Program Reviews

Going to Ireland was a life changing experience for me. While I had been abroad before, I’d never been in a foreign country for that long, and I’d never done it alone. Being in Dublin and knowing no one really helped me grow as a person. It challenged me to go out and meet new people and it got me out of my comfort zone. CIS helped me see the country and was hands on, as well as giving us our space to travel without them. Since being back I’ve told as many college and high school students as I possibly could, to study abroad. I had such a good experience and I want others to experience it as well. I’ve advertised for CIS, as well as being asked to be an advisor for them on my college campus. I didn’t have to know a foreign language to go to Ireland which was helpful, but even so I had to do my research. We were confused by the bus system, so ahead of time we looked into it so we wouldn’t get lost around the city. Ireland also felt very safe and we had no problems walking around at night. The thing that was weird to get used to was the time change, and when I’d call home and realize I was calling them at 2am.

Overall I loved this program, I just wish there was more support coming from the CIS staff prior to arrival at the program (with the visa process, answering questions, putting us in contact with other students who have previously attended the program, etc.) as well as during the program. A lot of us felt like we were in the dark about a lot of things, and we had to rely heavily on each other to answer our questions based on if they had already asked our advisors or even gotten a response back. I think Thailand is a great place to go abroad and I would definitely recommend to others.

The CIS Abroad Internship in Barcelona program was absolutely phenomenal. The CISAbroad team was extremely helpful, friendly, and accommodating. They helped us get prepare for the trip and embark on the trip by thinking of anything we might need or problems that may arise in advance. They were also always available if we needed any help or had questions about the city. They were prepared, knowledgeable, and nice.

Living in another country for 6-9 weeks is pretty life changing. You get to be completely immersed in new culture, improve your language skills, make unforgettable memories, eat great food, make amazing friends, and of course gain professional experiencing by interning. Our internship group is now a group of lifelong friends that still occasionally meets up to have dinner and catch up.

Interviewers have asked me about my internship abroad experience and I think it's quite valuable to be able to say that you worked in a foreign country for a foreign company and have that experience under your belt. It's something on your resume that really stands out.

I'd strongly recommend this program if you have time to do fit it into your schedule. It's a great alternative to an entire semester studying abroad which an experience that is arguably more valuable since you gain professional experience.

I studied abroad in Florence with CISAbroad, and it was an amazing semester! The on-site staff was very supportive, the classes offered at Florence University of the Arts were very interesting and engaging, and the city is very fun as well as walkable! We had a lot of interactive class periods including field trips and demonstrations. There is a lot to do in Florence, and the on-site staff shared their favorite spots and helps students get aclemated. I would recommend this program to everyone!

Prague is the most incedibly unique city in the world. From history to scenery Prague has everything to offer. The untouched by war golden city is endless with wonderful food, activities, and sight-seeing. For future participants, go into this with an open mind and don’t be nervous!!! Prague is a small program with about 30 students. I loved this because those 30 people became so incredibley special to me, they were my family for the four months I was abroad. The small group allowed us to all bond and connect quickly. Truly the people are what makes amazing memories not just the places. My life post-program is much different. My mindset, my global knowledge, even my overall view on life has changed. One of my favorite memories was my last night abroad. My 30 give or take abroad friends all went to the park behind our dorm and bought pizzas and had our last dinner all together, we went around and talked about how we’ve changed and grown since we got to Prague. My goodbye to all of my abroad friends was bitersweet but was one memory that will always stick with me. My most useful tip would be spend your money on experiences not items. Use pictures and experiences as souvenirs rather than pricey small items that will collect dust once you get home. Wouldn’t you rather go parasailing in Switzerland rather than have a T-shirt from the cities you’ve been to?!

I had an amazing experience in Japan. My classes were useful and got me to a level of Japanese understanding and independent study is no long a laughable dream. I could get anywhere I wanted, including many historical sites, using cheap and accessible public transportation. Food was great, the people were nice and helpful. If you go, my two pieces of advice are to pack light and to make sure some part of your plan, either in class or outside, requires you talk to actual Japanese people; I opted to only take Japanese classes, which Japanese students obviously don’t need, and so didn’t make any Japanese friends, which limited my ability to practice. CISAbroad was a great provider and worth the cost.

To this date this trip and program has been the best adventure of my life so far. The first few days were rocky with getting adjusted, the CIS staff was helpful and they were there along the way! Going to Cape Town was the best decision I ever made, there is so much to do, so much fun to be had. Everyone whom I meet that tells me they love to travel, I tell them to go to Cape Town. The people that you get to meet and make connections with last a lifetime and all the people I sat down with and had a conversation with were so genuine and caring. I recommend this program to anyone looking for a non-stereotypical internship location. You still get just as great experience, if not better, and it’s a once in a lifetime trip!

I loved living in Paris for a month and studying French at the Catholic Institute of Paris through CIS Abroad. I was able to enhance my French skills and meet other study abroad students from around the world. The program director, Drasko, was extremely helpful and I really enjoyed the tours and trips around the city that he organized. One of my favorite excursions was definitely going to Musee D'Orsay and seeing all the mesmerizing art. I had a Eurail pass and spent the weekends visiting other cities and countries. There was so much to explore and it was all so accessible from Paris!

The workplace that CISabroad matched me with was amazing, though my other intern friends had bad matchups and had trouble switching out. CISabroad’s Maria did an amazing job transitioning us to living in Sydney and gave us great tips on shortcuts, transportation, places to eat, etc. I feel that the program did a great job preparing us for departure and whatnot. I also loved that we were required to fill out a Weekly Learning Plan after each week of work, as this helps a lot with resume-writing after the experience. The cons that I have are that the program requests us to complete paperwork on short notice; my workplace also had the same complaint on their end. A breakdown of the fees would be nice. Also, the $500 security deposit we were supposed to receive from our housing at the end has become unheard of, and none of us have gotten that money back yet. This program is good if you want to live abroad and need a lot of guidance. However, if you feel you can do everything on your own, better to do so without a program and save money.

My semester in the Gold Coast was the most life-changing experience I’ve ever had. It thought me that there is so much more to explore in the world, taught me all about different cultures, and most importantly taught me to budget and make the most of what I have in life. The CIS team members who guided us during our stay were so involved and the sweetest people who really made Australia feel like home, they were always there to help and support, even if it was just to say hello and check up on you. There was so much to do both in and around Australia and CIS set us up for success. Bond Uni is academically challenging and is perfect for people of all different majors. Finally, what I loved most about this experience was the people I’ve met and places I’ve traveled along the way, and for that I am forever grateful for having experienced this journey and chosen CIS abroad. I will hold on to these memories forever.