CIEE Reviews

My semester in Guanajuato was equal parts challenge, adventure, education and awe. The city is indescribable in its charm, beauty and location. University classes gave me the opportunity to study subjects I'd never breached and meet people from all over Mexico and the world. CIEE's staff, classes and office were like a second home to me - supportive, knowledgeable, friendly and genuinely invested in each of their students. CIEE also gives the opportunity to see Mexico City and Tenochtitlán among other incredible field trips. Living with a local family was as educational as it was fun and heartwarming; I still stay in touch with my host mom, who is a better cook and a warmer person than most anyone I've met. The city is safe, the people are friendly and the country is beautiful. The experience is as impossible to forget as it is to regret and I'll be going back as soon as I can.

I studied abroad in Lisbon my Junior Fall and for starters, it was amazing. I could not rave more about the site on staff and at the local University. The staff was so accommodating and really worked hard to make sure each student in the program was happy, healthy, and making the most of their time in Portugal. I would strongly recommend this program to any student who is looking to have a different experience and throw themselves out there. The program is unique in that it is a language and culture program. This aspect was very useful in getting to know the country and the culture(s) as well as being able to interact and befriend Portuguese people. Portugal is a beautiful country with a unique history. Between the courses and the program excursions students are exposed to experiences and things they probably otherwise wouldn't have been able to do. Of the various trips we took with CIEE's program, going to the city of Porto was one of my favorites! We went to Porto for a long weekend where we all stayed in a hostel together. In Porto we did a walking tour, and later a boat tour. We also got to go to a concert at one of the most famous Music Halls. Other excursions included going to a soccer game at one of Lisbon's most famous stadiums, doing a tuk-tuk tour, and more.

Know that if you choose to study abroad in Portugal through CIEE you will be well taken care of and you will have so much fun. I studied abroad both semesters my junior year and Portugal was the more "holistic" study abroad experience.

I found my experience in Guanajuato through CIEE (pronounced see-yeh in Mexico) to be incredibly rewarding. Guanajuato is a beautiful and vibrant small city and I was warmly welcomed by the university students, my host family, and the CIEE staff. I was glad to discover that the CIEE staff were so personable and helpful, always there to give advice, share experiences, and provide us with opportunities to get to know not only Guanajuato, but the surrounding area as well in a comprehensive and interesting way. With CIEE I learned about local traditions, building an altar for día de los muertos, making corn tortillas at a ranch, and even joining one of the CIEE staff's dance class and performing together! My host family was also very supportive and kind and made me fresh juice and homemade meals every day. Overall, CIEE provided the tools for the truly immersive experience I sought and I am very grateful for choosing this program!

My summer abroad in Palma de Mallorca was by far one of the best experiences of my life. I initially chose the Palma program because it offered courses that would best align with my degree, however, after only a few days on the island I knew it was the perfect place to study abroad. Beaches, hiking, amazing food, friendly people, vibrant nightlife, etc…. Palma has much so much to offer. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a once in a lifetime experience. In hopes of helping you choose a program, I will mention some of the highlights of Palma (but trust me, I won’t get close to covering them all)!

Fun: I spent most of my time after class hanging out at one of the beautiful beaches with my new friends, but some of my other friends often opted for hiking to see the beautiful views from atop the mountains. In addition to the diverse geography, there is also a vibrant nightlife. We enjoyed hanging out with locals at “Tapas Tuesday”, a night of the week where everyone goes to a particular neighborhood in Palma for cheap tapas and socialization. It was a great time to practice our Spanish!

Courses: I took Business Spanish during one month of the summer and Mediterranean Marine Environment during the second month. Business Spanish was extremely helpful in improving my language skills as the class was conducted entirely in Spanish. Mediterranean Marine Environment was a very hands-on class, involving many field trips to snorkel and learn more about the Mediterranean.

Transportation: The island of Mallorca has a great transportation system! You can walk nearly anywhere in Palma, but if you’d like to take a day trip to another part of the island, there is a central bus station in Palma that will take you anywhere on the island. On the weekends we often took the buses to other beaches or towns for exploring.

People: The people of Palma are all so friendly and fun! I had the most loving homestay mother who made me feel right at home and even took me out for fun activities! The program directors go above and beyond to make sure everything goes smoothly for you. They truly care so much for each student and would do absolutely anything for you. Also, you really will make friendships that last a lifetime. None of us knew anyone else going on the program beforehand, but within a few days we were all great friends and did almost everything together during our time in Palma.

I am not usually one to write a review, but I wanted to make sure no one overlooked this study abroad program. I cannot wait to go back to Palma de Mallorca. :)

Lisbon is a warm, welcoming city, and a fantastic place to study abroad. Rich food and history can be found around every corner, along with stunning views of the city and riverfront. To say the least, Lisbon is a fantastic place to get lost in. If you're a fan of wine, pastries, seafood, espresso, architecture, adventure, history, or meeting people then you'll undoubtably find your niche here.

Studying though CIEE provided me the support I needed, the freedom to explore, and the guidance to experience things that I otherwise would have missed.

I studied here in 2011 and loved it. I still keep in contact with classmates and the learning I experienced here has helped me postgraduation and beyond. Attending this program, it's impossible not to improve your language skills. The teachers will push you hard, and the immersion environment can be tough, but it's really the best and maybe only way to become proficient in a language as difficult as Mandarin Chinese. Definitely recommend it!

I can't say enough amazing things about this study abroad destination or the program themselves. I honestly believe that CIEE was the best program to study abroad through. They are professional, helpful and so kind. They will make your abroad experience as easy and fun as possible. I also believe that Palma was the BEST place to go abroad to! My homestay family became a second family to me, I learned so much in my classes at the university (which are a lot of fun!), and I learned more Spanish than I even knew I would! The social scene in Palma is never dull and there is always so much to do at every hour of the day. It sure is one beautiful island. Study abroad in Palma, you will never regret it!!

I spent the Fall semester of my junior year of undergrad in Seville, Spain as a member of the Communication, New Media, Journalism program. I chose to go to Seville because this program existed and it appealed to my major. To say I was satisfied with my academic and social experience in Seville would be an understatement. Not only did CNMJ push me academically in a way I had not anticipated, CIEE coordinated events and fostered friendships with peers and professors that will be valuable for the rest of my life. The CNMJ program taught me how to be a better journalist and creator of media. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, to set up interviews with Spaniards in a new language, and to tell the stories of the city. Aside from continuing to build a portfolio for myself and my future, I learned about this industry from a different cultural perspective with field trips and guest speakers. The staff and faculty of CNMJ are incredibly qualified and experienced in the communications field and have so much to teach and offer young minds. One of the biggest benefits was the full Spanish immersion this program offers, as all classes are in Spanish and your skills in both Spanish and Journalism are constantly growing. CNMJ taught me academically, but it also taught me about myself and helped me grow as an individual in ways I am very thankful.

It's cliche, and many others have already focused on the various advantages and opportunities that studying abroad in Shanghai affords you, but it's worth reiterating once how phenomenal of a study abroad experience the CIEE program in Shanghai offers. Shanghai is an incredibly diverse city offering a window into a wide range of Chinese culture, is incredibly accessible for international students, and is a great starting point for those who want to explore more of China.

The most important contribution I can make is to speak to the incredible quality of the Chinese language part of the program. Small class sizes, excellent faculty, and a rigorous but engaging and achievable Chinese curriculum made the CIEE program outstanding. I cannot say enough amazing things about the Chinese teachers, all of whom work tirelessly to produce the very best classroom environment, methods of learning, and study abroad experience for students. Through the faculty, who were incredibly supportive and encouraging of students curiosity and immersion into Chinese society, I feel like I truly experienced Shanghai and China in ways that no other study abroad program would offer. The entire staff -- not just a few individuals -- were some of the kindest, most diligent, and most selfless individuals I've ever met in my life. I simply cannot convey in words how integral they were to the success, and life-changing impact, of this program and I cannot recommend this program highly enough to anybody interested in a truly holistic, immersive, engaging, and meaningful study abroad experience in China.

My semester in Monteverde will forever be imprinted in my memories as the happiest phase of my life (yet). Our family-sized group challenged each other physically (with our extensive, educational and majestic hikes) and mentally (through papers, research, and species recognition). Our professors and program managers made campfire songs, dinners on the town, and beach days regular events that rewarded our hard academic periods. My photographs are especially colorful with the authentic smiles of my classmates in the foreground of palms, ferns, colorful fruits and birds. This program emphasized practical, hands-on outside learning, which meant that we got to tour Costa Rica in a respectful way while gaining real experience and expertise. I now have a great understanding of the scientific research process, and this has helped me in college and beyond! I now also have refined camping and hiking skills, a vast understanding of the Costa Rican landscape, lifelong friends and the best memories I could ask for. I could not critique this program in any way even if I thought long and hard