CIEE Reviews

I had an amazing time this summer with CIEE. The program staff in Amsterdam were very welcoming and personable, and were really helpful in figuring out everything from finding fun places to be to handling any personal issues I encountered. The class I took was also really informative, and I learned a lot through our lectures and site visits in the city. Overall, I learned so much about the healthcare system in the Netherlands, looking for ways to improve our own in America in my future medical career as well as the country itself. I learned a lot about the Dutch, and even picked up a few words! The gezellig (coziness) of the entire program and everything I learned made for an amazing summer.

Highlights:
-field experience: being able to travel all over the country and learn about the different ecosystems and species first hand was incredible
-homestay: immersing fully by living with a Costa Rican family both allowed me to finally be comfortable speaking Spanish and build a strong connection with my Mama Tica
-independent research: being able to fully choose and implement my own research project with full support from staff (thanks Moncho and Alan) was instrumental in deciding what I want to do with my future... I will be continuing my research in Oregon this fall
-location: Costa Rica is absolutely gorgeous and we got to experience places that very few others get to - Corcovado National Park (saw a puma!), Eladio's Refuge (10 mile backpacking hike to get there), Pocosol (another 10 mi hike through the Children's Eternal Rainforest)

I have neither seen nor heard of any program that gets to experience all of these: homestay, language immersion, field experience, independent research, travel, challenging academics (science) and more!! The program has everything, and while it was a physical, academic and emotional challenge, I would highly recommend to people who are looking for that. Know however, that it is very academically rigorous and science-based so be prepared for that.

I chose to go to Russia so I could receive enough credits to graduate with a Russian language degree. I had no idea what to expect from living with a host family that spoke almost exclusively Russian or taking classes that were taught in Russian. This being said, choosing to be in St. Petersburg was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I don't think I am a particularly shy person, but whenever it came to speaking Russian out loud in my classes at my home university, I. would keep my mouth shut and avoid making eye contact with my professor so as not to be chosen. In Russia, however, I didn't always have the option of asking my questions in English, nor did I have the option to avoid participating in the small classes. I felt so much better about speaking after living with my very loving (and very patient) host parents and Russian buddies. I felt that as I learned the language I also became bolder and more willing to force myself out of my comfort zone.
Initially, I was hesitant to study abroad in Russia because I always wanted to travel while I was abroad and I was worried that being in Russia would hinder that. CIEE leaves a week for students to travel (I recommend Georgia) and there are plenty of weekends towards the end of the semester to explore other countries or Russian cities. Even if you don't travel there are always new things to explore in St. Petersburg such as the Udelnaya Flea Market and the different expositions at Etagi Loft.
I think there is a study abroad program out there for everyone, but coming from someone who was incredibly skeptical of the CIEE program at first, I couldn't imagine not taking part in that experience now.

I participated in CIEE's Global Internship (GLINT) program in Rome and I can't say enough good things about it! CIEE set me up to intern with a company that I loved and really helped me take the steps towards finding out what I really wanted to do with my life. It was definitely an opportunity I would not have found in the United States and I thank god for CIEE being there to find it for me! CIEE from the beginning was so helpful, they arranged all my living and working arrangements, so I wouldn't have to worry or stress and were there to provide answers and solutions to all questions or problems I experienced. The best part of CIEE, for me, was the extra trips they took us on. Every other weekend we took a trip that, honestly, I would not have done on my own and I can't praise these trips enough because they were amazing! CIEE staff took us themselves to places and gave us experiences we could not have had without them! If I was not graduating, I would apply for another program with CIEE in a heartbeat. I experienced multiple different study abroad programs and CIEE was, by far, the best!

I am so happy that I chose to participate in the CIEE Summer Arabic Language program in Amman. My goal going into the program was to make enough progress to skip Second-Year Standard Arabic and begin my third year in Fall 2017. Through a combination of our intensive Arabic classes and being immersed in an Arabic-speaking city and culture, I was able to reach this goal. My Arabic professor back at home was very impressed with my progress in just one summer, and so was my native Arabic speaking tutor.

At the beginning of my time in Amman, it was difficult to navigate the city and communicate effectively, but this really helped me grow, and by the end, it was much easier and I was able to confidently take public transportation to the places I needed to go. I learned a great deal in Jordan - not just about Arabic, but also about living in another culture, about adapting and being resourceful in unfamiliar circumstances, and about all the similarities and all the differences between us. I was also able to visit many beautiful, interesting and historic places. One of my favorite experiences was visiting Wadi Rum, where we rode camels, witnessed traditional Bedouin cooking practices, and stargazed under the beautiful desert night sky.

I’m so grateful for this opportunity and I believe it will end up being one of the most valuable experiences of my academic career. I hope to return to Jordan soon!

CIEE Ferrara was the best decision I could have made for my study abroad experience this past Spring (2017). I was looking for a small program in a small town in Italy and that is exactly what I found. Ferrara is a quaint sleepy town in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Surrounded by old fortress walls that have been turned into a walking path, this town in loaded with charm and history. The market every Friday morning brings the town alive with citizens of all ages and Wednesday nights the local bars explode with young Italians out for a drink and cigarette. The program center is located a 5 minute walk to the central historical district and within biking distance to the train station. Everyone bikes or walks in Ferrara there are limited driving areas, which helps to preserve the old Italian way of slow living. During my program all 24 of us were in homestays. My host family was located outside the city walls nestle among the farm lands, in a very peaceful area with a path that meandered to the Po River (longest river in Italy). CIEE matched everyone up with the host family they believed best suited them, considering language ability, proximity to the program center, and interests. My host mom and I were destined for each other. We would enjoy 2 hour delicious fresh Italian dinners (pumpkin pasta is the town's specialty dish and it will forever be my favorite!) together every night where we would cover everything from travel to history to philosophy to literature. Having lived in Ferrara her whole life, I learned so much about Ferrara's history during those nights. In order to understand a place, you must understand the people and the homestay experience was my greatest resource for this. CIEE set up program dinners and activities around Ferrara and then longer excursions to Modena and Turin, which were so much fun and helped everyone in the program grow very close. I made amazing friends to travel with and experience Ferrara with. We would all meet up on Tuesday nights to eat at our favorite (and only option) Indian restaurant Taj Mahal and plan our weekend adventures. Situated in Northern Italy we traveled to many small northern towns on the weekends (we got most Fridays off to have 3 day weekends) and ventured further to Rome and Florence. Ferrara will forever have my heart and I am thankful for CIEE or I would never have found my Italian love!

If you want an authentic experience in modern China, you must go to Beijing. And if you want a study-abroad experience that combines a rigorous language program with a series of unforgettable cultural events, I can recommend no program more highly than CIEE’s Intensive Chinese Language (ICL) program at Peking University. My language skills and confidence grew exponentially as a result of the daily language classes. I also got to experience the real Beijing (and China) with excursions to places such as the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Temple of Heaven. There were many opportunities to try fantastic food (I recommend Peking duck or anything with eggplant) and cultural activities (like calligraphy). On the other hand, there was plenty of time and resources available to plan my own excursions and activities. I was also impressed by the CIEE staff at Peking University, who were always there to hear my questions and concerns, or offer advice and recommendations for restaurants and attractions. If you have the opportunity to study abroad at this specific program, you should definitely take it.

My trip to Spain was absolutely unforgettable. I stayed in a residencia in Barcelona which was reasonably comfortable and had a beautiful view! During this month long trip, I was able to get out of my comfort zone, travel, meet new people and become familiar with other languages and cultures. I plan to be an immigration lawyer and believe what I have learned and witnessed will benefit me in the future. Everyone I came in contact with in the program were extremely welcoming and friendly. It was admirable to me that all of the staff seemed to be excited and passionate about their jobs. Overall, I loved everything about my experience. The excursions were my favorite. I absolutely adored the sights! This experience was totally worth it!

It remains difficult to express in words the significance that this program has had on my life. CIEE Sao Paulo gave me the opportunity to not only live in one of South America's most prominent cities, but to also attend a world class university with interesting and stimulating classes surrounded by new friends from all corners of the globe.

I was definitely nervous upon first arrival, but after meeting the other students in my group and the knowledgeable, friendly, and supportive staff at CIEE I knew that I was in the right place. I loved that I was surrounded by people with the same mindset for adventure - people that were always willing to join me for a new experience and to gallivant wide-eyed around the city we called home for 5 months. Everything was in constant motion and there was always something to do - whether that be meeting friends at a local coffee shop, learning to dance Samba at a local bar, visiting the local markets, or traveling to a new place in Brasil. I had the chance to meet people from all over the world as well as a local Brazilians - all of whom made the crazy concrete jungle of Sao Paulo feel like a home away from home. I still talk to many of them to this day and know that I have created lifelong friends thanks to the experiences offered to me through CIEE.

CIEE did a wonderful job organizing our Home-stays, and my Brazilian Family truly became a part of my daily life and helped me to understand the complexity of life in Sao Paulo. From conversations about local food, to politics, to helping me learn Portuguese, my Brazilian family became a cornerstone of my experience - all thanks to CIEE and their dedication to finding and pairing students with engaged and experienced hosts.

While those are some of the more important elements of my exchange, it is difficult to describe how everyday there was something new learned, someone new to meet, and something new to see. I absolutely loved my experience in Brazil and I would not have traded it for the world. I hope you, too, get to experience something as unique as CIEE Sao Paulo. Ate mais Brasil, tenho saudades pra vcs e eu espero que voltar em breve

First, Barcelona is the perfect city to study abroad in; it's beautiful, safe, culturally vibrant, well-situated for travel to other major European cities, geographically diverse, the list goes on. If you're still deciding where to study in Spain, the choice is simple: Barcelona all the way.

You also can't beat CIEE's ALA program. CIEE provides a tight-knit community and an academic/social support network to facilitate your overseas transition.

ALA courses are completed with both local students at the University of Barcelona and other international students through CIEE. This track is more academically challenging than other CIEE programs, but I found coursework to be very manageable. Do not be intimidated!

I also highly recommend selecting to live with a host family. This was a highlight of my abroad experience. CIEE works hard to make sure students are comfortable with their living situations, and will make necessary adjustments throughout the semester. I personally had a terrific housing experience, so my advice it to take the risk - it will pay off.

Improving your language skills is directly correlated to the amount of effort you put into communicating in Spanish. It is possible to get by with doing very little, or you may work to consistently speak, write, and think in Spanish. The level you improve by the end of the semester is up to you.

I returned to the US in June and I'm already nostalgic. CIEE played a key role in my abroad experience. I recommend CIEE's ALA program to anyone looking for a balance of academic rigor, social activity, cultural immersion, and travel. As a first-timer in Spain (and Europe in general), you can't do any better than CIEE ALA!