Program Reviews

I spent a semester in Barcelona with CISabroad and the program had its ups and downs. I lived in an amazing neighborhood in a nice, clean, and well-equipped apartment right by the metro and train. I also lived pretty close to the school I attended. The day and weekend trips they had planned for us were always a lot of fun but they always seemed a little unorganized. Overall, my classes weren't too difficult and Barcelona was an amazing city.

This was by far the most memorable experience in my undergrad academic career. I THE EXCURSION trips were well planned and thought out. It was great meeting students from different programs who lived all around the US. The trip to Morocco was the icing on the cake. It was affordable and I felt safe the entire time. Once again everything was well planned. My housing was exactly what I asked for and the classes were the right place that gave me time to still explore the wonderful city of Barcelona. I wouldn’t go back and change a thing. I was able to travel throughout Europe and still pass my classes and with As and Bs. The internship match was like hitting a nail on the head. I loved it and because of it I was able to take an amazing opportunity after graduating. I would recommend CIS Abroad to anyone who wants to step outside their comfort zone and explore the world.

CIS Abroad was a great company to study abroad with. I applied after a friend had recommended them to me, and I’m so glad I did!! Summer in London was amazing! They offered so many activities so you were able to meet tons of people, not just the people you had classes with. My class was interesting and we took field trips to break up the week. Also, the dorms were really nice and very clean. If you stay in the marylebone dorms, definitely go around the corner to bills for breakfast!!

Florence, Italy is full of hidden gems and new adventures around every turn. Returning home after my summer in Florence, I was left feeling as though I had forgotten something there. I realize now that it was my heart. I left it wandering through those magical streets, probably by my favorite gelato shops. Florence was a place flourishing with culture. As a student with CISabroad, I was so lucky to have had the chance to dive into a new way of life and many new experiences every single day. The food, art, and places were all apart of the culture that I was able to learn about and explore. This program with CISabroad has given me the most memorable moments in my life. It had the perfect balance of activities to participate in, as well as free time to just enjoy living in another country, while meeting like-minded people. As a student I really felt included in the culture, which was something I had never experienced. Everything about my time studying in Florence was life changing. It me a new perspective on the world, others, and myself. It sparked my passion to travel and has given me the confidence and freedom to be adventures and to explore life out of my comfort zone, which has been nothing but rewarding.

I signed up for this study abroad program to fulfill my love of travel, learning and take relevant classes to my major (occupational therapy). As an avid traveler, I couldn't imagine my college experience without studying abroad, and I am glad I made the leap. CIS helped me work through all the paperwork that needed to be filled out and was quick to answer any questions I had prior to departure. During the program, there were constantly activities to do- at the school, with CIS or just in San Jose. Although there was homework, we still had time to explore our home away from home and get to know the area. The classes were interesting and relevant to my major- all of the classes were primarily with other American students but we were from all over the UA and studying with different programs at the same university. This allowed us to make friends with other students who weren't studying with CISabroad as well. Living in a host home was the most beneficial way to immerse ourselves in learning Spanish. My host mom didn't speak any English so whenever we were at home, we had conversations with her in Spanish. She was patient with us as we were learning and helped correct our grammar which improved my confidence in speaking Spanish. Overall, the experience was phenomenal and I am so glad I chose this program to fulfill my dream of studying abroad.

My experience in Sorrento was incredible. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is thinking about studying abroad in Italy. You get a true flavor of local Italians because you aren't in a huge city like Rome or Florence, but the transportation makes it very easy to go visit those places. The landscape in Sorrento is also breathtaking; it is on the Amalfi coast and I had fresh mussels every week right on the Tyrrhenian Sea with a view of Mt. Vesuvius. I made lifelong friends, both Italian and American and am so thankful for the relationships I was able to have while abroad. Going abroad can be scary and overwhelming, especially when it is for four months, but CIS and Sant'Anna both had amazing support teams to help us adjust and thrive. I did an internship while I was there and that is how I got plugged in with the locals. I learned how to cook real Italian food, got to help plant vegetables, learned how to make olive oil, and even learned basic Italian in only four months because I spent so much time there. I am so thankful for the amazing experience Italy gave me and the supportive and incredible people I get to call my friends because of this trip.

Where to begin? My summer 2017 most memorable moments came from when I studied abroad in Barcelona, the most beautiful and cultural place I have ever been. When I arrived in Spain, I was a little nervous, but mostly thrilled because it was my first time leaving the United States and I was so eager to learn about what the city of Barcelona had to offer. Located in Navas on Avinguda Meridiana, I was in such an eye-opening area. My first day I spent the majority of my time walking around my apartment and getting a good understanding of my surroundings. Soon to find out I was only a twenty minute walk from the famous Sagrada Familia, I knew where I was heading next. Luckily I had a peer from colllege also in Barcelona at the time and we did a lot of traveling together, whether it was visiting Camp Nou or riding the Metro to different cultural spots of the city, we made countless memories. Through CIS, I still have a few friends I made and we catch up til this day which makes me so grateful for this experience. One amazing thing I took from this abroad trip was my professor, Mrs. Eulalia ( I hope I got the spelling right!) She taught me so much in my short time in Barcelona and really opened my eyes to a lot of things about life. Without her, this trip would have been completely different. She taught me so much about the differences between spanish of Latin America and spanish of Spain and also a ton about Barcelona’s unique and ancient history. When I make it back to Spain, which I am 100% certain I will, I am sure I will find my old professor and catch up with un cafe de yelo, my favorite! Barcelona was nothing less than a thrilling and learning experience and I surely made my impact while I was there. If there is anything I can pass along to future participants, it is to not miss this opportunity and travel abroad! The world awaits and will teach you so much about yourself that you never knew was even possible. See you soon Barca!

I was only able to spend 3 weeks in Florence for I had to get home for my brother’s graduation. It was a amazing 3 weeks though thanks to my program CIS having many different events for us. For example in addition to the field trip taken with your class we were allotted 2 other trips and as well as extra classes. I was able to fit a lot in, I visited 7 different cities in Italy, got to take a class that was all about how food plays a role in society I also got to do an extra cooking class with my program, it was a great time. It was a great time for future participants I would say, don’t be afraid to travel alone, take the time to wonder around and get a little lost and go to restaurants that have no English in the title. Also the best resturants are the ones with out restaurant in the title. This trip helped me branch out more and be more open to new experiences.

My internship has been an invaluable experience. The company the i was placed with is a start up company that lets you get involved with all the big issues.

The housing was lovely although we were located on the opposite side of the city to everyone in our program but it was very close to my work so overall was very happy with it.

The support staff at Barcelona SAE were fantastic they remembered all of their students names and regularly checked in on them. The tours I did with them were well organised and a great experience. I would highly recommend doing them.

I remember the first day I suggested to my friend Amanda about wanting to study abroad and we made a trip to the International Study Abroad Office at the University of Michigan-Flint in order to see the possibilities. Our education abroad office was going through a change over of employees so we were passed through many different advisers. After doing our research and selecting the Summer Abroad in Ireland we could start preparing.

I can honestly say that I have never experienced anything more beautiful than Ireland. We were lucky enough to have amazing weather while we were there, and everything was the best shade of green. I enjoyed Ireland the most because everything was so authentic. You really got to experience the country entirely. As shown in one of my photos, during our tour of the Ring of Kerry I actually got to climb into the Torc Waterfall. Feeling the fresh water splash on my arms as it bounced of the rocks I was standing on was an experience I will never forget. It amazed me that every tour we took you could climb right out on the scenery and get to touch the landmarks. This is highly different than many other countries, especially the United States as we have gates and fences preventing us from getting to actually get close to any of the scenery and causing the photos to look like they were taken behind a prison fence.

A tip of advice for future participants would be “there is more to do than the bars.” Even though you may be excited to experience the local pubs and it may be the first time you can legally drink, Ireland offers more than whiskey and beer. Plan extra excursions on top of what is offered. There is so much more of Ireland to see and there are many travel agencies that offer great deals on tours. What is even better than a great deal is that the tour guides often make stops on the campus or a few miles down the road. Amanda and I were able to travel all across Ireland in the short time we were there compared to our roommates who went into town to drink almost every night. Because I spent my money and time traveling around Ireland I got the best out of my trip. Don’t get me wrong, I do suggest going out to a bar with your friends at least once to get the experience. Another thing worth noting is that the apartments you stay in are co-ed. Not that it is a problem because you each have your own separate room but it was a shock to go in not knowing this.
You will be wishing that you had more than a month to explore and experience this amazingly beautiful country!