Program Reviews

Florence is an amazing city and CIS treated us really well. Our advisors in Florence were great- so nice and really responsive whenever we had questions or concerns. The classes were two and a half hours which was very painful (thankfully only once a week) and there was no dining hall (we paid for a meal plan but there was only a restaurant you could use points at that was in the opposite corner of the city from me). But Florence has amazing food, good shopping, lots of things to do, and its location made it super easy to get to other countries for weekend trips.

The business courses for international students are brutally difficult and lack actual competence-building. However, CIS has no control over that. CIS did a fantastic job, always being responsive to needs and travel requests. Chui and David were both fantastic and trustworthy. The programmed trips were diverse and gave people who didn't wish to travel elsewhere a chance to see Thailand in several ways. Chiang Mai and the floating market were my two favorite trips. The final dinner was also very memorable. I can't wait to visit SE Asia again!

This program was very helpful to me as I am a Spanish major. Living in Madrid, I was able to use my Spanish every day and this increased my confidence in speaking and writing as well. Spain is cheaper than a lot of other countries which is nice, and if you want to travel it is very easy as Madrid has an airport and a few bus stations. Madrid is a beautiful city and there is always something to do there.

I had an awesome time studying in Cusco for 5 weeks. I received all the support which I needed. I especially appreciated the easy and free access to medical services, although I was blessed to not have to use them.
I want students to know that staying with a host family is totally the way to go, unless partying all night is your thing. My classmates who stayed in the hotel did not have the same kind of immersive experience as I did, and I dont think they felt as welcome in Cusco. They also ended up spending A LOT more money on food. Staying with a host family is awesome because you get to talk to them every day, have them there to support you, and you get to try all the different kinds of food that they make.

Have you ever heard of Perugia? Do you know where in Italy Perugia is located? Do you know what it looks like or what festivals take place there? You may have said yes if you went abroad/travelled there, you have family there, or you just really know your geography. I for one, did not know anything about Perugia, nor that it existed until my friend told be about the CIS abroad program in Perugia. And boy am I glad she shared her experiences with me, because now I have my own memories to share and cherish. The best part about going into this was that I had no idea what to expect, who I would meet, or the things that I would do. I was going to an unknown place that a lot of people had never really heard of. And this is exactly what I was looking for. Sure, I visited the big cities of Rome and Florence, but Perugia was my home base, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Perugia was above and beyond what I ever imagined; the people, the friendships, and the history were extraordinary. I was able to see an original Raphael fresco on the wall of a small chapel during one of my field trips in Perugia. I was given the opportunity to volunteer with UNICEF, working alongside local women to make pigotta dolls that would eventually be sold to provide vaccinations for women and children in need. I individually ate well over 50 pizzas for as little as 5-7 euros during my semester, and enjoyed a cone of gelato directly afterwards. I came to Perugia knowing not one word of Italian, but I ended up leaving with a more expansive vocabulary and knowledge of a language that I hope to be fluent in by the time I return. But what really shaped my experience were the long lasting friendships I had formed and the new places I got to explore and the culture I was able to engage in. There is so much to see in this world and many people to learn from, therefore I believe that my mind and heart will never stop growing until I see it all. As cheesy as that may sound, it is true for me! Perugia and all the countries I was fortunate enough to visit has most definitely given me the travel bug.
I recommend this program to anyone who is looking to make their experience their own. Honestly, I believe it is for everyone. It is a small program relative to the other programs out there, but it provides you with a close knit group of people that you can get to know (if you choose to do so). There are fun places to hang out for nightlife (definitely not a crazy nightlife scene, but still really fun on the weekends)! The areas surrounding Perugia are a fun visit too, and just a train ride away. I often frequented Assisi, and in the warmer months, my friends and I spent some time on Lake Trasimeno. Centro Historico Perugia is walkable and breath taking, and you won't find better food (even as a vegetarian, trust me). There are farmers markets, great shopping, movie theaters, and cafes. It is everything I needed to feel right at home, even though I was miles and miles away.
As I was preparing to go home, my friends and I had a big farewell party. Basically, it was almost half the people in the program (some of the people I hadn't really formally met until that night)! From day 1 until day 105, everyone was so inclusive and friendly. I can't say that is how it is all the time or how everyone feels, but I got really lucky to meet such a genuine group of people. We all got to share our worst and absolute best moments abroad, and honestly I have never laughed harder than at some of these unfortunate stories.
If I could do it again, I would over and over and over (and over). My best advice would be to let things fall into place, and find the experience that you are looking for and be sure to make it happen. This is your time to see, do, eat, and experience all this chapter in your life has to offer. Go to that museum alone, try that mystery pastry you've been eyeing, chat up the local cafe owner, and make sure you always have the necessary tickets and stamps before trying to board a flight (one of the worst moments of my life, but that is a story for a different day). All of my experiences were well worth it, because it was in those moments that made it my own. I now have friends on the west coast, even more on the east coast, and some friendly faces I hope to encounter again in Perugia. I really recommend the Perugia program, and if you choose a different one, I hope you find everything that you are looking for and more. (But, I am biased towards Perugia, so I would choose it if I were you).

Choosing CIS Abroad overall, was a great decision. I was able to learn about the culture especially with the home stay option. The program hosted activities for us to participate in. If I were to change anything, it would be to hold more culture based activities especially for the price one pays for the program. Besides that, the academic scene was nice and I was able to learn both in the classroom and outside the classroom. Overall, I enjoyed the program and would be honored to go back and do it all again. I met many people in this journey that I hope to keep around for a long time and cherish the memories that were made with others met on the program. If I were to give advice to future participants it would be to go with an open mind and to learn and explore new things and new ways of doing. It is very crazy/amazing how studying abroad can open your eyes to all the amazing things this world has to offer.

Best,
Marisa

Completing the Semester at University of Westminster program was the best decision I've ever made - London is the most diverse, exciting city, and it's filled with opportunities. I made friends from around the world and we went to museums around the city, beautiful parks, trendy restaurants in Notting Hill, clubs in Soho, pubs in Hoxton, and underground markets in Shoreditch. London is also a great touchpoint to travel to other countries - I easily made weekend trips to Iceland, Sweden, Scotland, and Italy. It's impossible to be bored in a city that offers such a wide range of activities (a lot of which are free) and access to other countries.
Beyond that, CISAbroad made the transition from home to overseas as smooth as possible. My other friends that were studying abroad had a multitude of problems with their programs, but CIS made sure I was as prepared as possible and were always there to help when I needed it.

This program to Morocco, Spain, & France was a great travel experience. I was able to meet people from all over the world, delve into the different cultures, learn about different religions, and gain knowledge from intelligent professors. The professors were very knowledgeable about the topic areas, and the students were able to build relationships with the professors and the students traveling together. The program was very organized, and it was a good mix of time in a group and time to explore on your own time. I gained a deeper insight on different religions and cultures in another part of the world. I would highly recommend this trip!

I LOVED my abroad program with CISabroad in Limerick. They set us up in some of the best housing on campus, had monthly excursions outside of our own personal traveling experiences, and our program adviser (John Hayes) was always on call for emergencies. I wound up in the hospital during my time abroad and he was always checking in on me and really cared about my well-being. He also brought us into the city to help us buy linens, advised us on how to navigate the bus system, and helped us set up phone plans during our stay. Through the program, I've made life-long friends that I talk to all the time (I actually just visited them this past weekend). Traveling to a foreign country can be a little intimidating, especially if you're going for several months. I never felt like the program would leave me without a safety net. They also helped make the immigration and visa process painless. I had friends who had used other programs in other countries who struggled to get visas on time; that was never a concern for me because CISabroad made it so easy.
My time in Limerick was some of the best months of my life and I know the program had something to do with it. I wouldn't have gone to Northern Ireland for a weekend, and I wouldn't have made the friends I have now without CISabroad. I'm incredibly thankful for being able to be a part of the program, and I recommend it to everyone I know.

While I was in Dublin, the experiences and people I met were fantastic! I love the excursions and meeting local students in the classes I took. The communication between Zufan and all of us was absolutely unacceptable, however. She wouldn't respond to any emails with important questions about how registering with the country's embassy worked.. Which was incredibly important, but not to her. She was a huge stress causer because of her lack of effort for this program's students. After the first semester of drama, about a third of the way into my second semester there was a different point of contact assigned to the Ireland students. She was amazing! Actually responded to questions and if she didn't know the answer right away, she would always respond saying she'd get the answer and get back to me. What a difference that made in my experience for the remaining time I spent there.