% safe, and still experience the situation for what it was – an historic juncture in Spain’s history.

These few months in Barcelona with CIEE have undoubtedly been the best of my life. I’ll recommend CIEE – and specifically Advanced Liberal Arts – to anyone searching for a cultural and academically stimulating 3.5 months.

CIEE's Engineering and Society program in Madrid was amazing! The staff is very friendly and helpful--I felt very comfortable talking to them right off the bat and they always suggested cool places to check out in Madrid.

All of my classes (apart from the three week intensive language course) were direct-enroll, so I was in class with local Spanish students--though my classes were in English. This was a good way to get to know local students as well as gain an understanding about their perspective on academics and education, which was different from what I am used to in the US. In doing this I also met a lot of other American students that were not in CIEE..

The staff organized a lot of social and cultural events (like Flamenco lessons, bike tours, socials with local students, and cooking classes to name a few) which were very fun and a good way to make friends with other people in the program (as well as non-engineering-CIEE students). My favorite things they organized were our weekend excursions. My semester we went to Bilbao and then on the way back we went wine tasting in La Rioja. We also took the high speed train to Sevilla, which was another great city. It was really fun to have these excursions organized by the staff because it enabled us to explore different areas of Spain with some direction (they covered hotels and most meals and tours) while giving us enough free time to bond with other students and explore on our own.

Madrid is my absolute favorite city after living there for a semester (and I live in NYC!). The people are nice and the Spanish culture and night life is so fun to explore! I stayed in a homestay which I really enjoyed (as it was where I developed most of my language skills), but I also know people who enjoyed living in an apartment with other students.

All in all I recommend this program!

My 6-week block with CIEE Rome was incredible. If you are reading this because you are considering studying abroad here, then DO IT!

I had the most incredible time in Rome, and the city now has a special place in my heart. The sights/monuments were breathtaking, the food was beyond amazing and the overall atmosphere of Rome was just incredible. But those are things people should already expect when coming to Rome.

What really made my experience unforgettable was the wonderful and lovely staff at CIEE Rome. From the second I arrived at the airport, I felt so welcomed. It was evident from the first day that the staff members truly cared about us. It was clear that our safety and wellbeing were their top priority. They became more than just staff members, directors and professors to us. They took the time and effort to get to know us on a personal level and become our friends. I can honestly say now that the people at CIEE Rome are like family to me.

I am beyond glad that I chose to study abroad in Rome with CIEE, and my biggest regret may possibly be not staying longer. I’m grateful that if I ever return to Rome (which I definitely will!), I have people to see and hopefully a place to stay! As much as I miss the gelato and cannolis, I miss the people at CIEE Rome the most.

Again, if you have to chance to study abroad with CIEE Rome, then please please please do it!

I had the opportunity to study abroad through CIEE on the CPH Program during the summer of 2017. As many people say about their study abroad experience, it was the greatest experience of my life. Thailand is the most beautiful and culturally vibrant country I have been to. My favorite part of living in Khon Kaen was that it wasn't a touristy city, so we got to experience living like the locals do and practicing our Thai language. The staff at the CIEE study center were extremely helpful and nice. They really cared for us and made us feel at home. My favorite part of the trip were the community visits to the village we stayed in. The program also has many other field trips, so we were able to see different hospitals and centers. I would recommend this program to anyone looking for a different cultural experience and wanting an adventure!

This program was unlike anything I expected. Khon Kaen is a rural city in the North East Isaan region of Thailand. It is quieter than the big cities of Bangkok and Chiang Mai and has significantly less tourism. You really get a feel for the real Thailand in Khon Kaen as you are almost always the only foreigner. This also forces you to use the Thai you learn in class--which is both fun for you and for the local people. My favorite part of this program was the fact that we got to plan and execute our own research project stemming from community visits. After staying in a rural village, my partner and I decided to go back and implement a project about breastfeeding habits. We interviewed community members, met with the village headmen and head of the health promoting hospital, presented findings at a community meeting, and prepared a successful and sustainable intervention. The program also provided us with a lot of free time, which was a cherished break from a normal semester in the US. Everyday after class I ran around a lake near the Faculty of Public Health. We also planned many trips and I was able to travel to 5 neighboring countries as well as throughout Thailand.