CIS Abroad Reviews

One of the things I loved most about Italy was how seamlessly history, culture, and daily life are intertwined. Whether walking through ancient ruins in Pompeii, admiring art in Florence, or sitting at a café in a small town, there’s a sense of living history that surrounds you. Italians also have such a beautiful way of prioritizing connection; the meals aren’t rushed but enjoyed, conversations stretch late into the night, and there’s a clear emphasis on savoring life. That combination of cultural richness and genuine warmth made every day feel meaningful and memorable.

More specifically, in Sorrento, what stood out to me most was the breathtaking scenery and the welcoming spirit of the community. The views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius never got old, and the lemon groves and colorful streets gave the town a charm that felt uniquely its own. Beyond the scenery, though, it was the slower pace and the hospitality of the people that made Sorrento feel like home. I loved the way locals would remember your face after just a couple of visits, and how there was always time for a smile or a small conversation. It gave me a sense of belonging in a place that was so different from where I came from.

Overall, Italy taught me the value of slowing down and truly appreciating the beauty in both extraordinary and everyday moments, and Sorrento was the perfect reflection of that lesson.

I recently had the opportunity to study abroad in Japan for two weeks plus 12 days of intermission through CIS Abroad, attending J.F. Oberlin University, and I’d like to share my honest experience to help future students make informed decisions.

Academic Experience:
I was able to take a sustainability class at J.F. Oberlin. The course was engaging, thought-provoking, and well-taught. I learned a lot in a short amount of time, and it deepened my interest in environmental studies and global sustainability efforts. I would highly recommend this class to anyone passionate about sustainability or looking for an academically enriching experience to get to know Japan better.

Program Challenges: Unfortunately, there were logistical and support issues that made the experience more difficult than it needed to be.

Housing Location: Our accommodations were located nearly an hour away from campus by public transportation. This daily commute was exhausting and cut into the time we could have used to explore or study.

Lack of Transportation Support: Despite the long commute, we were not provided with any transportation stipend, which meant I had to spend a significant amount of money out-of-pocket on trains and buses.

Accommodation Quality: The hotel we were placed in was not well-maintained. My room, for example, had dirty walls and didn’t feel very clean overall.

CIS Abroad Staff Support: I was especially disappointed with the lack of support from the CIS staff on the ground. I needed a TB skin test while abroad — something that had not been mentioned in any prior orientation — and when I asked for help locating clinics or hospitals, I was essentially left to figure it out on my own. For a program that promotes cultural immersion and student support, this was a major letdown.

Final Thoughts:
While the academic portion of the program was truly excellent and I’m grateful for the opportunity to study in Japan, I believe CIS Abroad needs to significantly improve its logistical planning and student support. Future students should be aware of potential issues related to housing distance, additional out-of-pocket expenses, and limited on-site assistance.

If you’re independent and comfortable navigating challenges on your own, this program will be a good fit.

When you study abroad, you are presented with countless situations that will help you develop important life skills such as problem solving, independence, and resilience. From navigating the complexities of European travel and public transportation, to monitoring your finances while keeping in consideration ever-changing exchange rates, life abroad can feel super daunting at first. Simply going through life far away from your usual support system initially feels like an intimidating adjustment, too. However, looking back on my experience abroad, I feel immense gratitude for these obstacles being presented to me because I’ve come out on the other side a much more self-assured person. I genuinely feel more capable of handling whatever life chooses to send my way. Being in Florence, specifically, felt extra special because I was surrounded by breath-taking architecture, beautiful music, and countless Italian cultural activities I was able to be a part of. I made friends who I hope to keep in contact with for a long time, and visited multiple countries around Europe I had never been before. CIS truly knows how to take care of their students, and it shows. I took part in so many activities they had planned that helped me make friends almost immediately, as I traveled there alone. They helped us navigate everything from getting to our housing from the airport, to getting advice on fun things to do in our city, to booking travel back home when the program ended. I am incredibly grateful for my study abroad experience with CIS.

My experience in Florence was 10/10. I truly would not have done it any differently if I were to go abroad again. The people of Florence were so friendly and helpful when it came to the language, fun sights to see in the city, and restaurants. I didn't know anybody at first but met people instantly with the various social events offered by CIS. I highly recommend studying here. It is also super easy to travel around Italy which is a super special thing to do. Places like the Italian Riviera, the Amalfi Coast, and of course Rome being so close made Italy so fun and beautiful.

This semester in Sorrento, Italy was truly the best time I have ever had in my entire life. The school and dorms were located right onto the Amalfi Coast, with views of Mt. Vesuvius and the sparkling blue ocean. The classes were super interesting, with options like History of the Italian Mafia, History of Italian Cinema, Food and Culture, and so much more. Every morning I would attend class, then walk the beautiful streets of Sorrento to visit local pizza, sandwich, and coffee shops. Living in Sorrento truly felt like living in a movie with the amazing location and best people all around. Because of the close-knit school environment, I was able to make lifelong friends with other students and locals. It also gave students many opportunities to be involved in student life, like being on the communications team or as a campus ambassador. I truly recommend this school to anyone who is looking to go abroad.

Through this program made amazing friends and memories that I will hold close to my heart. I loved the school in Japan as well as in Korea. Professors were always very helpful and understanding. The program leaders were not always the most helpful; they tried their best but felt they were lost half the time. I would recommend 10/10, just be ready to also be flexible and be able to embrace change. This is an experience I would never change, and I made so many amazing people along the way. The experiences on this study abroad trip are things I still think about weeks later.

I want to say that I didn't spend an entire semester in Japan at this university. I went on the summer program and spent two weeks at the school taking one Japanese language course. Those two weeks were really fun, but I was often sleep deprived which affected my ability to do well in classes and just functioning in day to day life. I didn't go out at night or go to any bars, typically just doing chores around the hotel like washing clothes or grabbing dinner from a nearby conbini.

CIS says you don't need to know Japanese to go on the program, but I think knowing how to at least read hiragana and knowing some kanji would be very helpful if you are a solo traveler. Knowing how to read the directions on the back of packages was really convenient and I didn't feel like a fish out of water navigating around the city. A lot of Japanese people will attempt to speak to you in English, but just making the smallest effort to know the language left some of the people I encountered pretty relieved. But a lot of people will just point or gesture to things, so the language barrier isn't too bad.

The class I took was a bit intensive, but I quite liked it. It challenged me to think about things differently and to engage with the language more. My professor was also nice. She spoke completely in Japanese for almost every class, only using English for important announcements or when everyone had blank stares. It was a bit stressful due to my aforementioned sleep deprivation but still really interesting and fun. Getting to school was also an experience. The train system in Japan is really amazing, and once you learn your train lines, it is super easy to get from one place to another. The downside is, there is a lot of walking. So, during the hotter months, be prepared to sweat a lot.

CIS also partnered with the school to have cultural enrichment events like a tea ceremony, calligraphy, and yukata wearing. I recommend going to everything even if you are super tired and sweaty from walking around all day. They were really fun and also a good way to meet other students abroad and make friends. There are also some Japanese students there, so talking to them is also a possibility. It was also a good way to try new things without having to pay for them yourself because it's already included in the program cost.

However, the one downside was the hotel. I was staying at a 2 star hotel, so don't expect anything fancy. My room wasn't dirty, but if you looked hard enough, you could see signs of wear on it and the items in it. Some might also consider it very cramped, but I thought it was cozy and appreciated that aspect about it. Although, my head would bump the cabinet over the sink if I didn't duck. Then the door near the laundry would often smell like poop. But this is more about the hotel than anything on CIS's part. When I arrived at the airport, CIS team members were very kind in helping me reach my accommodations and paid for my express train ticket to get there while also explaining to me how to navigate through the train stations. They understand that it is a culture shock and are willing to guide you through things on your first few days and answering any questions you have over the course of the program.

Basically, all this to say that I was really glad I got to go on this program and I wish I was able to stay longer because I made some cool friends during my time there. This program allowed me to experience a different way of life for a few weeks and helped me realize how capable I am to handle situations on my own. I also realized how much I love Japan and I want to visit again someday!

My study abroad experience could not have been better. I met the best friends and left with the best memories. I never doubted my safety. The housing is amazing. We had the most beautiful campus. The workload was manageable. I was able to travel often. There is very good public transportation, but it is also very walkable. We were able to attend festivals and learn all about the rich Greek history. I was immersed in the Greek culture. I grew so much personally and gained a global mindset, which I will be able to relate to the classroom and my future career.

I had an amazing expierence during my time in London! I cannot reccomend this program enough, if you are on the fence about it, JUST DO IT!

I was only there for a short period of time but I feel like it was enough time to make frienships and see all the sights I wanted to see. Support staff at the university and through the program are great and will answer any questions you have! I will say the program could do a little better in facilitating communication between international students, so don’t be afraid to start group chats and ask people on your level to meet. The accomadations were not as described in their initial description, its more like a hotel so better. The campus is not in London its more out of the city but it wasn't hard or took a lot of time to get into the heart of London. I took history of London as a course and really enjoyed the expertise of the different tutors and every week we had 2-3 field trips where we would go to different places in London, that I don’t think I would have seen on my own. Overall, it was really great and I still talk to a lot of people that were in my program term.

My summer abroad in Sorrento was such an amazing experience and I could not recommend it more! From the people I met in my classes to the welcoming locals, Sorrento felt like home as soon as I got there. CIS provided a variety of excursions and immersive opportunities for students to take part in, making me truly embrace the Italian culture and grow not only in my academic life, but also in my personal life. My favorite excursion was the cruise from Sorrento to Amalfi, which is definitely a day that I will never forget. This program has left me with friendships and memories that will last a lifetime, and none of that would have been possible without CIS!