CIS Abroad

Program Reviews

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Paige
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Florence Fall 2024

Genuinely the best semester I have ever had- Martina was amazing and so helpful at any time of day or night, they organized so many things for us and just made this experience so much fun and easy. I fell in love with Florence and made lifelong friendships and people I am already planning to visit and to go back to florence with! Going abroad has changed my perspective on life and what i’m capable of doing myself and i can’t wait to go out into the world and share my experiences with everyone else!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Go and do even more than what I did- go and do something in the city and explore outside of it at least once a week
Pros
  • beautiful
  • not too crowded
  • in the middle of everything but not overwhelming
Cons
  • can be sketchy at night
  • lots of catcalling
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Gillian
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

La bella vita in Italia

Studying at Sant’Anna Institute through CIS Abroad was an unforgettable experience. I lived in the school dorms, located on the beautiful seaside of Sorrento, Italy. Sorrento has the charm of the Amalfi Coast, with less crowds and tourism. In my classes I studied archeology, volcanology, marine biology, and human rights. We went on amazing field trips such as snorkeling, hiking Mount Vesuvius, and exploring the ancient ruins of Pompeii. In my free time, I swam and read by the beach, which was just a 5 minute walk away from the school. CIS abroad provided incredible excursions throughout the 4 month stay. We experienced cooking classes, kayaking, a street food tour, and even staying in a luxury cave in the third oldest city in the world! Everyone at both Sant’Anna and CIS Abroad was welcoming, helpful, and kind. They truly care about your well being and happiness. I couldn’t recommend this program more. Go to Sorrento, you won’t regret it!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I stayed in a cave in the third oldest city in the world! We got to hike up to secluded caves in the mountains and see how people lived until 1960.
Pros
  • Beautiful area
  • You get to experience the rich history of Southern Italy
  • Small- not overwhelming like some cities
Cons
  • Small- not much to do
  • Many places close in the off-season
  • The location makes it slightly hard to travel
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Carmela
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fall Semester in Florence 2024

Studying abroad was the best decision I made in my college career. It was such an incredible, eye opening experience that I am so grateful for. I learned so much about my italian heritage and was able to explore and understand the cultures of many different countries throughout Europe. I was in Florence, Italy. The city is truly amazing, it is like walking through living history. The architecture is beautiful, the florentines are welcoming, and there are plenty of other study abroad students and programs that helped me feel at home. CIS Abroad was a great program to be apart of and made this experience so special. My program leaders were very helpful with recommendations for restaurants, cities to visit, etc. and hosted multiple events and activities for the students in our program to meet and bond. I lived in The Social Hub, and overall had a good experience there. It is a dorm style living arrangement with in house laundry, AC (that works closer to what we are used to in the US), a communal kitchen, a meal plan, and some other great amenities like a rooftop bar, a pool, and monthly events/classes to help students get acquainted. FUA (FLorence University of the Arts) was a great school with many course options for almost any field of study. I was able to take courses to complete my degree as well as a bread making class, and a street photography class, which I did for fun (and greatly enjoyed). I reminisce on my study abroad experience constantly and can't wait to find my way back!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
My most nerve-racking moments were my first couple times attempting to speak with the locals in Florence. I knew some italian but was nervous that there would be a large language barrier, and they wouldn't be able to understand me if I needed to speak in English. I was very pleasantly surprised when I made my first attempt and learned that most Florentines speak at least some English, due to the high volume of tourism. Also, they were VERY kind when I tried to speak italian, and most would help me learn and encourage me to try speaking italian. It was so rewarding to be welcomed there by the locals!
Pros
  • I improved my italian language skills
  • Great opportunities for meeting other study abroad students/students in my program
  • Was able to explore multiple European cities and countries with ease
Cons
  • Student Hotel is a farther walk to city center than most apartments
  • The meal plan menu got old after a while, only a few items changed weekly
  • There were only 5 washers and dryers for the entire hotel, so laundry was occasionally a bit difficult
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Ainsley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ainsley's CIS Abroad Florence Review

The CIS Semester in Florence Program is very special to me. Our program directors, Martina and Romina, made this experience so unique. They were both so supportive and they pushed everyone to try new things, while also looking out for our safety and well being. They planned many fun events for us to get to know the other students in our program, such as walking tours of the city and cooking classes. Martina helped me and my roommates a lot when we were having some roommate issues and were worried about the mental health of one of our roommates. Martina made sure to hear us out and look out for our roommate. She followed up with us a lot and was easily accessible when we needed her. My experience would not have been as wonderful as it was without these amazing program directors who work for CIS.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
I have never lived in a city before so I was nervous about living in a place with such a big population. Moving to a city from a rural area was certainly a difficult adjustment for me, but I decided to embrace the area and I would often just go wander about. I found places I liked to shop, quiet places to sit and read, cafes to study in, etc. I really made the city my own and tried to make it my own.
Pros
  • The ability to travel all around Europe.
  • The ability to try all sorts of new and amazing food.
  • The ability to meet people from all over the world.
Cons
  • Homesickness.
  • I spent a lot of money.
  • I had many roommate issues.
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Avamarie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Take a chance and Invest in Yourself

I would highly recommend the CIS Barcelona Creative Industries Program. Not only is studying abroad a life-changing experience, but this unique program has only added to the amazing experience. My days were filled with learning and exploring the amazing city that is Barcelona. Classes were open and creative, and even the professors would take us on field trips to further learn. Not only was living in Spain amazing the staff on site were very supportive in the whole experience. There were also different excursions including a winery tour, a tour of Blanes, and a trip to the gorgeous Spanish city of Sevilla. So if you want a life-changing experience and one that is even more unique than others you should check out the CIS Barcelona Creative Industries Program.

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Ainsley
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CIS Abroad Fall 2024 Semester in Florence - Ainsley Hufford

I studied abroad in Florence, Italy in the Fall of 2024, and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had! Before arriving, I had so many feelings - excitement, nervousness, and much more, but I soon realized after getting to Florence that this was going to be life-changing. I was fortunate enough to do a lot of traveling, I visited eleven countries outside of Italy, and more cities than I can count! Some personal favorites were Barcelona and London!

The academics were constructed in a way that allowed me to enjoy my classes, I took three classes that taught me about the food, culture, and society in Italy, including a class where we went on walks every day! Being able to learn in a hands-on environment in such a cool city was definitely a highlight.
My support system from CIS, whether it was my pre-departure contacts or my on-site directors - was all amazing! I felt very prepared before leaving, and I never had a question go unanswered while in Florence. I loved being able to learn so much from my on-site directors, they had so much knowledge to share!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Before I left for Florence, I knew I wanted to travel as much as I could. However, I never anticipated that I would have the opportunity to go to Paris for just a few days. I have always dreamt of going to Paris, but not in a spir-of-the-moment way! We planned a last minute trip, and next thing I knew I was in Paris, at the top of the Eiffel Tower, looking over the gorgeous city at night, all while it was pouring rain, which, when looking back, made the experience all the more fun!
Pros
  • Field Learning Courses - Teaching in the City
  • Ease of Travel
Cons
  • "Italy Time" - there is no "fast pace", it can be challenging to adjust to this
  • Transportation Strikes
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Aubrey
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sogang - Seoul, South Korea

Choosing this program was truly the best choice of my life. I met the most amazing people, experienced the most amazing culture, and became the most amazing version of myself. If you’re letting a language barrier prevent you from going to a country, don’t. I knew 0 Korean (besides the basics) when I went, yet I was able to adapt and overcome very easily. My site director took the best care of my group and myself by giving us recommendations, helping us navigate public transportation, and even translating for me at all my doctor appointments when I fractured my foot. This trip even made me realize how much I would love to live in Korea one day or even just visit multiple times a year. I highly highly recommend!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I absolutely recommend going to the little restaurants in the alleyways for your meals. Lots of the shop owners don’t speak English, but do your best with any Korean you know and they’ll treat you well (and most of the time they have way better food than the big chain restaurants). There is an Italian/Korean restaurant in an alley next to Sogang and it’s tiny but the man working there was so kind and adapted to us knowing no Korean and he made the best pasta and risotto I have ever eaten. I constantly crave it and will make it a stop whenever I go back (It’s called “Jean’s Kitchen”.
Pros
  • Met the most amazing people
  • Saw the most beautiful architecture and art
  • Things were so cheap I bought tons of stuff and went to so many concerts
Cons
  • Lots of walking (even got a stress fracture in my foot because of it)
  • Constantly using your brain to figure out Korean
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Caroline
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Time of my life!

I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to study abroad in Athens, Greece in the fall semester of 2024. It was the perfect time of the year to travel there because it was beautiful weather and many of the islands around the main land were still open and many people were still actively traveling around and going on vacations. I loved getting to see all of the incredible sights in Athens as well, like the Parthenon, but I also loved seeing places like the Meteora in Kalabaka and Kastraki. CIS provided excursions were very well coordinated and exciting, and I was so happy to see the places that I maybe would not have been able to see without their help. I loved being able to experience the Greek culture, especially the food, which had to have been one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to have an amazing adventure and to explore some of the richest, oldest history in the world.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I tried a traditional meal called kokoretsi which is commonly eaten during Easter when lent is over. It is also known as goat or sheep intestine, and it was not something I particularly liked but I am glad I got to try something that is so special to the Hellenic culture.
Pros
  • CIS Excursions were incredible opportunities
  • Meeting so many friends
Cons
  • The classes can be difficult because most courses are graded exclusively by the midterm and final grades.
  • Some aspects of the housing were not perfect but nothing that couldn't be dealt with.
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Mason
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A January-Term Alum’s Summer Experience

I was able to attend 2 sessions during the summer and took the Management in Japanese Corporations and Japanese Intermediate courses. I had previously attended the January program at the same university so I knew what I was getting into. The staff and faculty are extremely kind and accommodating. The excursions were very informative, my favorite being the calligraphy lesson. There is also plenty of time to explore Japan outside of class, some classes even having field trips. If I were to compare the January and Summer terms:

- the winter is fairly mild (compared to New Jersey, United States of America) and the summer is fairly humid with temperatures being a little high.
- the summer is lot a more lively with a lot more festivals and outdoor events (ex. Firework shows) happening around Japan. There also is a lot more foreign tourists around Tokyo in the summer as well

Overall I don’t think I have too big of a preference between the two because they both offer slightly different experiences. It really depends on what you are looking to do in Japan/your travel style. If you prefer a little more lively atmosphere or enjoy the warmer weather then I’d definitely recommend the summer sessions.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
For the Management in Japanese Corporations course we took a field trip to a factory. Which was an very interesting experience that I don’t think I would have had had I not taken the course.
Pros
  • Staff and faculty are extremely kind and accommodating
  • Plenty of time to explore Japan
  • Lively atmosphere
Cons
  • Humidity and heat
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Mason
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A 2-timers’ perspective

I was fortunate to join both the 2024 and 2025 January programs during my time in college. Both times the staff and faculty were excellent and offered a wonderful experience for everyone. While the schedule may seem tight at first glance there was ample time to explore the local areas and even travel further across Japan. The cultural excursions were also very informative and enjoyable, my favorite being the calligraphy lesson. Be prepared to use a lot of trains as it makes getting around a lot easier, but most areas are extremely walkable.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone a little bit, try to experience something new.
Pros
  • Classes were wonderful
  • Excursions were fun and informative
  • Ample time to explore
Cons
  • It flies by quickly