CIS Abroad Reviews

My experience was unique because I lived in a place with 9 other roommates and they became my closest friends throughout my semester. We would gather every week and just send out an idea for a trip and we would just go to London with a group while others went somewhere else. The food experience and transportation also was a 5 star. With the metro never being a problem we would rent bikes to save time because of the bike paths all over. We also traveled to certain places in Spain to try the best paellas as well as other countries to try their famous dish. This could have been fish and chips in London or many others. This was one of my best decisions I ever made and I hope you look into this program because the staff prepares you perfectly and sets you up when you arrive to your location.

Since there aren't ubers or taxis, you were forced to walk everywhere which really gets you more involved with the town and the people and the culture. Just exploring every area was so fun and there is also a train right in the middle of town and it was fun getting off at nearby stops since they offer so much to see such as beaches and small shops. I used all of the resources provided to me by CIS Abroad which made exploration so much easier since a lot of the events offered were included with CIS Abroad. The locals were all very nice and as long as you make an attempt to speak the language and be involved with the culture, everyone will love you.

I had the absolute best time studying abroad in the Gold Coast! I loved the weather, culture, and the people in my program. If you are considering studying abroad there, do it because it is the best decision I ever made! I also specifically loved going abroad through CIS because I loved the on-site staff support and fun local activities we participated in! My study abroad program included snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, Snorkeling in Ship Ruins, Going Gliding down a sand dune, and visiting an indoor food market! Go abroad! You won't regret it :) I still keep in touch with many of the wonderful friends I made in my program, as well as friends from other programs.

The six weeks in Japan and Korea were eventful and overwhelming at the same time.
The class I took in Japan was Japanese Anime and Popular Culture. As a big anime fan, I was really excited to learn anime history and see things in person. While in Korea I really enjoyed my class Introduction to the world of Korean religions. We learned so much about Korean history and religions. On most days we went on field trips to Buddhist temples, new religions churches, and an LDS church, while also having guest speakers like a Buddhist monk, Shaman, and a Catholic priest. I got to see different cultures firsthand and learn many perspectives. While getting out of my comfort zone, see, and learn so much through studying abroad through CIS Abroad and doing content creation with CEA CAPA. It was a privilege and having the support of staff made it so welcoming. I will forever cherish my new friends, and time spent abroad this summer.

I studied abroad in Sorrento, Italy with CIS Abroad and it was the best decision ever! Sorrento offered so many experiences for me to do everything I love. I went on hikes along the Amalfi coast, explored the ruins of Pompeii several times, volunteered at a foster home, and studied at the gorgeous Sant' Anna Institute overlooking the Mediterranean Sea everyday. I was able to explore Sorrento and beyond with several excursions through the program, field trips with my Marine Biology and Archaeology classes, and traveling to several different countries with the friends I made there. I made some of the best memories there and wish I could go back just to relive it all over again!! I would recommend it to anyone thinking to study abroad!

I had a fantastic time during my semester in Florence! The staff at CIS was so helpful and supportive. I would recommend all the included activities the program offers, they are a great way to stay involved and meet people! I made amazing relationships and connections that will last a lifetime. I could not be more thankful for CIS abroad, the staff, and my time in Florence. Make sure you stay involved and say yes to everything even if you are unsure. Those memories will last a lifetime and it is SO worth it!

I was fortunate to spend my spring semester at the American College of Greece in Athens. I am a Psychology major, so I took all psychology courses. I really enjoyed the psychology department and felt they pushed me to grow academically. Additionally, I enjoyed several campus-run organizations, from the archery club to Better Days for Strays, which is a club that assists local animal shelters. There are so many different things to get involved in, but there's also the opportunity to spend your time in the city and get to explore. Greek food is wonderful; I miss it every day. The program also provides a nice balance because it gives you a relatively small group of people and other students you know and can spend time with throughout the semester. We usually have an excursion about once a month. The individuals who lead the excursions are a couple and genuinely some of the sweetest people. One of my favorite trips was when we visited Metara and climbed up to the monasteries On Top of the Rock faces, but there is normally a wide variety of activities. We learn traditional Greek dance, visit the Acropolis, and often include a meal with the general group. I recommend this program!

My time studying abroad in Greece was an experience that I will always remember. Overall, I had an amazing time, and I am very happy that I chose Greece as my study abroad destination. My favorite parts of the experience were the people, the beautiful sights, and, of course, the food. Being able to experience a different culture while also exploring Greece and other countries made the semester feel like a true adventure.

One of the things I enjoyed most about Greece was the people. I found many of the people I interacted with to be welcoming and friendly, and I really enjoyed experiencing the more relaxed pace of life. I also loved being surrounded by beautiful sights and having the opportunity to explore different parts of Greece. The food was another highlight. Greek food was delicious, although one thing that surprised me was how often I found myself eating similar meals. While the food was great, there was not always as much variety as I was used to having in the United States. This was definitely a small culture shock for me.

Academically, my experience was a little more challenging than I expected. I chose to take higher-level courses related to my major rather than the more general elective courses that many study abroad students take. While I appreciated being able to take courses that were directly related to my Psychology major and were not offered at my home institution, the workload and difficulty made the semester more demanding. Looking back, I would recommend that students think carefully about which courses they take abroad. Study abroad can be an amazing opportunity to explore new subjects, and it may not always be the best time to take some of the most important or difficult courses required for your major.

Another major part of my experience was traveling. I was able to visit several places during my time abroad, and two of my favorite destinations were Malta and Portugal. Traveling outside of Greece gave me even more opportunities to experience different cultures and made my semester even more memorable. However, one thing I wish I had known beforehand was how expensive traveling could be. Even traveling to places outside of Athens within Greece could become expensive, especially when transportation and other travel costs were added together. I would definitely recommend that future students create a realistic travel budget before going abroad.

I would absolutely recommend studying abroad in Greece, and I would especially recommend the program I chose. Out of the students I met from different study abroad programs, I felt that my program was one of the best. Our accommodations were comfortable and, in my opinion, some of the best I saw during my time abroad. Our onsite leaders were also extremely supportive and made me feel like I had people I could rely on whenever I needed help.

Overall, studying abroad in Greece allowed me to grow academically, personally, and culturally. Even though there were challenges and things I wish I had known beforehand, the positive experiences far outweighed them. I made memories, traveled to places I had never been, experienced a new culture, and learned more about myself. If you are considering studying abroad in Greece, I would encourage you to do it; you just need to plan ahead, budget realistically, and be open to stepping outside of your comfort zone.

My semester at Deree was more than I could've ever imagined and better than I could have asked for. The professors and site directors were extremely friendly and welcoming. The campus is beautiful along with the neighborhood I lived in, and I've never felt safer than in Aghia Paraskevi. The dorms are a 10 min walk to the metro so students can hangout in Athens whenever. There are many opportunities to see different parts of Greece provided by the program and the school. I was completely immersed in Greek culture and was able to learn a lot. The school is also highly diverse so you will meet people from all over the US and other countries. I highly recommend especially if you're a history nerd and I'm very excited to go back!

This past summer I went to Tokyo, Japan with CIS Abroad where I studied at J.F. Oberlin University Shinjuku. Overall, I had a great experience. The support staff before studying abroad, and the on site support staff were extremely helpful. I was a little lost on things to do and how to get around when I first got there, and they were extremely helpful in helping me navigate around. The university was also very nice. They had a program where I got to meet many Japanese students which was very fun. My business class though mundane at times had times where we got to go on field trips, and learn much about Japanese business and culture. The area of Tokyo is also very nice with many things to do. It is easy to get around and the locals are polite and welcoming as long as you are polite and follow their formalities such as not eating and walking and being quiet on trains. My only issue was the housing situation was not amazing. We were at a hotel, but the rooms were quite small. That was not really an issue the big issues was that we were so far away from campus. It was about a 40 minute to an hour train ride and walk. Unfortunately trains were also super cramped and busy during the morning which also made it difficult getting on to campus. Besides housing, I would say this Study Abroad experience was extremely enjoyably and I would still recommend to people.