Program Reviews

I absolutely loved my Maymester abroad in Florence. I made so many new friends, tried new food, saw new cities, and took a class I could never take at home. I also loved being able to immerse myself in the communities and become friends with the locals around me. CIS made the transition so easy and I could not be more grateful for this experience. I spent every day for three weeks seeing something new in both my class and in my own spare time. My teacher made it so easy to navigate the city for when we were exploring on our own.

In my opinion, CIS Abroad makes studying abroad approachable and affordable for all students. I went to Tokyo, Japan for a month and took two courses. I felt supported throughout the whole process which made everything much less daunting than I thought it would be when I was first considering studying abroad. Tokyo itself has so much to offer and is very accessible for solo travelers due to how organized and safe everything is. One of the courses I took was Japanese, and it was highly immersive and helped me grow more confident in my speaking abilities.

I loved my CIS Abroad experience in Italy! They made connecting my home university to Florence University of the Arts super easy. The on-site guides were helpful in answering any questions and hosting fun events for the students. Housing was convenient, and it was nice to be in the same building as the rest of the students in the program. Florence as a city is a great choice for studying abroad as there are multiple schools there, so you get to know so many people. The food in Florence is also top-notch, so can't go wrong there. I highly recommend it!

This was a life changing experience. Being completely submerged in the Italian culture was a completely new experience and being able to experience this with new friends was one of the best parts. I'm still in contact with the students I met abroad and they have grown into very close friends of mine. In addition to the amazing views, food, sea and architecture. CIS was an amazing program each event felt special and like a lot of time and effort was put in to give us the best experience. 10/10 recommend!!

My time in South Korea was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Having grown up in Mississippi, moving to Seoul to study and live for 4 months was scary at first, but I feel so richly rewarded with how I have grown personally by stepping outside of my comfort zone. CIS Abroad was very transparent with any questions or concerns I had, and my CIS on-site director was very welcoming and willing to help. I really enjoyed our excursions with CIS Abroad, though I do wish there had been a few more opportunities to do things with the group. I came to love South Korea so much, from the subway system to the endless amount of things to see and places to visit, as well as the delicious foods and upbeat music of the country. I made lifelong friends studying abroad who really helped me settle into Sogang University as if it were a second home. Looking back on how lucky I was to experience so much in Seoul and to meet such amazing people, a part of my heart will forever reside in this city, where I lived for 4 months. Sogang University's campus was in an excellent location with easy access to some of my favorite places, like Sinchon and Hongdae. The English-speaking classes were generally well conducted. I do wish that the Sogang University Gonzaga Dormitory's facilities were more foreigner-friendly, especially in regards to the laundry. As with many things in Seoul, it is hard to do much without first owning a South Korean phone number or bank account. If you don't have these, it may be difficult to do some simple things on campus, like order delivery food or do laundry. Despite some of these frustrating barriers, my time at Sogang was mostly laidback, and I enjoyed most of my classes. 

I absolutely loved my summer abroad experience in Sorrento, Italy! I took Elementary Italian Language and History and Culture of Italian Food. I thoroughly enjoyed my classes abroad. The teachers were very friendly and easy to work with. My History and Culture of Italian Food class even took us to a Buffalo Mozzarella Farm field trip as well as a pasta factory field trip. My classes were engaging and interesting to learn about. There were few assignments and often just a midterm and final exam. The class sizes were small which I enjoyed, which made it easier to build a relationship with the professor and ask more questions. I lived in a local apartment right in the middle of downtown with three other girls. The apartment was very spacious and clean and even had an outdoor patio with a table and chairs. There were so many fun activities to do in Sorrento. I went to beach clubs, paddle boarding, cliff jumping, wine tasting, olive oil tasting, cooking classes, and more. The town of Sorrento is very touristy, especially with a lot of travelers during summertime. The town does feel very safe during the day and at night. There is a nightlife scene with night time bars and fun rooftop bars overlooking the ocean. Sorrento is located in the bay of Naples so to travel to any big Italian cities you must first take a local train from Sorrento to Naples. Then you must transfer to a regional train in Naples to any other cities. This extra transfer can make traveling on weekends to cities a bit difficult, but is easy to navigate after the first time.

I absolutely loved studying abroad at Mahidol University in Thailand. In the classroom, I formed bonds with my fellow classmates and professors and it was enlightening to gain insight and knowledge from people with different backgrounds. Beyond the academic realm, there were bustling markets, temples, serene landscapes and gorgeous beaches which made every week feel like a new adventure. Overall, this experience enriched my worldview, fostering a deeper appreciation for interconnectedness. For anyone seeking an unforgettable journey of self-discovery and cultural immersion, Thailand undoubtedly offers an unparalleled adventure.

Studying in Thailand through CIS was truly the best decision I've ever made. Aside from all the amazing wonders of just being in Thailand, the best part of my experience was the CIS family. Having such a tight-knit, funny, and supportive group of students (and also program directors) enriched my time greatly. The friendships I made through CIS helped me learn so much more about myself and gave me the confidence to grow while abroad. My favorite trips were the ones organized by CIS (Cambodia and Chiang Mai) because we didn't have to put any work into the planning - we just got to have a blast with each other. I could go on and on about how much I treasured my time with CIS but I don't have the time for that. You're gonna have to take my word for it.

I studied abroad in London with CIS Abroad at the University of Westminster in Fall 2022. The program staff on-site was so amazing, warm, and welcoming. The academic and accommodation university staff was also friendly and helpful. The university accommodation was comfortable and very safe for being in Central London. The city is so walkable and there is never a shortage of things to do and see. I would recommend this program to any students looking for an affordable, exciting, and academically enriching experience in London.

My time abroad in London, England was one that I have not stopped thinking about after arriving back in America! At the University of Westminster I was able to take a course called "Photographing the City" which allowed for a fun and creative way to view the city. We were each given our own digital camera to use and had our professor be our own personal tour guide as we explored and photographed various different parts of the city. I really enjoyed how this program was not just in the classroom. During the school day the class was able to go out and indulge in all London had to offered as we learned techniques that would improve our photographing capabilities. I have never taken a class similar to this, and I would really recommend taking a course abroad that allows you to be out in the culture of the foreign country. From the academics to exploring the city, it was an overall memorable experience.