Program Reviews

This was my first time in Europe, and I am so glad it was with CIS. Going abroad can be nerve-wracking, especially if it is your first time, but I had an unforgettable experience. Barcelona is an amazing city with so many things to do and see and I never once was bored while I was there. Having a CIS on-site director in Barcelona the whole time I was there was great. She planned awesome excursions for us and was there if we needed, but also let us be independent and learn things about ourselves at the same time. You could tell she really cared for her students and wanted to ensure they had the best of times. I made some of the best memories in Barcelona and am itching to go back, I would recommend it to anyone!!

My semester in Barcelona was everything I hoped for and more! Through my program, I met so many lifelong friends from all different backgrounds. I got to immerse myself into the Spanish culture by trying new traditional foods, taking a daily Spanish course, attending Universitat De Barcelona, and traveling to different regions of Spain. Through the program CIS, I got to experience so many amazing activities and excursions that were included in my semester tuition. This included a cooking class where we learned to make a famous traditional Spanish dish, Paella. A weekend trip to Grenada, in the South of Spain was also included along with many more amazing trips!

I have really enjoyed spending my semester abroad in Seoul, South Korea with my provider CIS Abroad. Months before the arrival date I was already in close contact with my program's coordinator and other staff members, so all my questions were answered in a timely manner. Onsite we had an amazing director, who would go sightseeing with us, help with doctor's appointments, recommend delicious cafes near campus and in general would answer all of our questions. I felt that I wasn't alone in a foreign country and could always rely on our onsite director or other staff members working remotely. I made so many fun memories in Seoul, would highly recommend it to other students as well.

I absolutely loved every single second of studying abroad at Santanna Institute in Sorrento, Italy. Through their immersive program, I was able to attend weekly cultural immersion events and really dive into the local community. Santanna Institute has classes Monday-Thursday and encourages students to travel safely on the weekends. With this opportunity, I was able to travel almost every single weekend making my time abroad just that more magical. Not to mention I met some of my best friends and made memories I know will stay close to my heart forever. My best advice to someone who is thinking about studying abroad is to just do it, I can guarantee that you will not regret it.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned regarding travel came in the form of getting gelato in Florence. The CIS ambassador touring us through the city made sure to highlight what signifies that the Italian dessert is in its authentic form. I realized the mountainous piles of gelato I had seen in pictures, pictures that made me want to travel to Florence, were just a variation of ice-cream whose excessive appearance marked a successful attempt to attract tourists. It is little pieces of information like that, gained with the help of on-site CIS representatives, who are locals within the area, that transport students into a wealth of knowledge that they did know they would receive from the beautiful city surface that drew them there in the first place. The people who make up this program make sure that you become a part of something real, by showing you how locals live in the city, making the commitment to this period of time in a foreign place a truly unique and fulfilling form of travel.

Having never traveled overseas before, this experience was very enlightening. I embarked on this journey alone, knowing no one except the study abroad advisers at my school, and I am very pleased that this was the case. I learned so much about myself, others, my future, and where and who I want to be, as well as about the culture in Italy and throughout Europe.

Sant’Anna was an amazing school with a wide range of classes to offer. The staff and faculty were all extremely kind and helpful. The school also provided many free activities for the students.

CIS Abroad was an excellent program as well. The advisers were incredibly helpful both in getting me to Italy and while I was there. The staff in Italy were fun and kind, and they organized many enjoyable activities for CIS students, such as a boat cruise to Amalfi!

I would highly recommend this program to anyone. It was the best experience, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

I absolutely loved my time studying abroad in Scotland at the University of Stirling. I felt very supported by the University's team as well as Jeanna, the CIS Abroad On-Site Coordinator. There was always something to do through the University as well as events organized by Jeanna. There was also plenty of room to branch off on your own and explore. Scotland was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, especially the highlands. There's something for everyone in Scotland, whether its visiting local pubs, hiking, or historical sightseeing. I would recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad.

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!