CIS Abroad Reviews

The University of Westminster is in the heart of London, which was one of my must-haves for studying abroad. I wanted to live in a city that was historic, as centrally located in Europe as possible, had courses at the school in my major, and was close to major transportation. I wanted to be submersed in the city's culture and also have easy access to get around the city, to the countryside, and to nearby countries without a second thought.

Hey guys! I studied abroad in the Czech Republic spring semester last year and it hands down the best experience I've ever had. There was many fears and biases I had before going (unfortunately) but the minute I got there, I was embraced with warm smiles and acceptance. Prague is a beautiful city and definitely filled with adventure and enough events to keep you going. The Czech culture is very rich in history and neat traditions. My personal favorite is eating those wonderful Trdeknik's and being in the town square during easter weekend. On top of the wonderful education at VSE, I learned so much about myself, independence, and gained mental security in life. I grew a lot in a short period of time and I can say that going to Prague was the best decision I've ever made.

Spending 9 weeks in Barcelona, Spain was one of the best decisions of my life. CIS was so helpful in helping me adjust to the new culture and help me overcome the language barrier. I enjoyed the activities, day trips, and weekend trips CIS offered to students to help them truly enjoy the new culture and spend time together! I made so many lasting relationships with other students, locals, and my home-stay!

My study abroad experience with CISabroad was truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I was able to make lasting friendships, experience an amazing new culture, study a new language, and have a deeper appreciation for diversity. While living a block away from the Sagrada Familia, I attended class at the University of Barcelona. I was able to expand my Spanish skills while meeting other students from the United States, as well as students from all over the world. With CISabroad, I also got the opportunity to go on cultural excursions to other parts of Spain. Our CISabroad mentors were very helpful and provided us with resources so we could make the most of our time in Barcelona. I highly recommend this to anyone considering studying abroad! My semester in Barcelona was an experience I'll never forget.

My name is Mary and I am a student at Ohio University. As a sophomore, I knew that I wanted to study abroad before I graduated and went out into 'the real world'. I was fortunate enough to have met with a few other students who shared their experiences during their times abroad. They informed me of CIS Abroad and how helpful they were with getting them set up and finding the ideal study abroad location for them.
Ever since I was a little girl I was crazy about Italy. No I am not Italian. And no its not because of my obsession with pizza or wine. Instead, it was because I loved their language and always thought of their culture as being romantic.
At the end of my sophomore year, I set sail (well actually via plane) to Italy. The program I was in was a 6 week session in the summer. When I arrived, not knowing a soul, I was warmly greeted by the CIS Abroad staff. They were full of answers to my many questions and made me feel like I was part of their family. I was also greeted in waves of the members that were embarking on the same journey that I was. The students were from all over the United States; Wisconsin, California, Ohio, Illinois.
The housing that was offered to me through the program was amazing! I stayed in a beautiful, authentic Italian apartment in the town of Perugia. I had one roommate, who was also a student abroad in the same program as me. We quickly became friends, which made things very fun when I wanted to explore -because I always had a friend close by to do those things with.
The schooling that was involved was intense but very rewarding. I came to Italy with two semesters of Italian and planned on finishing my last two semesters there. For me, learning a language was never easy. I barely even had the basics down in the Italian language before my study abroad trip. The teachers in Italy were so hands on and helpful that I picked the language up faster than I ever thought I could. Still to this day, over a year later, I correspond with the teachers I had -in Italy. Amazing learning experience overall!
The location of Italy where I lived was incredible. It was the small town atmosphere that I wanted that included little cafes and pizza shops. It was so nice to live in a smaller town because I became a regular at some places. One place in particular (I forget the name at the moment) sold fresh fruit smoothies and paninis. I used to go almost every day with my fellow classmates! We became so close with the sweet man that lived there. He would only speak to us in Italian and told of us of his journey from Algeria to Italy and how he always wanted to own a shop. Hopefully one day I go back and visit and he will still be there!
All in all, my study abroad experience was unforgettable. Still to this day I think about the amazing times I had in Perugia, Italy. It was challenging at times, but I am grateful because it shaped me as a person and put me out of my comfort zone. I would recommend studying abroad to anyone! CIS Abroad made my trip so enjoyable and I couldn't have asked for anything more.

I absolutely loved Italy. The CISabroad program helped ensure me that I would be safe, a fear of mine since I was traveling alone, and made everything I needed to do easy to follow. I highly recommend CISabroad for any study abroad programs. I would definitely return to Italy, and would definitely travel again through CISabroad! With so many options, CISabroad will help you get to any destination!

Interning in Rome was definitely an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. As a Sophomore in college, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Interning truly helped me discover the right career path for me. I hope to live and work abroad, so this experience gave me a taste of what that might be like. I developed so many skills by working abroad, including professional workplace skills, critical thinking, formal writing, research, etc. Outside of the workplace, I was able to gain the confidence to live on my own abroad, which is something I was nervous about as a young woman who had never travelled alone. The CISabroad staff were so incredibly lovely. They were always there to help me. Rome is so easy to fall in love with. I truly felt like I was living in a fantasy world. Everywhere you look is breathtaking, and there's always a new area to explore. I also fell in love with Italian culture, especially how genuinely friendly people are. I miss living and working in Italy each and every day.

While Limerick wasn't actually my first choice of places to study abroad, it ended up being absolutely perfect for me. The school was incredibly inclusive of study abroad students and instantly made me feel at home there. The city center wasn't far from where I was living on campus. There were several times when I would have a free day, that I would head into the city and just explore what was there. It was a small enough city that I never felt overwhelmed or lost, but it was big enough that I always found something new. I always felt safe and comfortable there. The people are also incredibly friendly, random strangers would start conversations with me, often just to see how my day was going. I can't wait to go back!

When my mom was in college, she studied in Costa Rica and absolutely fell in love. Because I had Spanish experience, and because my mom had gone there, I decided it was where I wanted to have my first study abroad experience--and I have absolutely no regrets.

Costa Rica is an amazing country, Universidad Veritas had a great vibe and I had a wonderful instructor for my intensive Spanish class, and my host family was so sweet and considerate. I'm still in touch with my Mama Tica, most of other students in the CISabroad program, and some other Universidad Veritas personnel!

And if you're freaked out about being in a foreign country and not knowing anyone--the CIS onsite support staff are fabulous. I had some housing issues towards the end and the onsite director was very approachable, understanding, and helpful. CIS staff will guide you through every step before you go, and every step during. I fell in love with Costa Rica, its wildlife, natural landscapes and people, just like my mom.

This program was PERFECT for me. It combined so many essential components of what I wanted from my study abroad program: an apartment in the middle of the city (not a dorm!), integration into a local school, great on-site advisor, fun activities, but loads of independence. Every moment from the planning stages to the end of the semester was seamless with the help of the CIS staff. Cannot recommend highly enough!