Program Reviews

I think that this is an experience that everyone should experience. Everyone in Thailand was so incredibly sweet and you meet so many amazing people. The culture and community is something I urge everyone to be involved in. I felt safe walking home at night, I felt accepted and cared for by the people, and I was able to make connections for my career. The program and university itself were so incredibly welcoming and provided great activities for students. Along with program trips, I was able to travel outside of the program and make my own personal experiences!

After spending six months traveling, learning, and experiencing, I am happy to share that studying abroad has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life and learning career. I was able to meet people who shared my passion for exploring and learning, as well as be inspired by the community within the CIS program to see things and participate in activities I never would have thought of otherwise. The people I met while living in the CIS provided flat, combined with the group activities sponsored by the onsite coordinators made the experience so much more enjoyable and really made the transition to living in another country significantly easier.

Throughout my time in Sorrento with CIS, we were able to experience so many incredible things that I never thought I would be able to experience. Between a gorgeous boat tour to Amalfi to incredible dinners, it truly was the best five weeks of my life. I met so many incredible people from all over the United States and got to see the most breathtaking places. Italy truly is one of the most stunning places I have ever been to and the food was incredible. All around, the five weeks I spent in Sorrento with CIS were some of the best weeks of my life and I would do anything to be back.

This was my first time in Europe, and I am so glad it was with CIS. Going abroad can be nerve-wracking, especially if it is your first time, but I had an unforgettable experience. Barcelona is an amazing city with so many things to do and see and I never once was bored while I was there. Having a CIS on-site director in Barcelona the whole time I was there was great. She planned awesome excursions for us and was there if we needed, but also let us be independent and learn things about ourselves at the same time. You could tell she really cared for her students and wanted to ensure they had the best of times. I made some of the best memories in Barcelona and am itching to go back, I would recommend it to anyone!!

My semester in Barcelona was everything I hoped for and more! Through my program, I met so many lifelong friends from all different backgrounds. I got to immerse myself into the Spanish culture by trying new traditional foods, taking a daily Spanish course, attending Universitat De Barcelona, and traveling to different regions of Spain. Through the program CIS, I got to experience so many amazing activities and excursions that were included in my semester tuition. This included a cooking class where we learned to make a famous traditional Spanish dish, Paella. A weekend trip to Grenada, in the South of Spain was also included along with many more amazing trips!

I have really enjoyed spending my semester abroad in Seoul, South Korea with my provider CIS Abroad. Months before the arrival date I was already in close contact with my program's coordinator and other staff members, so all my questions were answered in a timely manner. Onsite we had an amazing director, who would go sightseeing with us, help with doctor's appointments, recommend delicious cafes near campus and in general would answer all of our questions. I felt that I wasn't alone in a foreign country and could always rely on our onsite director or other staff members working remotely. I made so many fun memories in Seoul, would highly recommend it to other students as well.

I absolutely loved every single second of studying abroad at Santanna Institute in Sorrento, Italy. Through their immersive program, I was able to attend weekly cultural immersion events and really dive into the local community. Santanna Institute has classes Monday-Thursday and encourages students to travel safely on the weekends. With this opportunity, I was able to travel almost every single weekend making my time abroad just that more magical. Not to mention I met some of my best friends and made memories I know will stay close to my heart forever. My best advice to someone who is thinking about studying abroad is to just do it, I can guarantee that you will not regret it.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned regarding travel came in the form of getting gelato in Florence. The CIS ambassador touring us through the city made sure to highlight what signifies that the Italian dessert is in its authentic form. I realized the mountainous piles of gelato I had seen in pictures, pictures that made me want to travel to Florence, were just a variation of ice-cream whose excessive appearance marked a successful attempt to attract tourists. It is little pieces of information like that, gained with the help of on-site CIS representatives, who are locals within the area, that transport students into a wealth of knowledge that they did know they would receive from the beautiful city surface that drew them there in the first place. The people who make up this program make sure that you become a part of something real, by showing you how locals live in the city, making the commitment to this period of time in a foreign place a truly unique and fulfilling form of travel.

Having never traveled overseas before, this experience was very enlightening. I embarked on this journey alone, knowing no one except the study abroad advisers at my school, and I am very pleased that this was the case. I learned so much about myself, others, my future, and where and who I want to be, as well as about the culture in Italy and throughout Europe.

Sant’Anna was an amazing school with a wide range of classes to offer. The staff and faculty were all extremely kind and helpful. The school also provided many free activities for the students.

CIS Abroad was an excellent program as well. The advisers were incredibly helpful both in getting me to Italy and while I was there. The staff in Italy were fun and kind, and they organized many enjoyable activities for CIS students, such as a boat cruise to Amalfi!

I would highly recommend this program to anyone. It was the best experience, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

I absolutely loved my time studying abroad in Scotland at the University of Stirling. I felt very supported by the University's team as well as Jeanna, the CIS Abroad On-Site Coordinator. There was always something to do through the University as well as events organized by Jeanna. There was also plenty of room to branch off on your own and explore. Scotland was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, especially the highlands. There's something for everyone in Scotland, whether its visiting local pubs, hiking, or historical sightseeing. I would recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad.