Program Reviews

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!

As someone who is of Italian heritage, studying in Italy meant more to me than traveling and food. It was about connecting to my ancestors and their home country. My experience was everything that I had hoped it would be and more. Future participants would want to know the address of where they are living and their class schedule prior to moving in. Post-program, I miss Florence every day and I now have a better understanding of the lifestyle of my ancestors. My favorite CIS memory was the cooking class.

I had one of the most fulfilling experiences interning in Barcelona through CIS Abroad! Everybody on the team was so wonderful and welcoming to all of us. It was my first time outside the country, and the staff really gave me all the tools and skills I needed. The placement of the internship was perfect and well suited to my talents and wishes, and when I was going through a hard time they offered me great advice on how to work in another country. Overall, my experience with CIS Abroad was so wonderful I cant wait to travel again!

I loved the housing because I stayed in the international dorms where other exchange student were at. This allowed us to form a group and travel to places together. There were also some Australians in the dorms too which helped us get to know more of the native people. The way the classes are set up you can travel more rather than being stuck in class all day.
My favorite memory is a event that only the students knew about, it had the whole school hanging out on the weekend and doing contests.
My tip to anyone would be get to know the bus/trolly routes and make Australian friends, they will help you discover new places and show you around the city. Also try to get an Australian drivers license if you’re able to.

I truly loved my experience abroad. For years I had talked about going abroad to Italy, and I am incredibly happy that I chose CIS Abroad as my program of choice. Going into this experience, I knew nobody except for one of my best friends from home. I had never been overseas alone before, so it's safe to say that I was incredibly nervous before coming abroad. Only a few days in to being abroad, my fears and anxiety about being abroad came to a rest. I instantly made amazing friends, and felt incredibly comfortable in the environment that I was living in. I was having fun, and most importantly, I felt safe.
My advice to future participants would be to go into this experience with an open mind and a positive attitude. Go in with the attitude that you would like to meet new people, experience another culture, and try new things. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience, and these participants are blessed that they are able to go abroad with an amazing group of people! Another major piece of advice that I would offer would be to not overpack! I was abroad for 3 weeks and overpacked immensely. Only pack what you truly NEED. This will make your travels lighter, and much easier, especially since you will more than likely be buying quite a bit while you are overseas.
Since being back in America, I have gained a much greater appreciation for my upbringing and how blessed I am to live where I do. Being abroad in 80 degree weather with no air conditioning was truly an experience. Living in a foreign country without the day to day accommodations that I have here in America was truly a learning experience. It is a different way of life in Italy. They do not have all of the utilities as we do here in America to live life as we do. While it was a challenge to adapt to my new living environment, it was a great experience and I have gained a greater appreciation for where I live and what I have here at home.
I'd like to end this with saying to future participants to simply have fun! Go abroad, take photos and videos, try new foods, partake in cultural activities, meet new people, and make the most of your experience abroad. Chances are, you will never have an experience such as this one. It's an opportunity of a lifetime, and one that they are lucky to be on!

When I decided to pack a suitcase and board a 23 hours flight to Bangkok, Thailand, I did not know much about the country. I really only knew where it was on a map. I was extremely nervous, but I could tell it was an excited nervous. Thailand is known as the land of smiles, and for good reason! Their culture is warm and welcoming, to say the least. What is unique about Thailand is their beautiful temples, delicious food, and islands. Once you are in the country, you can spend a day eating, shopping, and traveling to islands for less than $50. It is a simple, breathtaking, and life changing experience.

This was a good experience. The coordinator at Bay Path College wasn't helpful at all. She kept referring me to the CIS program. I was told one month before I was ready to leave and at Christmas time that we owed another $5,000. I was suppose to pay my college and I paid the study abroad program instead. The person at the college should have been more up to date on the program.

I am not sure if I missed this but I was not aware I was going to have to buy so much kitchen items that I had to leave there. I didn't know anyone in the dorm to ask to share pots, pan and storage items. Also people kept eating my food and I was on a budget. That was very stressful to me. I would have went to the dollar store at home and brought more items so I didn't have to spend so much money.

We were told to get a student visa which cost more money and it caused confusion when I was traveling. They old me I didn't need it at the airport

People were very nice, accommodations were also nice. I would recommend this program again

This program gives a new meaning to cultural immersion. As a student at University of Westminster, I lived and studied in the heart of central London. My eyes were opened to so many unique aspects of living in a European country and a metropolis, and by the end of the five months, I truly felt like a real Londoner. The setup of the program encourages independence, but while I was able to pursue my own interests, studies, friendships, and travels, I also had a support system to lean on when needed. Now that this program has ended, I find myself feeling homesick for London. I would recommend this experience to anyone looking to find themselves in the big city.