Program Reviews

I studied abroad with CET Florence in Spring 2025 and now in my senior year, I can confidently say it was one of the best and most impactful experiences of my entire time in college. Prior to coming to Florence, I had never left the U.S., so in every way my expectations were exceeded. Florence is a beautiful city with a rich history, and the professors do a great job of revealing the deeper history and culture with the many classes on area topics. It's a great home base; don't take it for granted. Examples of classes I took included Renaissance Art + Architecture, the Medici, and History of Modern Italy, many of which involving field trips to museums and churches. I stayed in an apartment but doing a homestay is also an option, and by the end I became great friends with my roommates and have kept in touch with them and other friends I made abroad since.

Three-day weekends were very conducive for personal travel, if you so choose. There is much to see within Italy and much of Europe is easily accessible. Italian is helpful to learn in advance but the program was all in English so fluency is not a requirement (I'm only a high A2/low B1 speaker after three months in Italy + a year of prior study). My only caution is that Florence is very touristy, especially in the warmer months, and there are many other study abroad programs, so it is easy to spend a few months there and not interact very deeply with the local culture, but if you are intentional you can certainly achieve this and the program can help you with events like getting dinner with a local family. Italy is known for its food for a reason, and cooking at home as well as going out to restaurants were an absolute joy - everything is so fresh.

Overall, I recommend CET Florence if you are considering going abroad. The on-site staff is incredible, and when else might you get the opportunity to spend multiple months living in, not just visiting, another country?

CET Japan provides the opportunity to immerse yourself and the Japanese language and culture in the great city of Osaka, Japan. The program provides intensive and Immersive curriculum only in Japanese that truly accelerates language acquisition. I had the opportunity to do the program and 2 separate summer semesters and take both the 2nd year class and the 4th year class, in both instances I felt that In the short two months I was in Japan I improved my Japanese more than entire academic years at my university. I personally think that it was due to the fact that because you are in Japan, you're required to utilize language everyday and really put it into practice. So for anyone that's serious about learning Japanese and really trying to learn the language I can't recommend the program enough.

The program is situated in Osaka, Japan which is an hour train ride away from Kyoto and maybe a 45 minute train ride away from Kobe. And thus the location provides good access to a variety of locations, attractions and things to do. I really liked living in Osaka. To me it was better than Tokyo in almost every way and to most students I spoke to said it was the best city in Japan as well, although we may be slightly biased. Japan as well as the experience of studying abroad in a foreign country, To me is something that's very hard to explain in words how wonderful it is, but i do recommend to absolutely any and all students to do it at least once.

For me it wasn't even just about the location, the food, the people, It was everything. It's obviously a completely different experience from studying at your home institution, But for many students it's also the first time that they're just away from their families, completely on their own which can be exciting and frightening but also to me it's kind of so different form traveling to another country, because when you study abroad you are a student in that foreign country and your life kind of continues but changes location which I think is something that can't really be replicated by traveling, because when you do, you're more of a tourist as opposed to someone living in a foreign country. Which is an experience that I think study abroad programs provide and honestly its so exciting and such an incredible experience that I think every student should have.

CET provides housing, curriculum, materials and even opportunities for extracurricular activities for students during the length of their stay, And so all you really have to do is show up and you're almost guaranteed to have an amazing time. Should you participate; please travel, explore, and see all that Japan has to offer. It's an amazing experience that I know you won't regret. I sincerely believe CET Japan is worth your consideration for a study abroad program.

My stay in China helped me build confidence and the ability to make decisions independently. Shanghai has an extensive and efficient public transportation system as well as various service apps that initially seemed difficult to navigate, but were actually quite simple as I quickly got accustomed to them. I was able to explore some of my passions such as arts and crafts with the addition of Chinese elements since opportunities to pursue all sorts of activities were highly accessible in the city. One of the best aspects of the program is having local roommates. I practiced Mandarin with the roommates and learned a lot about their lifestyles and partook in pastime activities with them.

Studying abroad in Siena was one of the most transformative experiences I’ve had during my time at UVA. Academically, it broadened my perspective beyond the lab and classroom, helping me connect scientific thinking with history, culture, and everyday life. Learning about Renaissance art and the structure of Italian society gave me a deeper appreciation for how interdisciplinary learning can be.

Socially, it pushed me to step outside my comfort zone, navigating language barriers, living in a new environment, and building relationships with locals and fellow students. These experiences made me more confident, open-minded, and adaptable. It also reminded me that growth often happens in unfamiliar, even uncomfortable moments. I've built relationships and connections in Siena that I will remember for a long time.

I think what I'll miss most about my experience is the staff and my teachers. They were some of the most kind and supportive people I've met in general. And, I really did enjoy getting to know them beyond supporters and educators. Talking about where they grew up, hobbies, and even their children. I felt like they were truly some of the most friendly people I've ever met. Anyways, I mostly ran off and did my own thing in Shanghai, as a career-orientated person, so I can't speak to their activities as much. But, I did go on their planned trip to Yunnan and it was a great experience as well.

CET Beijing is an extremely unique and awesome opportunity to learn Mandarin because of its language pledge. Despite the language pledge being intimidating at first, you will quickly realize how fast your Mandarin level is progressing and how important knowing the language is to fully enjoy all that China has to offer. This was honestly one of the most amazing experiences I've had in my entire life. Everything from classes, food, and traveling was so so much fun and such a novel experience. CET Beijing will push you to learn how to navigate new experiences both academically and socially. You're only going to be young with friends in China once!

Studying abroad with CET Prague was the best four months of my life. I actually found the program last minute, but it surely was “beshert”! I am not usually the spontaneous type, especially since the CET Prague deadline was the following week, but after checking out CET’s website and seeing the Jewish Studies courses, the traveling seminars, the chance to take a business class for my major, and the fact that the program was based in a country that seemed both safe and affordable, I decided to apply.

From the start, I felt like I had made the right decision, especially thanks to the student service coordinator, who was incredibly helpful. She patiently answered all my questions and guided me through the visa process. I even remember calling her from the post office while sending my visa materials, just to double-check I was doing it right. I also remember going to a Jewish Studies information session as soon as I found out about the program, and it was super reassuring.

The program lived up to what I read about through my time in Prague. When I arrived in Prague, my amazing Czech roommate was the first to greet me. The Czech roommates were an amazing addition to the program, as I felt like I connected with her (even moreso than the other Americans). She is the best!!!

While in Prague, I took a Czech class, and I was lucky enough to have the best professor. She was kind, engaging, and genuinely made the class a joy. I will admit, the Czech Intensive was a bit overwhelming at first, especially just a few days after arriving in a brand new country. But once I got through those first couple of weeks, I ended up loving the class and language (except on test days, haha)! I even got coffee with my lovely professor on my last day before I left Praguw showing how much I ended up loving it.

I loved being part of the Jewish Studies cohort. If you are thinking about doing it, do it! It was an incredible experience. I had never been surrounded by so much Jewish history before. Since I was pursuing research while I was there for my honors thesis, my Jewish studies professors were super helpful in giving me advice on archives and people to connect with.

All the CET classes were engaging. I felt I did not have to be as anxious as I usually am, because my classes were more presentation-based than exam-based. Since I did not have to be super stressed out I got to really enjoy learning. One of the best parts of CET classes is how interactive they are. Instead of just sitting in a classroom (which I enjoy too), we were constantly out exploring the places we were studying. I got to go to so many places like the Jewish Museum in Prague, various parks, Prague Castle, a Glass company, a Jewish day school, cafes, etc. We even did scavenger hunts around the city. CET’s building is located in Praha 1, right near Wenceslas Square, so we were always out and about during class time, exploring different parts of Prague. As a history nerd this was so much fun!!! Since the trams work amazing in Prague, I would often explore by myself. I truly loved the city and felt safe navigating alone.

I also really loved the traveling seminar. Being able to visit Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary, all included in the program, was an incredible opportunity. The itinerary is connected to your core class, so mine focused heavily on Jewish history, which was exactly what I was hoping for. It truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some parts were emotionally challenging especially regarding the Holocaust, but I am grateful I got to approach those moments from an academic perspective. There is a big difference between learning about the Holocaust from a classroom in the U.S. and studying it in the places where it actually happened. Since this is the field I want to study, I honestly think CET Prague was the best possible fit for my academic interests. If you are a history major like myself then this is the perfect program for you.

I also had the opportunity to do an internship while in Prague, which was a huge part of my experience. I took the internship seminar and worked at a place that aligned with my interest in history and Jewish studies! I am really grateful to CET for helping me navigate the professional world abroad. The option to intern is something that sets CET apart, and I am glad I took advantage of it. I learned a lot about Czech work culture and got to contribute to a project, which aligned perfectly with my academic interests.

CET Prague also has the BEST staff!!! Everyone is so supportive, welcoming, helpful, and truly made it an amazing experience. They were always willing to chat and answer my questions. They helped plan CET activities. Basically at the beginning of each month, you could sign up to go to various Czech activities like going to a hockey game, a Czech opera, going hiking, etc. I really took advantage of the CET activities and got to go all around Prague and the country.

Overall, I had a really great experience and would go back in a heartbeat. The biggest challenges I faced were not about the program itself, but more “me” problems. One, I had never lived in a city before, so it took a few weeks to get adjusted. However, once I found my footing, I ended up loving Prague and stayed longer to do research for my honors thesis, which says a lot about how much the experience ended up meaning to me. Prague is now my favorite place!! My other challenge for me was making friends. It felt like a lot of students already knew each other before coming since so many people come from the same schools, and with a smaller program, I never really found my lifelong friends. Still, everyone was genuinely kind, friendly, and welcoming, and not finding my group of people really allowed me to grow more independently, and focus on the things that really mattered to me like my research, studies, and exploring Prague. Would it have been more fun with lifelong friends? Absolutely. But that was no one’s fault. It just did not happen that way for me, and I quickly made peace with that. I still got exactly what I came for, an incredible academic experience and a chance to grow in ways I had not expected. I highly recommend CET Prague. The staff is incredibly supportive and helpful, the classes are engaging, the internship opportunities and travel seminars are meaningful, and the activities make the whole experience even richer. And of course, Prague itself is an amazing city to live and learn in…it is hard to imagine a better place or program to be.

I always knew I wanted to learn Mandarin and travel to China at some point in my life. It was a ginormous step to study abroad as a student fresh out of high school who has not yet started college. CET provided me with many detailed and helpful resources to navigate how and what to do to prepare myself before and after I have entered the country. The first oral test was very nerve wracking for me, but the ability to transfer and transition into a better fitting class was incredibly smooth and accommodating. I have nothing but good to say about all the teachers within the program; they truly began to feel like family by the end of it all, and I will miss them greatly. I heavily value and will never forget this experience and what it gave me in regards to my worldview and understanding of a culture I have longed to engage in.

CET Taiwan has been one of the most valuable experiences of my undergraduate studies. The program combines intensive language learning with real-world professional opportunities, creating an environment where growth happens both inside and outside the classroom. The Mandarin course was rigorous but highly rewarding. With small class sizes, teachers pushed us to improve while still offering individual support. The curriculum emphasized speaking and practical use, which made it easy to apply what I learned in daily life. Using Mandarin with local roommates and classmates became a natural extension of class, and I noticed steady progress in both confidence and fluency.

The internship component added another important dimension to my time in Taipei. I worked with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan, where my responsibilities included event planning, client correspondence, and social media management. The Chamber partners closely with the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, Canada’s de facto diplomatic presence in Taiwan. This partnership exposed me to both business and diplomatic communities, giving me a deeper understanding of how commerce and diplomacy intersect. It also expanded my professional network and gave me firsthand professional experience in an international setting.

One of the highlights of CET Taiwan was the community. Living with local roommates gave me a direct window into Taiwanese life, from language practice to everyday routines. My classmates, who came from different universities and four different countries between us, added to the sense of support and shared experience. Together, we created an environment where we learned as much from each other as from the program itself.

Overall, CET Taiwan offered the perfect balance of academic challenge, professional growth, and community. I left the program with stronger Mandarin skills, meaningful work experience, and friendships that will last well beyond my time in Taipei.

One of the best parts of my experience with CET Brazil was the unique opportunity to visit spaces and communities that I otherwise might've not known. There are long standing partnerships between CET and different communities that helped me learn about social justice by seeing, in action, the kind of worlds and practices that people desire so much. I loved visiting Bahia through the program as well. There were some super engaging professors who I loved learning from. The CET Center is beautiful and there are opportunities to connect with the PUC community.