CIS Abroad Reviews

Studying abroad in South Africa was the best decision for me when going abroad. Being in historic Stellenbosch really offered a unique opportunity. The student life was great from good fun on the weekend to well developed and active clubs looking to help international students get involved. CIS’s program helped me have amazing relationships with locals and other internationals. They also did a stellar job making sure that I was safe. The on site director Athena is an amazing resource and does a great job showing you things that no one else knows about. Overall I had no complaints and countless stories of my once in a lifetime experience.

I was working at a refugee center this summer in Rome, Italy. This internship was through CISabroad. My onsite staff was immensely caring and thoughtful. I always felt safe! I was also constantly in touch with them as we had weekly events scheduled with other interns in the area. This was a great experience and if it wasn't for CISabroad I wouldn't have had such a life changing experience. I recommend CISabroad to all my friends.

Education: The classes I took at Bond University were overall small in size, and taught by great instructors. If at any point I felt like I was falling behind, I could easily ask for help and it was given. Also, from my experience the professors were all very accommodating of traveling contingent upon you expressing that you will make up the work you missed!

Housing: Some of the best dorm style housing I have ever seen. I lived in the "accommodation center", in a double dorm (with one roommate and a full sized bathroom in the dorm). On a weekly basis the dorms have housekeeping that comes in to clean your room (wash the sheets, make the bed, clean the bathroom, etc.) One of the other great perks is that all the bedding and toiletries were already provided and restocked by the housekeeping, which made it super easy as a study abroad student already on a budget!

Food: The dining hall features a menu that only changes slightly throughout the semester, and it is done on a pay per item basis (rather than a buffet style like those featured in schools within the US). This was one of the only challenges, as you have to budget pretty efficiently through balancing eating out and cooking meals in order to not run out of money by the end of the semester. However, there are several great restaurants in the downtown area that feature affordably priced food options and there are kitchens on every floor of the dorms.

Safety: The safety in the both the school as well as Gold Coast as a city was great. I did not at any point feel unsafe, even when I would travel on the public transportation alone at night.

Overview: I would 100% study abroad through this program again. CIS does a great job of integrating you into Australian culture from the minute you step off the plane. The excursions that we were taken on through the program added immensely into the overall experience, and the on site support for any questions or concerns was extremely prompt and helpful!

I spent January to May 2016 at the University of Roehampton in London, England through CIS and incredible doesn't even begin to describe my time there. I had the opportunity to experience different learning and academic styles, travel to more than 8 countries, try all different types of food, meet people and make lifelong friends with people all over the world, and so much more.

CIS was amazing starting right away with a welcome dinner, having day trips to places like Windsor Castle, and always there to answer any questions or concerns. Roehampton Uni itself is beautiful, the living situation is nice (you get your own room!), and they host all different events throughout the week from karaoke, to discounted club nights, and access to all of the clubs on campus!

I went to London through CIS on my own - I knew no one getting onto that plane in Boston - but I was confident and prepared thanks to all of the help from the CIS staff. I left London with a group of girls I still talk to almost every single day and have visited/plan to visit in the near future and the stories and experiences I have are so special to me.

If you are thinking about going abroad - do it! And go through CIS!

Prague is a prime place for college students to study abroad. There are many universities in the ciyy that offer arts, business, etc. The exchange rate for their currency is GREAT - everything is inexpensive in American standards and much cheaper than any other country on the euro. There is TONS to do in the city. Lots of events, outdoor activities, bars, clubs. Just walking downtown you get to enjoy all the unique architecture and many small stores and restaurants. You can't get lost and it's a super super safe city. Our program didn't have the nicest housing and it wasn't located near the center of the city, but the program is inexpensive so you get wjat you pay for and it's not the worst. Public transportation is also super cheap and convenient in the city. Great food too and LOTS of fascinating history. If you want to travel, Prague is a great location for taking a bus, train, or plane to anywhere else around. The classes are fairly simple but sometimes frustrating with lack of communication of expectations from the professors. Overall I would HIGHLY recommend going to Prague for a great unique experience because there are lots of adventures to be had and many opportunities to expand your thinking and horizons.

Program Review

Studying abroad is something that I suggest for everyone, no matter his or her field of interest or past experience with travel (or lack thereof). I studied abroad last year with CISabroad Semester in Thailand. I had traveled quite a bit before that, but it truly provided me with a unique experience and taught me many lessons. Prior to that program, I had mainly traveled with family. Studying abroad with CISabroad provided the perfect mix of self-sufficiency and intensive support system. My experience abroad taught me to rely on myself in new ways, and I discovered how much I love to travel solo. This summer, I intend to do exactly that. While I learned this about myself, I also really appreciated the structure of the Semester Abroad program. There were multiple people from the program that were based in Thailand and they were always very friendly and helpful. They always offered advice and guidance when needed. The other participants in the program were also a major highlight. Not only did we enjoy having classes together, we also traveled together on the weekends. There were multiple excursions planned by CISabroad during the semester. These provided a great way to see more of Thailand, without having to worry about logistics because everything was taken care of. All in all, I suggest the program to anyone interested in visiting South East Asia. I am already wishing I could return!

I got lost. Completely lost. But that's what happens when a girl with no sense of direction goes to a foreign country. All I wanted to do was take a walk in the center of Prague and explore this beautiful city. My phone was useless in helping me get somewhere. At that point, I just shrugged my shoulders and kept walking.

When it comes down to it, it's just you and the world. I said, "Here I am world. Show me what you got." Completely unplugged and not distracted by friends, I went to see what the world had to offer. I wasn't disappointed.

Strolling around Prague was a European adventure every young person wants. You gaze up at the stunning, old architecture, visit a church or two, listen to the melody of a different language, try and fail to speak said language, eat a pastry, drink a cappuccino in the main square and listen to the street performers, cross a river full of boats, hike up to the castle, and sit on a wall overlooking the entire city while lost in thought.

Everything is slowed down. I became hyper aware of all that surrounded me. On the ancient wall, I soaked up the simple beauty of life.

Through CISabroad's site director Leah's help, I was able to fully immerse myself. She pushed us to go out there and try things because you won't get a second chance like the one in front of you. We ate flavorful, traditional food. Made conversations with strangers. Got lost and got found. Danced all night and meandered around the city all day.

Prague is charming and seductive. You will always be fond of it, always think of it. And one day when luck blows your way, you will come back and fall in love all over again.

Going overseas was a great end to my last semester as an undergrad! I loved how great the staff for both the CIS office and the coordinator abroad. It was awesome being able to feel safe, experience things that I have never experienced, and explore a country that has the friendliest people ever. There is so much that Thailand has to offer, as well as the surrounding countries and the fact that traveling was so cheap, made it even greater! Students talk about how expensive the trips are and immediately get scared, but just do it! Going abroad has been the most awesome experience because I was able to get out of my comfort zone, meet new people from all over the world, and make new memories!

The placement I received for my internship was beyond my wildest dreams. To be able to work in the center of London at a Public Relations firm in the Special Events section was amazing! I could not have asked for a better experience in such a beautiful and majestic city. One of the best experiences was working an awards show for the music charity Nordoff Robbins and meeting The Clash, one of the most iconic bands out of the UK!

Since the reviews online were a significant factor in making my decision, I'll give you guys a thorough summary of my experience :)

APPLICATION PROCESS:
When I decided I wanted to do an internship abroad, I started to research and research. Most study abroad companies were too expensive for my budget, so I was trying to find an internship on my own and arrange everything myself. However, I had very limited dates available and most "free" internships had very strict start-end dates and lasted anywhere from 3 months to 2 years! I finally decided to search for scholarships and other financial help, which I got from my university, and after a lot of research, I decided to try it out with CISabroad. I chatted a lot with CISabroad staff, who happily answered my questions, and I read reviews on every website. I found that CISabroad was the better-reviewed program. The only negative reviews I found, I shared with the CISabroad staff and asked them to clarify them for me, and they were happy to do so. They finally convinced me to apply, giving me step-by-step instructions. My only complaint would be that, sometimes, they would take their time to answer my questions, but to be fair, they never ignored any of my concerns. When your applying to a study abroad or intern abroad program, you must understand that there will be times where you will just have to be patient. CISabroad has hundreds and maybe thousands of students applying to programs all over the world, which is really cool, but also takes a lot of time from the staff.

HOMESTAY + Getting there
Thankfully, I got accepted into the Intern in Barcelona program and received a discount for applying early :) The day finally came and I was officially on my way to Barcelona to have what would become one of the best experiences in my life. However, I had some flight delays/cancellations, which affected my schedule, but the CISabroad onsite staff worked around that, which I appreciated so much. I got to my homestay, which I absolutely recommend, and had a nice lady waiting for me. I stayed in a really nice neighborhood in Barcelona really close to my internship placement. I had my own set of keys to the apartment, 2 yummy homemade meals a day, and an amazing host family (for real, you guys, EXCELLENT!)

INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT:
Throughout the process, I was really anxious to know what my internship placement would be. I asked the CISabroad staff about it, and they told me they had to wait because they couldn't know until they had all my information since the internships they provide are customized to the student preferences. In order to get to know me, they called me a few times and we also had a Skype interview. I had to wait some time for them to tell what my placement would be, but at least they told me a week before getting to Barcelona, so I had an idea about what I would be doing. My 2 interests were management and international business, which are my two majors, but I also have a minor in Strategic Communications, which allowed them to place me in a communications agency focused on the health industry. At first, I was a little bit confused because my internship didn't have much to do with international business, and I wasn't very excited about the health industry either. However, I quickly adapted and loved everything about my internship because my coworkers gave me a lot of responsibility and allowed me to do significant work, which was the most important factor to me. Plus, they sent me to two different business events in Barcelona, including an amazing advertising festival. In fact, this internship made me realize that I want to pursue corporate communications after I graduate college.

CULTURAL IMMERSION + TRAVELING:
CISabroad holds many meetings that help students understand the local culture. They go from classroom orientations to neighborhood tours and sharing a meal afterwards, and even cooking lessons! The amount of activities CISabroad has for students and interns lets you get to know other foreign people, but the onsite -local- staff are so kind that they become your friends, too. In order to get to know more locals, you must really participate in the process. My co-workers, host family, church or other encounters, and other students were gateways to doing this. In addition, my internship schedule was Monday to Thursday from 9-2 pm., which allowed me to explore the city afterwards. I fell in love with Barcelona and its unique culture. There is so much to do, a great transportation system, constant opportunities to meet new people, amazing food, and... the beach: all I need to be happy hehe. Also, since I had long weekends (sometimes used for CISabroad activities, like going to a nearby town), I had the opportunity to travel to other European cities, including cities in Spain, France, Italy, and England.

Last advice: research and go for it! CISabroad makes your dream possible :) Good luck!