CIEE Reviews

I loved living in Rennes and studying abroad with CIEE. The University of Rennes 2 provided a variety of interesting classes with students from all around the world. CIEE was a wonderful program to study with. They provided a huge amount of support and made being abroad fun instead of a scary experience. They also provided excursions throughout the semester so we could explore different cities and customs of France. The other draw for this program, that I found, is being able to live with a host family. This opportunity really helps you improve your understanding of the French language and introduces you to a new look into French culture.

When I arrived in Taipei at 5 in the morning, it was the most overwhelmed I had ever felt in my entire life. I was jet-lagged, nervous, scared, but most importantly I was excited. When I stepped off of the plane, I finally realized that I was in Taiwan. For my first trip outside of the United States, I really wanted to go far. Thanks to the suggestion of my good friend, I chose to spend my semester abroad in Taiwan. There was so much about the CIEE program that I loved. It was overall an unforgettable experience that has without a doubt changed me.

From my very first time meeting everyone involved with CIEE, I knew that I was in good hands. Any questions or concerns that I had were immediately and effectively addressed. As the semester went on, I began to look at CIEE and those involved as a second family- my home away from home. They helped me make the most of my first time traveling outside of the United States.

For any future participants, I have some suggestions for all of you. I would highly recommend getting comfortable walking shoes. It was common for me to walk over 6 miles in a day. Also, if you live on the NCCU campus you may very well end up living on top of a mountain. It is incredibly important that you prepare for all sorts of weather. Bring an umbrella with you wherever you go. There were a few times where I was caught outdoors without an umbrella as a downpour began. I can tell you that is not a good time.

I would also recommend that you take advantage of the cultural ambassadors. These students who volunteer their time to work with the students in the CIEE program are awesome. I would not have experienced some of the coolest things in Taipei had it not been for them. They are also incredibly helpful with language practice. They were also happy to help with any issues that I had. And if you ever have any medical concerns, the ambassadors will be more than willing to assist you. For each of the 6 times I had to go to the hospital or medical clinic while I was in Taiwan (I have pretty bad luck and was injured for a good deal of my semester), a cultural ambassador always offered to help me with getting to the hospital and communicating with the doctors there. Through a competitive process, CIEE selects some amazing people to be cultural ambassadors. To make the most of your time abroad, make a strong effort to become friends with them. Those are the friendships that will last long after you leave Taiwan.

As a cautionary note, I would strongly advise any future participants to do research on any classes you take at NCCU. The language class you will take through CIEE will be fantastic. However, for the courses you take through NCCU, the quality of the course can differ greatly from what you may be used to at your home university. If you want your academic experience to be worthwhile, I recommend that you talk to students at NCCU and find out as much as you can about the course and the professor. Studying abroad is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience so it is important that you enjoy as much of it as you can. Choosing good courses can help ensure that you will have a worthwhile academic experience during your time in Taiwan.

Overall, I was incredibly satisfied with my experience in the CIEE program. My semester abroad would not have been the same without each and every person involved in CIEE. If you choose to go to Taiwan through the CIEE program, you will not regret it. I will be forever grateful to them for making my time abroad so special.

I loved the semester I spent in Paris and would absolutely recommend this program. It was challenging, both academically and in terms of adjusting to a new culture - and most definitely worth it. I learned so much and my French (spoken and written) improved drastically because of the immersion setting, as well as staying with a host who spoke very little English. The staff are caring and passionate about what they do, and they genuinely want you to succeed and feel comfortable with your new surroundings.

The experience in Khon Kaen is well worth the experience. My peers below left some comments covering topics of academics, food, culture, language, religion, etc, and I could not agree more. The program was academically challenging specifically when conducting research and writing our final paper. We spent time learning outside the class and were in the field attending meetings and interviewing professionals at clinics and hospitals. We also went to Laos to interview professionals about issues related to AIDS/HIV, hypertension, and diabetes.

In our free time, we traveled all around Thailand and Southeast Asia. I stayed in Khon Kaen for a month after the program ended and taught English at a local school for students with disabilities, then volunteered for six weeks in Malaysia through workaway.com. I traveled to 8 new countries during and after the program. If you're interested in hearing about more specific experiences, check out my study abroad blog by clicking the link below and feel to reach out via social media.

http://ajabeckham.weebly.com/blog

Going into this experience, I had no idea what to expect. From never being out of the country, I knew there would definitely be a culture shock. Within my first few days in Australia, I had already felt at home. The CIEE directors showed us around, met up with us for coffee, and were always there to answer any questions or concerns. As the semester continues, CIEE has been taking us on several trips that just keep getting more and more exciting. This past weekend, we completed the Sydney Bridge Climb. This experience has so far been my favorite part of this trip. Seeing Sydney from the top of a bridge was jaw dropping. We got the pleasure of seeing the city in both day and night while up there. In a previous weekend, CIEE took us on a weekend trip where we hiked Mt. Gulaga with an aboriginal. It was a very special and memorable trip that many in Australia don't get the chance to experience. As our time here continues, I feel more and more connected to not only those in my program, but the directors as well. My time abroad would not nearly be as great without this program. From the amount of support and help they give to the trips they plan for us, I have gotten the most out of my time here. Asides from the program trips, you also have a lot of time/weekends to explore on your own. One trip planned is New Zealand; which was made with the friends I have made through CIEE. My time here so far has been unbelievable and I cannot wait to see what the next few months have in store!

Studying abroad in Wollongong may have been one of he best decisions I have ever made. Such an amazing place with such amazing people. What I love about Wollongong the most is the amazing beach in the fantastic shops that are located right in the center of town. School on other hand is a very close by and only about a five minute bus ride. The classes are actually quite easy and not as stressful as I anticipated. This of course allowed us study abroad students to travel and have fun throughout the semester. Overall, again what an amazing experience, I would recommend it to anyone.

Upon arrival in Amman, Jordan, I felt like I was facing many difficult challenges for my two month study abroad. Besides just the Arabic language, half of the program would occur during the month of Ramadan, and I opted to live with a home stay. However, I was lucky to have had the staff of CIEE to help myself and other students along the way the entire time, and to answer any questions about the program and Jordan in general. They are amazing ambassadors to their country! Although Jordan has many unique and interesting things to offer both for domestic travel and everyday life, I loved spending time at local cafes talking to Jordanians, sipping on Turkish coffee, and occasionally smoking hookah (it is called Argeelah in Jordan). My advice for any study abroad experience across the planet is to go to the country with the mindset of trying to become not an American studying and living in a foreign country, but to attempt to live like a local by finding out where and what locals do with their free time and talking to them.

I studied in CIEE's Liberal Arts program in Valparaíso, Chile, this past semester, and I enjoyed it greatly. I was able to travel to many amazing parts of Chile and South America, and my Spanish improved immensely, which were my two primary objectives. I felt that CIEE did a great job of being there for students to offer support through whatever type of trouble they were having, and that the program excursions were extremely well planned and very fun. Valparaíso is a unique city and offers plenty of fun for people who embrace its quirks and challenges. I never lost the feeling that I had a unique opportunity to experience such a culturally vibrant place in another corner of the world. One critique I would have for the program is that the academic system can be challenging for students who are used to more structured, Americanized system, because CIEE students can enroll directly in classes with other Chileans, who are tracked to complete their degrees with the same students and in one concentration only (e.g. engineering students pretty much take only engineering classes for the duration of their collegiate careers, and then graduate as professionals). So, I would advise students to be as careful as possible when choosing their schedule, and to enroll in classes designed for foreigners and CIEE classes if possible. Other than that, I really cannot complain about my time in Chile. I had traveled a bit before I went to Chile, and I think my experience of having been abroad for periods of time helped me out in Valpo.

I'll be the first to say that I was extremely nervous when I made the decision to study abroad in Botswana. The internet offers little information about the country in general, so anything I knew about studying there had to be learned from alumni and, ultimately, through first hand experience. Luckily, all my nerves were unnecessary. During my five months in Botswana I discovered more about myself and my future aspirations than I ever could have at my home institution. I was fortunate enough to gain first hand experience in the field of public health by observing in local clinics and was able to truly immerse myself in a foreign culture during a village homestay. I also traveled to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world such as the Okavango Delta and Tofo Beach, Mozambique. I will never forget the friends and memories I made abroad and would strongly recommend this program to a student in any major; it is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I guarantee you will emerge a better student, friend, and person.

I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of CIEE's Liberal Arts program in Seville, Spain. I always had my heart set on studying in Spain. My school had partnered with CIEE to offer a program in Seville, but I was a little skeptical at first. I had studied abroad with a third party program before and was not thrilled. I liked what the program had to offer, but I was unsure the academic rigor, home stays, and excursions would meet my expectations. I am glad to say CIEE vastly exceeded my expectations. My homestay was flawless, the excursions were JUST what I was looking for, and my classes forced me to think. In fact, I ended up getting more B's than A's.

I was most impressed with the quality of the staff. I accidentally left my laptop in the Madrid airport on my way to Seville and the CIEE staff was instrumental at helping me getting it back (for free). They were more than exceptional.