Program Reviews

My chapter in Florence has become a highlight in throughout my college years. This time kept me grounded yet challenged me which reshaped how I take on the world. Florence holds so much beauty and history to see everyday giving me chance to slow down and take in the moments. These moments also required me to adapt to a whole new speed of life. This city wasn't just a place I came to for an education, but a place that built my independence and confidence in handling a new culture.

Right at the start, my daily life required problem-solving. I had to adapt to the new responsibilities at hand, navigating public transportation, and mainly the cultural differences. Some tasks I would've thought were easy sometimes came with unexpected challenges, teaching me how to stay calm under pressure. Being away from my family which is my support system, forced me to depend more on my own judgment, becoming one of my stronger skills that I will continue to use after this experience.

Never being so far from my support system, Florence created a deep sense of independence. I had to make big decisions on my own, academics to traveling. I built trust in myself to move forward and getting comfortable with uncertainty. Gaining this new feeling, I felt empowered and building confidence through my daily actions. Every moment navigating this foreign city reinforced my trust in my own capabilities.

Outside of every day life, being in Italy gave me a chance to explore Europe. From Florence, I was able to go to places such as Paris, London, Morocco, Barcelona, and many other cities across Italy. Traveling to these places grew my view of the world and exposed me to different ways of living. Each location offered new moments, lessons, and memories. Returning to Florence was a great place to come "home" too. It was such a grounding place, where I could reflect and process what I've taken in from the countries right next door.

The biggest lesson Florence taught me was resilience. Of course it was experience of a lifetime, but there were moments of discomfort and uncertainty. I dealt with those moment by turning them into a chance to grow. I looked back at the challenges I faced as an essential part of my personal development. Rather being scared of discomfort, I recognize is as progress.

At the end of my time, this experience was transformative. It gave me room to grow while gaining lifelong skills. Florence was not just a place to study abroad, it became my second home. The lessons I learned, the challenges I had to over come built my mentality today. Reminding me that if I want to grow, I have to step beyond comfortability and allow myself to evolve.

I truly loved every single minute of my experience abroad in Stirling through CIS Abroad. Stirling is a smaller town in Scotland, yet it is still close to the bigger cities and closer to the Scottish Highlands, which are absolutely gorgeous! I loved Stirling because it was so pretty and had a lat of hiking/nature trails. My experience was truly enriched by going through CIS Abroad, I made lifelong connections with others in my program and went on truly unforgettable trips during my time abroad!!

I had an overall amazing time in Limerick during my fall semester in 2025. My roommates were from a variety of places, and because the university is a popular Erasmus (European study abroad) site, there are plenty of opportunities to meet people from other places, not just Ireland. The university also offers many clubs, including archery, hiking, and skydiving, which may not be available at your home university. As for academics, the classes were very engaging, and if you take any history courses, they will give you a different perspective than the ones at your home university. My only issue with the academic scene there, which may be true of other places in Ireland, is that you only get a few assignments that make up your grade. Which, on the bright side, means you won't get many assignments in the beginning and can travel pretty easily, but it does mean things tend to pile up on you later in the semester. This could, however, differ by department, as I took classes in the English and History departments, so take that with a grain of salt if you take classes outside those categories. Overall, I would say the experience is totally worth it, and you will definitely meet some amazing people who will make it hard to leave.

Studying abroad at the American University of Rome with the CIS program was the best thing I have ever done. Throughout the whole process, everyone had been super helpful, whether with answering questions about documents or visa requirements, and even with on-site guidance. My on-site director, Elizabeth, was amazing and super friendly. She was always available to talk to us and help us out.

The events and trips hosted through CIS were incredible. My favorite was the weekend getaway to Orvieto, where we got to explore the quaint and charming hill town filled with beautiful art and history, paired with an incredible experience at a local agriturismo. We also had many events, such as group dinners, a fashion workshop, and a relaxing evening at the spa.

Rome itself is such a beautiful city, as it was super walkable and filled with so much important architecture and artwork. I never felt unsafe in the city and got to experience a new side of the city every day. The food is good, the people are kind, and the sights are really worth seeing. Make sure not miss coming to see the Colosseum at night as much as you can when you study abroad here!

Going abroad was the best decision I could have made for myself. I was based in Florence, Italy and attended the Florence University of the Arts; my program was CIS Abroad. Florence is an incredibly lively city, from the activities, restaurants, endless cafes, and the wonderful locals. I also did a lot of traveling out of Florence and Italy. Going abroad opens so many doors to exploration. To whomever may be reading this, I highly recommend going thru CIS Abroad. The team based in the states and the on-site team were (and are) incredibly helpful. They made the whole process seem less scary (because it can be daunting) and always were a helping hand.

From the moment I learned about study abroad, I knew I wanted to participate in a program once I started college. The opportunity to not just travel to another part of the world but learn and earn credits while doing so was incredibly appealing. When I learned about the CIS Abroad Summer in Asia - Japan & South Korea program, I immediately applied, since visiting Japan was on my bucket list. Thankfully, I was accepted into the two-month program, which resulted in one of the best summers of my life. I met so many unique, smart, and kind people - some of whom I still keep in touch with today! | experienced new traditions, activities, music, and fashion; tried new foods and navigated my way around using public transportation. Studying abroad also helped me gain new knowledge, not only at the academic level, but on personal one as well. It allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and see the world through a different global perspective.

My experience going abroad for a semester was better than I could have ever imagined. From the day I set foot in Barcelona until the night before my plane to go home, there was always something to do. I can't say that there was ever a moment I was bored or felt like there wasn't a new activity to do or a place I wanted to go back to. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona was in such a beautiful part of the city, located near many shops, cafes, and essential sight sees, such as The Sagrada Família. The professors at the university were extremely engaging, very outgoing, and extremely supportive. I always found myself feeling challenged and learned so much from my courses. No Friday classes was also a huge plus because it gave me more time to travel to new cities or explore Barcelona more. The transportation system in Barcelona was also extremely reliable and accessible, making it super easy and affordable to get around the city to all of my favorite spots. I felt as though there was always something to do in Barcelona when I wasn't in classes, and CIS was amazing with setting up all of the students with plenty of activities to do, whether that be weekend trips to Madrid, day trips to wineries, tours of must see spots in the city, and so much more. I had things planned every weekend, whether that be from my own travel plans, CIS Abroad's weekend activities, or exploring more of the city. The program itself was extremely supportive. With their onsite staff, I felt extremely supported and secure through all of my questions, worries, and emergencies. They were always there to help and helped me make Barcelona feel like home. They truly are your biggest support system out there and I couldn't have asked for a better on-site staff team. CIS Abroad also made the application process so easy. It can seem super overwhelming at first, but they truly were able to answer every question or doubt I had, and were extremely quick to respond to me. I felt as though they actually cared about me as a student, and not just a name on an application. The housing that I had was also amazing. I lived in Aparto, which was very close to the metro, buses, and the tram. The rooms were also great sizes with ample storage. I went with a random roommate, and CIS Abroad paired me up with a great roommate. If there was ever a housing issue, the CIS onsite staff were quick to resolve it and communicated throughout the entire process. Although I did go with two friends from my home university, I ended up meeting some of my best friends while I was abroad, and still keep in touch with today. There were endless things to do during the day and at night. Barcelona is truly for everyone. And the food there was some of the best I have ever had. It was also super easy to travel from Barcelona to other countries for weekend or week long trips. My and my friends were able to visit Austria, Germany, and Italy. Overall, I could not recommend going abroad enough, and CIS made the experience so much better.

Before I went abroad it sounded scary to go to such a new place for so long leaving what I know behind. When I decided to go it was a risk I decided could be worth it but as the days leading up to my departure came I had more and more regret about leaving. The second I landed in Spain I knew I was wrong and this would slowly become the best experience of my life. I quickly realized how important it is to see the world outside of what I call home and immerse myself in different cultures. Not only was it so rewarding moving somewhere temporarily where nobody knows you and you can be whoever you want to be, but the friends I have made from this are ones I cherish for life and still talk daily with. From traveling on weekends to learning how to navigate the huge city of Barcelona I soon felt like Spain was my home and the thought of leaving terrified me more than anything. This is and will always be the best decision I have ever made, the fun, friends and things you learn about the world and yourself are priceless.

My semester abroad in Thailand for veterinary science was truly unforgettable. The program was very hands-on, from labs and shadowing vets to community outreach and conservation projects. Working directly with both domestic and wildlife species under vets from different cultural backgrounds was an incredible learning experience. Traveling to Bangkok and Phuket made the semester even more special.

The kindness of the Thai people, the amazing food, and the vibrant culture made every day exciting. While some of the housing could be improved, the overall experience was fantastic. I’d recommend this program to students who thrive with hands-on learning and want to see veterinary medicine from a global perspective.

Korea has always been one of my dream places that I've always wanted to visit since I was in middle school, and with this opportunity from CIS, I got the chance to do that, and it had to be the most amazing experience of my entire life, and I wouldn't take it back for anything. I loved the people I was with for my program, and as an introvert, I made way more friends than I thought I would. It was like our group just clicked very fast, and to this day, I still talk to these people every day and cherish them so much. Traveling abroad to Korea has allowed me not only to fulfill a dream but also to work and reflect on myself. Living abroad by yourself isn't easy, and I learned a lot of things about myself, and I grew a lot more as a person. Korea also has some of the most beautiful scenery you'll ever see in your life, and being able to see the world as someone from a small town was such an incredible opportunity that I am so grateful for.