Program Reviews

Studying abroad through CIS Abroad at the University of Roehampton was an unforgettable adventure. The campus was warm and welcoming, providing a perfect base for exploring London's vibrant culture. The city itself offered endless opportunities—from exciting group excursions to solo discoveries in hidden corners. I met incredible people who became lifelong friends, and the experience opened doors to travel beyond the program, making every weekend a new adventure. CIS Abroad made it all possible, turning a dream into reality and ensuring every moment was filled with excitement, growth, and memories I’ll cherish forever.

Going into the semester, I had very little experience outside the country, in addition, I was going without anyone I had known previously. Thanks to CIS, though, my experience not only went smoothly, but was truly a life changing. To show just how helpful CIS was, the day I was supposed to fly out to Rome, my flight was delayed three times and I missed my connection to Rome. It was rescheduled, but I was a day behind my arrival and was missing my airport pick-up time. I reached out to Elizabeth Tyrie, my CIS on-site director. She got in contact with AUR and my ride from the airport was rescheduled, taking a major worry off my plate. She stayed in contact with me, making sure that I arrived. They were supportive before I had even arrived.

Once I landed all of my other worries quickly disappeared. All but one of my six roommates were with CIS as well, meaning we were able to help each other get our feet on the ground in Rome. The housing, while a bit crowded, ended being much better than I could have even hoped for given the amount of people living in the apartment. I had heard that AUR tends to put students in the same programs together, which wound out working out very well. Rome was also a fantastic place to travel from. The location of my apartment in Trastevere was five minutes from the train station which was a thirty minute ride from the airport. That means I could pack a backpack, go to a new country for the weekend, and be back by sunday. There were also CIS trips and activities organized by Elizabeth, which are discussed more later in the review. I will mention the Going Away dinner she organized before we left, where everyone in our group shared a final meal in Rome together. It was a really nice send off to the semester, not to mention getting to enjoy some absolutely fantastic food.

The academics at American University of Rome suited my needs perfectly. I wanted a few classes that filled my major requirements, which were business classes and political science classes. I also wanted at least one class to learn more about Rome, which AUR also had many offerings for. My professors were really attentive and cared about the material they were teaching. I felt like I could approach them if I needed to and the grading was very fair.

The main point of this review is to emphasize the level of support CIS and my on-site director provided myself and my fellow travelers, as well as emphasize how all the different elements of the experience combined to make such a special time of my life. The bond we built as a group was so special, that Rome went from somewhere I had never been and with no one I knew, to becoming a whole new home to me.

This was an immersive program in a beautiful location! I was able to meet students from all over the United States as well as many locals from the Sorrento Peninsula. Sorrento has a small town feel, but you're never too far away from anything. Sorrento was very safe, walkable, picturesque, and full of things to do -- especially outdoors! My program through CIS included lots of fun activities and the staff on the ground at Sant'Anna Institute in Sorrento were the kindest people who loved interacting and hosting activities with the students. I certainly recommend this program!

From months in advance to months afterwards, my experiences with both CIS Abroad and Sant'Anna Institute positively effect me in numerous ways. In preparation for the trip, both CIS Abroad and Sant'Anna made sure we were prepared mentally, educationally, and packing-wise by offering educational recourses, group meetings, expert and friendly advice, and even access to begin making friends with our upcoming classmates. Once we arrived in Sorrento, we were provided with helpful tours of both the local town and surrounding tourist locations, adequate amenities, amazing staff members, and access to recommendations for anything we could wish for. The classes we took were taught by amazing professors who took us on educational and exciting field trips and made the learned material memorable in and out of the classroom. The travel days both arriving and departing were handled smoothly with plenty of resources extra guidance if needed. And now after the trip, all I want to do is go back to not only see the amazing friends I made, but to experience this unique and unforgettable culture.

Studying abroad was easily one of the best decisions I have ever made. The benefits go beyond what the classroom will give you. During studying abroad, you will encounter challenges including navigating language barriers, new cultures, new locations, and travel plans (making them and all that can go wrong); the list goes on! These are common, though challenging, occurrences that give you the opportunity to adapt and put your problem-solving skills to use, sometimes on the spot. Being overseas will also give you a level of independence that you may not have experienced before! This is a great thing! Without the immediate support of friends and family, it pushes you to rely on your own skills and trust your instincts to make decisions and how to spend your time. It may seem like even just a semester is a long time, but it isn’t going to be enough for you to do all you want. Trust me! I thought I had so much time at the beginning and the semester flew by! Sure, living abroad is amazing. But the soft skills you gain, the character development and growth that come from how you chose to handle the experiences will be invaluable.

As I immersed myself into Southern Italian culture for five weeks, I find myself longing to go back. The CIS staff pre-departure and on site were always willing to help with any information needed or weekend travel recommendations. I felt very safe in Sorrento and enjoyed my walks to Sant'Anna Institute while saying ciao to locals I would see every day or stopping in one of many bakeries to get a pastry as I am walking to class each day. I highly recommend this program, all thanks to my amazing experience with CIS!

My time in Florence, Italy was great, thanks to CIS Abroad! From a smooth pickup at the airport to arriving at the awesome accommodation (rooftop pool and gym), the CIS Abroad team thought through every detail. They also planned activities throughout my time to get to know us better and show us around the city. They took us on a boat cruise, gave us a walking tour, showed us the famous viewpoint to see all of Florence, showed us the best gelato and pizza, and so much more. They were there every step of the way.

I truly cannot speak highly enough about my study abroad experience. Sorrento was the perfect location for what I was hoping for. It had all of the beautiful nature and culture that I was hoping to see and experience. It was also a small town, which allowed me to make relationships with locals, become regulars at our favorite coffee shops and restaurants, and really get to feel like I got to experience the community of Sorrento. The program I booked this experience through was CIS Abroad, and they did such a good job getting us involved in the area and making sure we felt supported the whole time. I also LOVED my class, I took Marine Biology which I have always been interested in. We had an amazing professor and got to go on once-in-a-lifetime field trips. I recommend this program highly to anyone who may be interested!

My experience with CIS Abroad on the Italian Coast was more than I could have ever imagined. The summer study abroad program provided a perfect blend of fun, engaging classes, cultural immersion, and breathtaking coastal views. From the moment I arrived, I was captivated by the charm of the local towns, the vibrant culture, and the welcoming community.
The courses were taught by passionate professors who truly cared about their students. I was always excited to attend my classes, History of the Mafia and Drawing on Location, as they were immersive and intriguing. My professors were personable, knew everyone by name, and spent one-on-one time with me to help with assignments. They incorporated humor and excitement that made learning fun and enjoyable. They also provided multiple class field trips where they took us to various beautiful spots around Sorrento, including hidden gems that weren't widely known!
CIS Abroad did an excellent job of integrating cultural activities into the program. We were provided with gelato and pizza-making classes, wine tasting, Italian dinners, a boat trip to Amalfi, beach club day, and a farewell party including a cultural tarantella dance. I was highly impressed with the amount of activities provided included in the program fee. The program coordinators, Frankie and Emma, attended all events and were fantastic. They were fun and genuinely cared about all the students, always wanting to get to know us better.
The support from CIS Abroad staff was exceptional. They were always available to assist with questions or concerns making living in Sorrento feel safe and comfortable. I made a great decision to stay in the Sant'Anna Dorms that were in the school as I loved being able to walk right downstairs to class. Living with other international students made it easy to form lasting friendships and share unique experiences. There was always one or more staff members on sight available to assist us with anything, including a night guard that made me and my parents feel safe. Sant'Anna is located minutes from the town square with a wide range of unique restaurants, shops, and bars, minutes from the beach at Marina Grande, and minutes to the train and ferry stations with popular tourist spots nearby making travel easily accessible.
My summer with CIS Abroad on the Italian coast was a transformative experience that exceeded all my expectations. I came away with not only a deeper appreciation for Italian culture and history but also lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a perfect mix of academics, culture, and coastal beauty!

As a girl who grew up in a small town but with a large sense of adventure, studying abroad was something I always knew I wanted to do. However, I could never have imagined how fulfilling the experience would actually be. This past summer, in 2024, I made the decision to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain, at the University Autònoma de Barcelona. The cultures I experienced, the friends I made, and the memories I created are all things I could never have achieved if I hadn't taken the risk to study abroad. While the idea of studying abroad can be nerve-wracking, it has truly changed my outlook on life. I now hold knowledge and perspectives that have broadened my understanding of the world and enriched my personal and academic journey.