Program Reviews

Overall, a great experience. I lucked out with housing, because it had modern amenities, great local location, and easy to commute. I know some others who had roommate issues/ housing headaches, and some others who lived nearer to campus— but overall I was very happy with my placement. The actual program focuses on cultural activities and local learning, which is something I wanted— I would only say that it's best for more beginner/ intermediate learners than more advanced (ICLP might have a more fitting curriculum, in that case). I would also say that most students who choose CET are other Americans, and if you really want to engage with local friends, make an effort! You do have the time, you just have to be willing to venture out yourself more. I think during the semester program it's easier to make NTU friends versus the summer (when everyone's away). If you're looking for a program with more flexibility/ freedom to explore the city rather than more structured learning, then CET makes sense.

I honestly had an amazing time while staying in Taiwan and I really felt like I learned a lot. The program can get overwhelming and a bunch of students had major burnout by the end, but I think we all appreciated how much we learned. We get reimbursed for certain activities we do during our stay, but some of us thought we would have preferred paying out of pocket and just having a lower program cost. Housing is a kind of 'luck of the draw' in terms of quality and location. Lots of pressure in the last week as you have to move out immediately after you take your finals.

My experience in Italy and Siena specifically was a remarkable one. I had the opportunity to explore different regions in Italy and learn more about the culture and art history of each location. The art was rich and beautiful, and as an art major, it is the most crucial aspect that helped to better my experience in Italy. In addition, the art history class I took while staying in Siena also enhanced my knowledge of Siena and its past particularly, as well as the region of Tuscany (Pienza, San Gimignano, and Monte Oliveto Maggiore).

Studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic with CET Academic Programs was definitely one of the best decisions I have made in my entire life. I loved being immersed in the country's rich history and culture, and I was thankful for CET's support while I became more acclimated to life in the city.

Coming here as a political science major, I found that many of the classes helped me to fulfill requirements and expose me to new topics I had never approached back in the US. I found all of my classes very interesting and engaging, though they were definitely less rigorous than my classes at my home institution. All of my classes were made up of 5-12 CET students, taught in English (except for Czech—that was a good mix of the two languages), and held at the CET Academic Center in the city center (Prague 1). We used the city of Prague itself as our classroom too; we would often visit sites of cultural and historical significance during our class time. Our learning expanded beyond the city limits as well, as CET arranged for both day trips (Lidice and Terezín were particularly impactful) as well as longer excursions (the academic travel seminars to Poland, Austria, and Hungary were incredibly enriching). The professors at CET are excellent, and you can really tell that they enjoy working with the students.

The program coordinators who work in the Prague office are amazing as well—kind, considerate, and always willing to help ensure you make the most of your experience. I just wish the office had been better prepared to handle COVID-19 cases. When I tested positive mid-way through the semester, there seemed to be no game plan whatsoever. Where do my roommates go while I quarantine? Do I stay in my apartment even? Do I need to get a PCR test? Can I go out in public with a mask, or do I need to isolate completely? Everyone seemed to have different answers, and I was disappointed that there was no comprehensive plan.

CET's housing, overall, was lacking. We were promised apartments in the city center, but in actuality, we were placed further out in the Nusle neighborhood of Prague 4 and had a ~22-minute tram ride commute to the Academic Center. The apartment complex itself was adequate, but it certainly did not match the photos of the spacious apartments boasting lots of natural light that CET posted on their website. Perhaps those apartments were reserved for the FAMU students up in the Vinohrady neighborhood in Prague 2? The building, mostly reserved for just CET students, would be out of hot water at least once a month, the laundry machines broke on multiple occasions, and we had issues with the wifi almost every single day. Despite this, I did enjoy living in the same complex as all of my friends and classmates. We formed a community of our own, often asking each other for advice on where to buy certain items or if we could borrow things from each other. I also loved that CET assigned local Czech students to live with us in our apartments. They helped us adjust to life in the city by teaching us how to navigate public transportation, shop for groceries, and aid us with our Czech.

Prague is such a beautiful city, and CET made it very easy for us to get around. Transportation passes that allowed us unlimited access to the tram, bus, and metro systems were included with the cost of the program. Prague's public transportation was efficient, very clean, and safe. Definitely better than anything in the States! I also found myself loving all of the cafés, restaurants, and bars throughout the city. Compared the US, everything here was very affordable. Prague is certainly a more budget-friendly destination. It also is a great jumping-off point to explore other countries in Europe due to its central location.

As I mentioned earlier, all of our classes were very small because CET Prague is a smaller program overall. We had about 40 students in total, and while I liked the more intimate classroom setting with less people, I sometimes felt that the social dynamics of the program were clique-y and exclusionary.

Despite some of the bumps along the way, I really enjoyed my time abroad with CET. I made memories that will last me a lifetime, and I hope that I can return to Prague someday soon.

Overall the CET Brazil program was a wonderful opportunity. I think this program is unique because of the focus on social justice. The content and teaching of the courses offered by CET were incredible and I learned so much during my time. PUC also has a ton of great courses students can take, and I highly recommend enrolling if you can! I also recommend that students do some work on their own before they arrive, confronting their biases and studying power structures and privilege within their home and globally. CET provides co- and extra-curricular activities that go hand-in-hand with the course materials. It is important to know that things can happen slowly and then all of a sudden, so be understanding and prepared for that. I would recommend that students be self-sufficient but also recognize that they have to work within the rules and structures of the program. Also important to note is that there are some courses that are mandatory to take at CET and there is an emphasis on group activities, so if you are looking for a more independent program this may not be it, but there is room for doing things on your own, you'll just have to make some of those opportunities for yourself. I think that if you're considering studying abroad this is a great option to consider!

I was part of the Spring 2022 cohort, the first group after (but really during) covid. Although our group only had six people and we were not able to take direct enrollment classes, the program was still very fun and I learned so much from my experiences not only in the classroom, but outside the classroom as well. During the week we had excursions to different places, but the highlight for me was the traveling seminar to Salvador, Bahia. It allowed me to see different cultural similarities and differences between regions in Brazil, and put into perspective specific topics we learned in class about social inequality and racial democracy in Brazil. Since the program, I’ve been back to Brazil three or four times just to visit the friends I made and revisit my favorite places. I definitely recommend this program, you won’t regret it :)

This was easily the best experience I've had during my undergrad years! Spending time in a country with a new language, new culture, and new people was so eye-opening and I know for sure that I grew personally and academically during my 3 months in Taiwan. I had never been away from home before going on this adventure and so the first couple of weeks there was a lot of re-adjusting and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. But after this experience, I am a true believer in the sentiment of "you can't grow unless you make yourself uncomfortable." I would not have met the amazing people and seen the beautiful places if I didn't go outside of my comfort zone and so my advice to anyone contemplating studying abroad and is fearful of so much 'new' at one time, it truly is worth it!

CET Taiwan was truly a great experience, although be warned that, while it is a study abroad program, it is much more academic intensive than many other programs. Students take three hours of Chinese classes per day, 5 days per week. The classes themselves do not feel like they take that much time, but the amount of daily homework often meant sacrificing time that could otherwise be used to explore Taipei, the rest of Taiwan, or engage in cultural activities. CET also requires either an internship or elective; I chose the elective. There are not many options to choose from, and while these only meet once per week for three hours, you can only miss one class because CET has such strict academic policies, and the amount of homework per week is not insignificant.

CET does provide a number of cultural activities for students which is especially great at the beginning of the semester when you don't yet know many people or feel comfortable exploring new places on your own. What really made the program great was that CET provided cultural reimbursements; while what qualified as a 'cultural activity' was sometimes a bit strict, it overall made it so that students on a budget could still explore the island.

The location of the program is amazing. Located right in Taipei, it is very convenient to take public transportation to classes or to go explore the rest of Taiwan. CET provided housing for all students, although even with public transportation, my provided apartment was still 45 minutes away from the classroom building. Taiwan has lots of things to do, whether you like exploring nature and going on hikes, swimming in the ocean, or finding museums and trying new foods.

I would highly recommend CET Florence. The program staff are very kind and take time to organize fun excursions for the students such as pizza making and gelato tours. The classes offered are interesting and engaging, and the city itself is beautiful. Although Florence isn’t a huge city, there is still so much to do. Keep in mind that since you won’t be attending an Italian University directly, it will take extra effort to interact with local Italians your age. There are also many American study abroad students in Florence which is something to take into consideration depending on your preference. Overall, I highly recommend the program and had an amazing semester with CET Florence.

CET Taiwan was a very fun and memorable program. On the program, you undergo an intensive Chinese program, where you are learning and practicing Mandarin on a day-to-day basis. The classes are fun, and CET prepares many resources for students, such as off-campus living arrangements, local roommates, an internship option, elective course, and optional cultural activities and field trips sprinkled throughout the semester. Taipei is a very big, fun, and convenient city, and it's great for students to both learn and experience. However, the semester is condensed into three semesters, so having a CET elective course on top of the Chinese course can feel a little overwhelming. However, if you're looking for internship experience, then CET is a great opportunity.