CIEE Reviews

I loved the Rennes Program through CIEE. It was one of the most wonderful experiences I've had. The program was wonderful and I definitely improved my speaking, reading, and comprehension of the French Language. I was a part of home-stay and I loved my host parents they were very involved from taking me around town to some of their own events or even just helping me with my homework. I truly felt that I was a part of the family. In terms the the University Rennes 2 campus I was able to meet people from all over the world and learn so much from them and their own time here like where to go to eat or out dancing. I do recommend volunteering at the Franco-American Institute because it was a valuable way of meeting members of the city and you get to help them with their English. Overall I loved the program and the professors and the staff were very helpful and understanding. It was an unforgettable semester.

I don't know how I can even begin to explain how fabulous my CIEE experience in Belgium was. I'll start with the academics; at Vesalius College, I wasn't ever in a class that was larger than 15 people, which was a huge change from what I was used to at my home university. The classes have a moderate academic rigor, but at the same time I had no issue getting credits to transfer back to my home school. The professors seem to cycle out fairly often, but I have no complaints whatsoever about the quality or the organization of the semester I spent there.

Next up, the support that CIEE provided was out of this world. Aside from having staff there that are more than willing to help you adjust to your new environment, they want to be your friend. They act as such amazing advocates not only academically and culturally but personally as well. I think being in a CIEE program really fostered the group dynamic that developed so quickly during my time in Belgium; through sponsored excursions and classes reserved only for the CIEE group, I was consistently connected to the on-site staff, and developed meaningful relationships with them.

Housing can be different from situation to situation, but I know that just about everyone in my group was totally satisfied with their placement. My homestay was so unexpectedly perfect; I felt spoiled to have such a caring and fun host that cooked amazing food and was always energetic and interested in my European endeavors. All in all, I know that CIEE puts a lot of effort into making strong matches for housing, and it really shows.

Finally, I can speak to the city of Brussels/country of Belgium itself, apart from CIEE. Let me tell you; it is one crazy, unique, enigmatic, wonderful city/country. If you do a quick internet search on Belgium, you'll find that the country is divided in many ways; linguistically, politically, geographically, etc, and the city of Brussels is just as mixed. However, the diversity and differentiation of Brussels is what makes it so compelling. You're consistently surrounded by people speaking many different languages, from many different parts of Europe, all in Brussels for different reasons. The city is versatile, and you'll feel like you're in the ultimate melting pot when you first arrive, which can be scary and totally awesome at the same time. Meanwhile, if it does get to overwhelming, you're in the "center" of Europe and it is beyond easy to travel almost anywhere in Europe you please.

One thing I really loved about Brussels was the greenspace; it has a good number of parks, and a lot of other cool destinations throughout Belgium host great outdoor spaces as well. However, I'm not going to lie to you: don't be disappointed when you can't visit these greenspaces for many months out of the year. The one thing that really got me about Belgium is its weather. I arrived in January, and I kid you not, it was rainy and cloudy almost every day until March. Granted, the city is full of culture and there were plenty of indoor activities to keep me occupied, but beware of the possible seasonal depression you may experience if you arrive during the more wintery times of the year (P.S. it only rains, and hardly ever snows, despite the air feeling like 15 degrees F. You decide if that's a good or a bad thing. Bring your umbrella.)

Then again, the seasonality of Brussels is what I think made me fall in love with it all together. I got to experience a total transformation of a city that already had my heart. Once March hit, it was sunny all the time and I was so excited to soak it up and see my home in a whole new light (literally).

I could go on and on and on about how delightful my experience in Brussels was. The staff, combined with reasonable academics, combined with such a uniquely fantastic location created the mix for a perfect semester.

Let me preface this with: I love Ireland. This review is 100% biased because, I am, totally, unequivocally, in love with the Emerald Isle.

I am also not a person who took the decision to study abroad lightly. As a disabled, solo-traveler, I needed a program that was both accommodating and allowed students their independence. CIEE Dublin was the perfect fit, whenever I needed a program director (love ya, Martin & Meriah!) they were always accessible. I planned solo trips out of the country, and there was no overbearing mothering. The balance was careful and considerate, and I had a truly amazing summer because of it.

The social scene on the program was amazing during my session, everyone was super friendly and we all planned outings (like weekend trips to the Cliffs of Moher) together. I will say, I am, personally, a fan of trying to make friends with "natives" (that feels weird to say...), but the other students on my program were pretty great (not as clique-y as I was expecting, honestly!) and so was the professor! Everyone became like a family for those 4 weeks, and will probably make any future study abroad programs feel lackluster.

Overall, if you want a program where you can be sure you aren't completely navigating academia in a foreign country alone, but want to have real independence, you should seriously consider this program. Oh, and um, make sure you have a steady supply of American Tylenol before going to Dicey's.

Chile is a place that you will quickly learn to love, and once you are gone you will probably never stop talking about your experience. Los Chilenos son increíble, especialmente los directores de CIEE. While you are in Valparaiso you will fill like you are at your second home. You will find places that you will want to go to again and again, and you will meet people who know people and all of them are just as interesting as the next. Just please make sure to go out there with and open min and an open heart.

They say you won't experience growth without some discomfort; the CIEE Rio de Janeiro Program was one of the most emotionally and mentally difficult undertakings I have ever taken, and as a result, I left Brasil feeling completely transformed. Rio de Janeiro is an extremely difficult city to live in because there is so much going on at any given moment. Rio too is in a stage of transformation, hence, a very obvious tension exists throughout the streets. But through all that anxiety (which, to be quite honest, is normal as a foreigner in completely new country where people speak a language that isn't your first) CIEE was an absolute shelter and recovery station. They have a great team in Rio who work to make sure you are safe, happy, and using all the resources you need, and that are available to you. They weren't just instructors; if you spend time with them and talk to them, they become friends. CIEE was also a marvelous liaison between PUC (the school) and you, making sure the paperwork and politics streamlined seamlessly between you and the school. This is a MARVELOUS program. If you want to grow, and change, Rio is the city for you. If you want to grow AND change in Rio, AND feel taken care of, safe, and like there is help and someone to talk to about anything at any given moment, CIEE Rio de Janeiro is for you.

I am a master's student at BU and took part the comparative public health systems first at London followed by Amsterdam.
The comparative public health systems for Amsterdam took place right on the beautiful campus of University van Amsterdam (UvA). Professor Swan was a wonderful and exceptional resource. Not only did she have a PhD in Nutrition but she grow up in northeastern USA and worked in the health systems in London. Finally, she now resides and works in Amsterdam. She could really provide the information for Amsterdam's unique health features (legal drug policies, euthanasia, elderly care, etc) in a way that placed within the global context. We also had some very inspirational trips - my favorites included the medical museum Vrolik and the senior center Sarphat. I won't talk about them especially but they really enforced the material. Finally, we had many guest speakers and it was a wonderful way to discuss topics with experts in the field of healthcare systems.
The CIEE team, all of them, prepared wonderful trips (day trips and overnight trips), dinners, lunches and cultural events. We also had workshops for general career growth and training. The events really took to the heart and core of what all that we did in Netherlands. Whether it was cheese tasting or photo tours or Indonesian cuisine or travelling Zoelle, the team made sure to make it worth the while.
I would recommend the course(s), and as for the wonders of Amsterdam, it is best to say as little as possible because words really cannot convey the magnitude.

My summer in Berlin was unbelievable. From seeing President Barack Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel speak at Kirchentag to walking the streets at night and watching the city light up to getting döner for lunch, dinner, or just a snack, Berlin in summer is something you have to experience. The city comes alive. Berlin has it all: culture, history, art, diversity of people, festivals, a mix of architecture, excellent public transportation, beautiful parks, and good food. CIEE Berlin makes it easy to explore the city. Its central location and comfortable accommodations only add to your experience. And now it's time for you to go and find out for yourself just how wonderful Berlin in summer really is.

They say you won't experience growth without some discomfort; the CIEE Rio de Janeiro Program was one of the most emotionally and mentally difficult undertakings I have ever taken, and as a result, I left Brasil feeling completely transformed. Rio de Janeiro is an extremely difficult city to live in because there is so much going on at any given moment. Rio too is in a stage of transformation, hence, a very obvious tension exists throughout the streets. But through all that anxiety (which, to be quite honest, is normal as a foreigner in completely new country where people speak a language that isn't your first) CIEE was an absolute shelter and recovery station. They have a great team in Rio who work to make sure you are safe, happy, and using all the resources you need, and that are available to you. They weren't just instructors; if you spend time with them and talk to them, they become friends. CIEE was also a marvelous liaison between PUC (the school) and you, making sure the paperwork and politics streamlined seamlessly between you and the school. This is a MARVELOUS program. If you want to grow, and change, Rio is the city for you. If you want to grow AND change in Rio, AND feel taken care of, safe, and like there is help and someone to talk to about anything at any given moment, CIEE Rio de Janeiro is for you.

My time in Monteverde challenged me academically, socially, and mentally in all the best ways. The course is designed such that everything we learned, we had hands on experience with as well. Instead of simply talking about different types of agriculture, we visited various farms and spoke with the people who ran them. On the energy unit, we took a 3-day field trip to investigate the most prominent energy sources in Costa Rica. In our free time, my peers and I explored the city, enhancing our Spanish and learning about the culture as well. The staff on the trip were all very friendly and helpful. We felt independent in that, because we are college students, they were not tracking our every move. However, we knew that if we ever needed anything they would be there.

When I first told people that I was going to CIEE, I've gotten a lot of worry about what the program was and what it meant that it was a non-profit, but I knew it was something I was going to love because the money wasn't the first priority. Being the first session of the open campus program there were some kinks, but I wouldn't have changed my experience for anything. I've learned so much about the French culture, people and history by being able to explore and be open to new possibilities. The staff was friendly and available at all times which made me feel very comfortable. I didn't like the housing situation and I'm pretty sure they didn't like us, so in future I would explore finding something else, maybe closer to the campus and more open to rowdy American teenagers. My tip would be to rely on your instincts and remain open to the fact that this program is meant to give you the most independence and expect you to use that independence wisely. Future participants need to know to ask for help at anytime, remember that your academics are just as important as your adventures and to have fun.