CIEE College Study Abroad in Paris, France

CIEE provided all the support needed to navigate the streets of Paris (quite literally with their intensive metro lessons). I did not think I would need this family-like environment when moving across the world. As an Italian-American, I have spent a lot of my life in Italy. The culture shock was not apparent to me in Paris as it very much reminded me of Italy minus my family and friends. The students and staff at CIEE were what made my experience the best four months of my life. They are now all people that I hope to keep in my life forever no matter where we are!

I absolutely loved my experience here and would recommend it to anyone considering a study abroad program. It was incredibly refreshing to step away from the routine of my home campus and immerse myself in the vibrant culture of a new city. Living in this exciting environment not only broadened my perspective but also helped me grow as a person in ways I never imagined. The staff here are genuinely friendly, approachable, and incredibly supportive—they made the transition seamless and were always there to help whenever needed. What made the experience even better was the group of program participants, who were all just as enthusiastic about exploring the city and traveling as I was. This shared sense of curiosity and adventure made it incredibly easy to connect with others and form meaningful friendships that I know will last long after the program ends. It was a truly transformative experience!

The experience I had with CIEE in Paris was so wonderful. Not only did they enhance my academic skill, but CIEE assisted in my career development. My unique perspective is that, while I was taking classes through the institution, I was also concurrently working at an internship, all set up by CIEE! My role was a Marketing Intern for a startup at Station F (the largest startup incubator in the world!) and it honed my marketing skills and taught me so much about the industry that I would not have known without working for a startup. CIEE just connected me with some of their partner companies, and all I had to do was interview! It was such a great experience, and I encourage anyone who studies abroad through CIEE to participate in their Internship Seminar program!!

My study abroad experience with CIEE in Paris was really unforgettable. From the moment I arrived, the CIEE staff were incredibly supportive, making the adjustment to a new city and culture so much smoother. They went above and beyond to ensure that every student felt comfortable and well-equipped to navigate Paris. Whether it was guidance on how to get around or insights into local customs, their support made a huge difference.

The classes were very engaging annd interactive. We got to explore different parts of Paris as part of the coursework. It wasn't just theoretical learning – we were out in the city, discovering new places and seeing what we were studying firsthand. This made everything we learned more impactful and memorable.

Another aspect I loved was the split-block format, which gives you the chance to study in three different locations within one semester. This adds such a dynamic element to the experience, allowing you to explore and immerse yourself in multiple cultures. On top of that, the other students in the program are incredibly welcoming and outgoing, which makes building friendships easy and fun.

When my parents paid all this money to send me to France for a summer, they were promised a French family that would integrate their student into French culture. They were also told about the academics and the excursions. Academics and the excursions were just fine. The homestay was not as advertised and not corrected.

Instead of getting a French family that was schooled in France and spoke French very well, we got an immigrant African family who’s French was very Accented, never bothered to do anything with the students living with them, not even sitting down at the dinner table and talking to them. However, the west African cuisine that was constantly served was tasty. What made matters worse, Is that the management in the United States said nothing was wrong with this arrangement. It was a dorm type arrangement not a family one. The redeeming feature here was that the apartment was centrally located.

As a further sign of neglect by the head of the program in Paris, one free concert was scheduled for the group in spite of they’re being close to 1000 options. The headquarters had no comment on this oversight. We suggested the program in Paris get new leadership.

I had so much fun in Paris this past semester. I feel so lucky that I was able to go abroad and learn about a new culture. I learned so much about myself and gained new confidence in myself while going outside of my comfort zone. I met so many amazing people in my CIEE study abroad program that I can see myself remaining friends with for a very long time. I recommend going abroad to all college students, it is an amazing opportunity that I think anyone would benefit from. Plus Paris is beautiful!

After studying abroad in Paris for a semester, I have memories that will last forever. When I started to get settled in during my first month, I realized that my experience was going to be whatever I wanted it to be. I feel like everyone has this overall perception of students going abroad and just traveling and partying. However, that isn’t what I wanted my experience to be. I wanted to come home from Europe having learned new life lessons and a different understanding of a part of the world I have never discovered before.

I came to Paris all alone not knowing anyone in the program, flew all the way by myself, and had random roommates. This situation worked out great for me because my roommates ended up being two of my best friends abroad and I actually got to meet new people who also go to the same home university as me. It was definitely a lot to soak in upon arriving but I think my openness and extroverted personality helped me a lot through the process. Something I was worried about when coming abroad was not being able to have a routine but surely after a few weeks I was able to get into one. I have also never experienced the level of independence that study abroad gives you. It was so liberating walking through the streets of Paris, soaking it all in and thinking to myself “Wow I’m fully just living in Paris right now.” But like I said, you choose how you want to live your life. I know some of my friends in different countries are always with people because they hate being alone. I personally have always been an independent person so I chose to be alone sometimes. This has definitely made me more mature and open to new experiences. Overall, some advice I would give to a student that is planning on studying abroad is that you don’t have to do what everyone else does. You get to choose your own experience so make it the best that you can for yourself. Try not to do the same things you would be doing back in the US when you are abroad. Get out of your comfort zone and explore.

When I was deciding on programs I would've loved to see a specific review like this. If you are considering studying abroad DO IT. I am currently a senior in college and just got back from my J-Term program abroad in Paris. I loved every second of it, my only complaint is that I wish the program was a week longer because of how fast paced the academics were. I did the fashion class and learned so much, my professor was great and my peers were great. Living situations were a bit hard because it was so far from the main city and we were spread across three buildings but it wasn't too hard to deal with. I met some amazing people who i am still friends with and am even going to visit! I felt very supported by the staff as well. I also felt that with my class, I really got my money's worth. We took some amazing field trips and did very hands-on assignments. This is your sign that if you are a senior (or any grade) looking to do this program DO IT! Especially if you are a senior I would specifically encourage you to fo the J-Term program, most of the students in this program were seniors and juniors which was so comforting.