CIEE Reviews

I knew when I got on the plane to Rio that it would be one of the most important six months of my life so far, but I couldn't imagine just how different I'd be when I left. Over the course of a long semester abroad, I fell in and out of love on a daily basis with one of the craziest, scariest, most breathtaking places on the planet, and I can't imagine having chosen to go anywhere else. Rio is a city of extremes, but learning to fit into the rhythms of carioca life and truly feel at home in the city, whether on the beaches, in a downtown café, or in a favela as part of my research and internship, was one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable and a huge marker of personal growth. During this time, CIEE was an amazing support system, for everything from navigating doctor's appointments or the Brazilian postal system to trading memories, music, and food recommendations. It's only been a little while since I left Brazil, but already I miss it - I miss sitting on Ipanema Beach with nothing but ocean between me and the South Pole, I miss weekend morning hikes through the Tijuca National Forest, and most of all I miss the friends I made in Rio, all the time we spent traipsing through Copacabana, dancing in the streets during Carnaval, killing time between classes. Rio really does pull you in and leave a little part of itself in you - once you leave, you're always counting the days until you go back.

The academics really depends on what classes you take. The difficulty of the content was not a problem for me; the real struggle came with trying to understand the professors. Eventually you get used to the way they speak and it will be fine, but the challenge really came from the language barrier, not the actual content of the classes. The classes at the local universities don't have much day-to-day work, they just have one big exam at the end of the semester. CIEE has tutors on-hand to help you with whatever courses you take, and I highly recommend using them to make sure you're on the right page. If you do that, then you shouldn't have any issues academically. There are plenty of opportunities to go out at night, and Feria de Abril is a must-even if you only go one day just to experience it. CIEE is always available if you need anything. They give you a lot of freedom to travel and experience Spain on your own, but all you have to do is ask (for walk-in clinics, lists of family-friendly restaurants in case your family visits, good flamenco shows, etc.).

Seville is one of the safest cities I've ever been in. While theft is an issue, violent crime is extremely low in Spain in general, so I felt very safe and very comfortable in this city during all hours of the day (or night). My host family was very helpful and took care of a lot of things for me, and they understood that as a college student I'd be coming and going on my own schedule.

Seville is a great city full of history, and you should definitely go to a flamenco show, a soccer game, and go to the beach at least once. I loved my time abroad and I would certainly choose this program again. There's time to travel (in Spain and out of it) and you can really get into the local lifestyle through the various holidays, especially during spring semester's Semana Santa and Feria de Abril. Seville is known for these events, so take advantage of them!

I had a wonderful experience studying abroad in Seville, Spain through CIEE. The staff was helpful and kind, and clearly cared about our safety and wellbeing. I appreciated the consistent communication to program participates and how the staff showed that they were readily available to chat regarding any concerns you may have had, from housing to academics. For anyone who is worried about doing a homestay with a host family, I understand why you would be nervous, because I was too. However, I highly recommend doing a homestay, as this is the best way to learn and become integrated into the local culture. While it is important to get to know your host city, I believe that, if you have budgeted for it, you MUST travel around Europe, or even just within Spain. I am so happy that I got to experience a new city almost every weekend because I feel that it enriched my cultural experience beyond what I was expecting to get out of my time abroad. Take advantage of program-run excursions, too, though, because they are fun and well-organized, and takes the burden of personal travel plans off of your shoulders for a couple of trips! I think my biggest pieces of advice for anyone thinking of traveling abroad would be to always stay on guard and look after your belongings, look after your peers, always make sure your phone is charged, and plan ahead for your weekend travels, including flights, lodging, and a rough itinerary of places you want to go/things you want to see. Finally, don't be afraid to take a solo trip somewhere. I would recommend doing this once you have a little bit of travel under your belt, though, because sometimes traveling alone can be nerve-wracking.

Shanghai is a study abroad dream. It is for the adventurers, dreamers, and those that want a breath of fresh air from their normal lives. shanghai is a huge sprawling city with adventures around every corner.

The program itself is a perfect balance of support and freedom. The professors that I had (Chinese economics and communicative Chinese) were of the highest quality which made for an invaluable academic experience. I came back months ago and I'm still talking bout the things I learned and how they have inspired me to want to return to China. The dorms were great quality, fast wifi, good cafeteria, and a great set up to get to know everyone in the group. I made some incredible friends in China that I will always remember.

I say don't miss out on Shanghai because china is so widely talked about in the our world today wether it be economically or politically. More often than not these perspectives on china have great biases toward an agenda. I urge people to go and see it for themselves. Shanghai is for those that want a fast lifestyle filled with modernity and crowded alleys, bright sights and loud streets. I really grew as a person on my study abroad experience. Not only did my knowledge of China increase but also an increase in character. Shanghai keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Don't miss out on Shanghai!

Going abroad with CIEE was absolutely life changing. I loved every second of it and never wanted to return home. The professors were incredible and the staff was wonderful. I never felt unsafe or like I didn't have any support. CIEE was fun, informational, and helped me reach my goals for my study abroad experience both academically and culturally. I would highly recommend to anyone interested in having an amazing experience abroad.

Having the opportunity to enroll directly into Peking University's School of International Studies and Sociology Department was one of the most intellectually stimulating and academically enriching experiences I have been through. Having a good balance between challenging and welcoming, my professors helped to acquire a solid grasp of the learning material and piqued my interest in engaging in further study on issues related to democracy, development and trends of globalization. Overall, I would highly recommend this program for anyone wanting to not just learn about China, but learn about the world through China's lens.

My study abroad experience certainly wasn't perfect. But you can't expect it to be. Nothing can be perfect; even your ideal once in a lifetime adventure is bound to have its ups and downs- but that's life. Some of the ups on my trip included the beautiful trip to Patagonia, the welcoming and encouraging staff, and the guided freedom the program provided through great suggestions that were all volunteer. However, some of the challenges I faced included the unstructured academic environment and the slightly inhospitable character of members in my host family. All in all though, the trip was "vale la pena" or worth the trouble!!

I could not have asked for a better place to spend my semester abroad than in Berlin. The history, the club/social scene, the variety of cuisine, and the public transportation system were all incredible.
To start off this review, I want to express that yes, this will be a scary experience-you're stepping outside of your comfort zone. However, don't let that stop you: the faculty are incredibly supportive and will help you any way they can. If you've been seeing a counselor at your home university, there are English speaking counselors, one of which I saw while abroad. It was a Godsend to have someone to share all the highs and lows of my experience with.
I lived in a homestay, which (as with everything) had its pros and cons. Faculty will warn you about getting caught in the "American Bubble" where you stay in a comfortable space (aka the CIEE building) and don't explore and interact with Berliners. By being in a homestay I prevented getting caught in this American Bubble. However, I do think I missed out on some social perks of staying in a dorm with other students. The dorms are average as far as dorms go; the kitchens are shared, which means they are almost always a mess. As far as academics, the courses I took were interesting and all the professors are incredibly intelligent. One of my professors used to be the director of Doctors Without Borders in Berlin, and he took us to meet with them during one class period! Professors are encouraged to use Wednesday mornings or class time for "academic excursions", which I think added greatly to the class and helped me explore the city of Berlin more. The classes were just challenging enough without impeding on my desire to explore the city outside of class time. The one downside of the academics was the lack of students taking classes taught in German; as a German minor I was excited to take German classes, but many of the courses I wanted to take were cancelled due to low enrollment.
The absolute best part about this program were the weekend trips. There were three total-one for each block-and hotel, breakfast, two meals, and two tours/activities are included in tuition! I know some students opted out of the trip (you always have this option) to travel on their own, which I never understood; a free trip with interesting locations? Sign me up! A word of advice that I'm sure the faculty will also express: spend some weekends in Berlin. As much as you'll want to travel outside of the city, Berlin has so much to offer, and you'll get more out of your experience if you don't go away every weekend. That being said, I really enjoyed meeting some of my friends in Oslo, Norway, and Copenhagen, Denmark, for long weekend trips!
Studying abroad was one of the best choices I made during my undergraduate career. I learned so much more about the German culture and particularly the culture and history of Berlin. Traveling alone made me so much more confident and independent. I caught the "traveling bug" and am looking forward to the next time I travel overseas (because there will be a next time!)

I truly recommend this program to anyone interested in learning more about Korean culture. The CIEE Seoul program introduces you to many aspecte of the culture over the course of the summer program. You'll spend several days before classes start traveling around South Korea, exploring historical sights and trying new and different foods. And when classes start, you'll notice you already have an enormous group of friends to call when you need anything. CIEE Seoul allows you to make lifelong friends from both America and from Seoul. My favorite aspect of the CIEE program was the opportunity to make close connections to both the staff and the interns (Seoulmates <3).

I would highly recommend studying in Prague through CIEE. Classes were usually interesting and not too difficult. Housing was nice, clean, and well located. Opportunities for internships and cultural activities are readily available if you're interested. I thought CIEE's staff was super friendly and helpful, and our Study Center was in a cool location (and you'll get your daily cardio walking up the hill it sits on!). I didn't know too many other students in Prague through providers other than CIEE to compare experiences with, but I can't think of much on CIEE's end that wasn't done really well! Come to Prague and enjoy living in a city that's beautiful, interesting, weird, cheap, wild, historical, and amazing, all at once.