CIEE Reviews

If you are looking to make memories, meet people that are interesting and amazing, have some of the best instructors and professors out there, this program is for you. With a strong immersion into local culture in the Iringa Region, you will feel as if you have found a second home in Tanzania. Phenomenal staffing that care about you as a student and as a person, be ready to make memories that will last a lifetime. I'll be honest, it was kind of scary at first to come to Tanzania with very limited knowledge of Swahili and almost not knowing anybody else in my class or at the school. But at the end of the day, I found myself having to be dragged back onto the plane to come home. You will get a strong academic program from the classes that work both in the classroom as well as have you out in the community. The classes are extraordinarily interesting, and the Research Seminar was a strong way to prepare me for capstone and term papers, as well as taught me how to properly and ethically deal with human research. If you are concerned about safety, homesickness, or any health concerns, don't worry. Every member of the program, even other students, are there to help support you and support each other along the way. Keep this program strong, because there are very little study abroad programs like this! If you go, I look forward to hearing about your phenomenal experiences. Safari Njema!!

I won a scholarship to study in Sevilla with CIEE during summer 2015, and was so impressed with the program/in love with the city that I ended up returning for a whole semester. The entire experience was incredible and I could write forever about it:
There is the opportunity to take classes at the local universities (either with fellow foreign students or direct-enrollment with actual Spanish students); the orientation period is very useful in helping you get settled into the life of the city; there are loads of free events/site visits/excursions/trips all organized by CIEE; the staff (both professors as well as the coordinators/director) are all very friendly, accessible, and caring; you have the opportunity to volunteer, and meet Spanish students; the city itself is packed with beauty and culture. Sevilla is rich with history, and there is always something new to learn. There's always something to do- seriously, it's impossible to be bored here- and you can get a student discount on just about anything, from museum visits to bus/train fare. There are budget airline flights all over Europe, including popular destinations like London, Paris, Milan, etc. and a public bus to the airport runs every half hour for 4 euros, which is much cheaper than the 30+ euro that a taxi would cost. The nightlife is fantastic, but the city is also calm during the mid-afternoon (aka the siesta hours) and there are a million small cafés to choose from, whether you're looking for coffee or tapas or a study spot or somewhere to grab drinks with friends.
My experience with CIEE has been so positive that it actually ended up helping me figure out what I want to do with my life- I am hoping to work in the international education/study abroad sector someday, and I hope to help other American students receive the same impactful experience that I have had.

I remember my very first night moving into my dorm room. I was assigned to room 18 where I had one American roommate and two Tanzanian roommates. The room was tiny, barely enough room for all four of us at once. I remember feeling as if I had brought way too much luggage. My Tanzanian roommates were friendly but didn't speak much english and we didn't speak much Swahili. My roommate and I both needed to shower so we gathered our showering supplies (bucket, scooper, shampoo, and soap) and headed on our first of many new experiences, taking a shower out of a bucket. Our water was freezing! We both got back to our room and we both hysterically laughed and cried together. I remember asking myself what I had gotten myself into and feeling like I would never adjust to my new environment. After a few weeks went by though I became so close to my Tanzanian roommates who began to teach me how to live a more comfortable life. For example they would let me borrow their tea kettle so I could heat up my water before my shower so it would be warm. They also helped us to set up our mosquito nets, organize our things, and to learn the language. When I moved out of the dorms to head home I felt so sad to leave the place that I had made my home. Journeying to Tanzania will be full of challenges but it will become one of the hardest experiences you'll love.

Madrid is a remarkable city. I loved it. As others have said, the city offers everything and can fit for anyone and any activity. At least 3 times a week, I would wonder the streets by myself or ride to a random metro stop and explore the city. I am returning to Madrid this spring and could not be more excited

My favorite day of the week while studying abroad was tuesdays. I, along with my closest friends, had classes in the morning but the entire afternoon off. We would go to the famous sandwich shop at Carlos III and then go to retiro to eat these delicious sandwiches. It doesnt sound like much. But, when you felt true spanish hospitality and love from the sandwich shop owners, then took easy metro to the park, and then laid in the park on a sunny beautiful day at retiro watching people all relax and slow down... then it becomes something special

the CIEE program was great. Highly recommended-- the staff, the programming, the trips, the filed trips, the center, the host family, everything was good

CIEE Nanjing was definitely the best study abroad experience in my life. Instead of going to the larger cities of Shanghai or Beijing, I decided on Nanjing because I wanted to have a more intimate atmosphere with smaller class sizes. I really got to know my teachers and fellow participants very well and kept in touch since then. I am so happy that I was able to study in the CIEE Nanjing Intensive Chinese Language program for one full academic year. If there is one program I recommend to anyone who wants to improve their Chinese as well as have friendships that will last forever and a great opportunity to travel around China, this is definitely the program for you.

CIEE's program was the highlight of my undergraduate career. Unlike a lot of study abroad programs, this one allowed me (and fervently encouraged me!) to branch out and make friends with Swedes instead of just people in the program (though I got both!). Uppsala is a great student town--safe, fun, and filled with young people. I met my boyfriend during this program (and we've been together since) and I've visited Uppsala/Stockholm several times since the program ended because of how much I fell in love with the country. Academically, Uppsala can accommodate many types of students--science-oriented, law/justice, humanities, engineering. The Swedish class was a surprising highlight. I was in a class with exchange students from all over the world, and the language is relatively easy to learn. What I also loved is that you live in apartment buildings with other university students--the majority of whom are Swedish. I don't know of many other study abroad programs, other than home-stays, where you got so much access to natives.

Uppsala is the perfect place to study abroad, if you don't mind the cold. The fact that it's a university town makes it perfect for abroad students, and CIEE makes everything so much easier by figuring out your housing, introducing you to the city, and being able to provide support and answer questions. The student nations are a lot of fun and one huge benefit of this program is the ease of meeting other international students, and not just Americans. Overall, amazing experience here with the city and the CIEE staff.

What I loved most about this program, besides the tight-knit community of students and professors who quickly became my friends, was how it simultaneously made me feel totally immersed in the forest, and totally safe and comfortable. During the field trips, every day brought a new adventure, a new activity or a new species to learn about. There is something magical about learning the natural history of a tree while standing under it, or pausing in writing down info on a species of millipede to let it crawl across your arm, or learning about a bat from the guy who discovered and named that species while he is literally holding it in front of you. You quickly develop the understanding that the world is your classroom, and realize that you need only to walk into the forest to discover something new and amazing. This program teaches you the beauty and value of tropical diversity, from the smallest intricate details to the largest complex interactions, not so much through lectures in the classroom, but by allowing you to live it every day.
Despite the deep immersion into tropical forests that this program provides, I never felt unsafe. Three meals per day were provided, along with any equipment and supplies we might need. The professors are experts in handling dangers in every area we visited, and their first priority is always the comfort and well-being of their students. I felt I could ask them for help with any problem I was having, and they would do as much as possible to help me. No issue was too small, and no baseline level of discomfort was assumed. Furthermore, they do their best to provide breaks and fun activities to keep spirits high.
I have so many memories from this trip that I will never forget, but one that especially comes to mind happened at the end of a full day of hiking. We were backpacking though the Children's Eternal Rain Forest, and after several days staying at an isolated shack in the forest, we were hiking out to a (somewhat) more densely populated area. There was only one trail, and so people had broken off to hike at their own paces, and I was walking alone. Suddenly I heard a rustling from above and looked up to see a troop of spider monkeys passing through the canopy. A few paused to look at me and drop a stick or two before moving on. I was struck at this moment by how truly remarkable this program was. Feelings of discovery and wonderment, of self-confidence and peace flowed through me at that moment, as I stood there with everything I owned on my back, looking up at this amazing creature I had so causally stumbled across. I remained in that spot, with what I'm sure was a stupid smile on my face, long after the troop had passed.
I went to Costa Rica looking for adventure and a break from my normal routines. On this trip I found those things, but also so much more: vast stores of knowledge on subjects I would never have otherwise studied, exposure to new cultures and ways of life, a passion for ecology, friendships forged strong on long hikes through the jungle and late nights clustered around the guitar, beautiful vistas, invigorating swims, sunsets, waterfalls, huge trees with life draped across every branch all shrouded in Monteverde mist. If you are a lover of biology and the beauty of our natural world, or even if you think you might like to become one, do yourself a favor and take this trip. I promise it will be unforgettable.

If you study ecology or biology then there's no reason you shouldn't do this program. You learn so much about the tropics and ecology in general. The professors are the best I've ever had and they have set up the program in the best possible way, a third of the trip is spent on field trips! No reason not to do this program. I not only saw countless plants and animals but I learned all about their biology. Additionally the independent research project was a great way to get experience and the professors do a great job teaching you how to do research.

My time with CIEE Madrid was amazing! From before I left the States to when I made to Madrid, it was smooth sailing. The Director and staff made themselves available to answer all my questions and ensure the transition was smooth. While I was in Madrid they offered lots of assistance for the classes and made recommendations for things I should try out in Madrid (& they never steered me wrong). I had such a wonderful time in Madrid, I hope to return one day and live there for a few more months. Thanks CIEE Madrid for making such a positive and lasting impact!