CIEE is a great program that truly gives students the opportunity to see the world while still remaining focused on academics. The full semester program in Berlin was an amazing experience because it gave me the opportunity to take four courses while still having enough free time to genuinely enjoy the city, travel, and immerse myself into everyday life in Germany. One thing I really appreciated about the program was that the atmosphere never felt overwhelming. The schedule allowed students to balance school with actually experiencing Berlin instead of constantly feeling stressed or rushed. The support from the staff was also phenomenal. Anytime issues came up, whether academic or personal, the staff were always willing to help and guide students through the process. I would absolutely participate in another CIEE program in the future.

One of my favorite aspects of the program was the academic experience, especially the history-focused courses. I took courses such as Berlin: Capital of the 20th Century, Holocaust Studies, Culture and Cuisine in Germany, and German. The history courses were absolutely phenomenal because they connected so well with my political science courses back home in the United States. Being physically present in Berlin while learning about German history completely changed the way I understood topics such as World War II, the Holocaust, fascism, political division, and the rebuilding of Germany after the war. Instead of only reading about these events in textbooks, we were able to visit memorials, museums, historical sites, and former locations connected to the history we were studying in class. That made the learning experience much more emotional, impactful, and memorable.

One of the most meaningful parts of studying abroad in Berlin was being able to see how history still exists throughout the city today. Walking through Berlin, visiting memorials, and seeing places connected to important historical events gave me a completely different perspective than I could have gained in a traditional classroom setting. I found myself constantly connecting what I was learning in Germany to my political science and legal studies coursework back home. It made me think more critically about politics, human rights, democracy, and how history continues to influence societies today.

I also enjoyed the excursions and activities organized by CIEE. They gave students the opportunity to explore different parts of Berlin and Germany while also meeting people from different backgrounds. The group dinners, excursions, and cultural activities helped create a sense of community among students. It was nice being able to meet other students from across the United States and internationally while sharing experiences together abroad.

The only course I personally found difficult was German, mainly because learning another language can be challenging, especially while balancing multiple courses and adapting to a new environment. However, even that experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me appreciate the challenges that come with learning and adapting to another culture.

Overall, studying abroad with CIEE in Berlin was one of the most impactful educational experiences I have ever had. It allowed me to grow academically, personally, and culturally while giving me memories and experiences that I will carry with me long after the program ended. I would highly recommend CIEE to any student considering studying abroad because it truly provides an unforgettable experience.

My experience with CIEE has exceeding my expectations of cultural and personal growth! Coming from an urban city in the US, I was shocked to see the vibrancy and friendliness on the streets. Bike riders of all ages, families playing at the park, and the sight of warm bakeries at every corner. As an art history lover, the easily accessible and endless museums and monuments around Alexanderplatz & Postdamerplatz made me excited to explore new places! Plus, with its central location in Western Europe, it’s easy to travel to other countries within a matter of hours & at low cost. For last-minute & affordable trips, I suggest FlixBus or Deutschbahn. For advanced trips, flights with local airlines is possible too!

I had an amazing time during my study abroad program, I did classes through CIEE and through my home university in addition to doing a service learning project in block 2. The CIEE instructors for the academic classes were excellent and very well-qualified. I personally had an amazing placement for my service learning project, but I know some of my peers were not as happy because there were limited placement options and not everyone was matched well. Within the service learning project we were expected to complete 90 hours in 6 weeks which was difficult to obtain, but working with my supervisor made it possible.

Throughout my time spent in Berlin, I have encountered many new experiences, countries, friends, and relationships that have all strengthened my character and have directed me on the path toward personal growth. I completed my studies at the CIEE Berlin campus, however, it surely was not the only place I began to frequent while in Berlin. The recommendations from the campus staff and the hearty smiles from my professors were nothing short of kind and endearing. I thoroughly enjoyed the structure of the program as well. With the 6 week blocks, I was able to collect more class credits than a typical American semester, while also completing the requirements for my writing minor.

Couldn't recommend this program more. There was so much support on-site, the location is perfect and the excursions were so much fun. Felt like I was simultaneously experiencing the most freedom of my life and also on a four month long class field trip. The city itself is amazing and full of things to do, and we were told all the details of places that are and are not as safe for us so I was not doing blind safety-wise. The staff is amazing, however the security that does sound checks at night are very unfriendly which can lead to unpleasantness. However overall would absolutely recommend.

Berlin is a place where I was able to truly experience independence and freedom for the first time. It is such a unique city with endless opportunities for self-discovery. It has been the perfect way for me to explore life outside my comfort zone, and it's great for any first-year student looking to get a feel for the beauty in finding yourself. Whether you spend your time exploring the city with friends, communicating with your loved ones from a distance, or simply window-shopping while listening to your favorite podcast, Berlin is the perfect place to admire the little things in life. My advice for anyone exploring the city would definitely be to have a picnic or two, try out as many cafés as your wallet will allow, and definitely get out for walks, because you will most likely stumble upon your new favorite coffee shop.

I studied abroad for the J Term in Berlin. For me, one month was the perfect amount of time to experience Berlin. My favorite part of being in Berlin is the fact that it is so centralized and it makes it easy to travel to other places. For example, we traveled to Prague for a weekend and it was super easy because of Berlin's awesome train system.
CIEE staff also made the month very easy and very fun. Our professor assigned us an appropriate amount of work to be able to experience Europe while also gaining information about the class.

I loved studying abroad in Berlin. While I would not say it's a place I would visit for a vacation, it is a place I would love to live in. The city has an incredibly welcoming and open-minded atmosphere. It is an area where I felt incredibly safe and comfortable incorporating myself into the culture. The program did a great job of offering excursions and day/overnight trips to other areas. This opportunity and experience has been unforgettable and something I would recommend to someone looking to study abroad without a second thought.