I really loved this program. decided to do this program for my last summer before graduating (August 2025) and have no regrets.

The staff was very helpful in reviewing my application and matching me with an internship.

The process was easy. I met online with one of the staff members, who asked me about my goals and what I wanted out of this program, and pretty much got to know me. Then a month later, I got matched with an internship, and interviewed with 2 of the internship supervisors and a CIEE staff member. I knew immediately I would be working with them, seeing as the interview went great, and we both agreed on the call that we were very eager to work together.

Right before the program, however, I was a little lost as to what I needed to do; a lot of students were in the dark. BUT, the predeparture orientation was super helpful, let us know where we would be living during our program, what to do upon arrival, and what to bring with us to Tokyo.

Upon arrival, the CIEE members were visible at the airport in bright orange shirts, and they were ready to help guide us to the waiting area. We waited for everyone to show up and then took charter buses to our dorms. The next two days were very helpful orientations, and after that, we were on our own in the city, but this wasn't super scary since Tokyo is very safe.

The class, however, was a different story. The class was VERY easy, you met 3 times during the whole program, and submitted assignments on the CIEE canvas pages (different than your home inst.) BUTTTT I feel that the class could have used more staff oversight during its creation and curriculum writing. It's not super applicable to what you're learning. The teachers they chose were very nice, but in this program setting, I feel that either a culture class, a language class, or a career readiness class would be better.

The program is a bit expensive, even as a low-income student (-1500 SAI) I still had to pay $3,000 out of pocket, and that's including the scholarships that CIEE gave me. SCHOLARSHIPS, another great thing about the program! If you're from a low-income background like me, the financial need-based scholarships are pretty much guaranteed. The Gilman Go Global grant is very nice, it's a great ailment when the Gilman rejection comes in. What I didn't like, though, like was that the scholarships team never advertised that you (potentially) could receive more aid. I didn't know that I could petition for more aid as they present the financial aid appeal form (the form that could give you up to $2,500 towards your summer program) as a form to fill out if you "need to cancel due to financial need". I was scared to click this form because I was scared of automatically cancelling my application SOOOOO don't be like me, FILL OUT THE FORM!

Money aside, I loved my experience, I had THE BEST internship experience, and learned so much about my future career goals, and learned invaluable skills that I can (and will) apply in the future.

Hi! I studied in Tokyo, Japan, and did a homestay! It was a pleasant experience to live in another country and see how others live their lives! Also, learning another language extends how many people you can interact with and how many incredible stories you can hear! I highly recommend it, and going through CIEE is a great choice! Also, the school I attended (Sophia University) was an excellent school to go too! They are adorable and international school-friendly! However, the Japanese class is a lot of work, so be ready to work, but learning another language and talking to others in their language is fulfilling!

Overall my experience with this program was great! It would have been nice to have better communication from CIEE staff prior to program but once in Japan I felt I didn't need that much because you have total freedom and there were not many instances for me personally where I felt I needed to reach out.
My time in Japan was amazing, I was able to explore so much of Tokyo and visit other parts of Japan like Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka and Kamakura. Made so many amazing friends and it was fun to experience Japan with them. I was sad to leave at the end of the 6 weeks and had so much more I wanted to do but its a great way to spend more time in Japan than you would on an ordinary trip. Japan is such an incredible country and I would recommend this to anyone who has any interest in Japan.

Living and working in Japan is a fantastic experience, and I'd encourage anyone even marginally interested in the culture to go. The length of time that you're there really lets you experience the culture more in the way that a local would as opposed to a tourist, which is a lot of fun. The hotel we stayed in was decent, the rooms were a bit small but you get used to it. My experience with the company I was interning for was great, the supervisors and people worked with me to help me learn and get my work done, all in all a fantastic experience. Would recommend.

My experience with the CIEE program is still ongoing, but so far it's pretty great! I'm a little more than halfway through the trip and I have already seen so many new things and been around to lots of places. On my very first full day in Tokyo, I made friends in the program and the four of us decided to go to a capybara cafe, which was easy to navigate to using the subway system and the overall walkability of Tokyo. The locals are super nice and helpful, especially around the school buildings and hotel. I can't wait to keep exploring and I would highly recommend this experience!

Coming to Japan had always been a dream of mine. Getting the opportunity to live out my dream with a safe and supportive community is a great way to truly get a feel for the country. The CIEE program is an excellent program for anyone that is hesitant about taking that first step outside their comfort zone. My advice for anyone is that you’ll never truly live if you can’t take the first step into the unknown, and CIEE will be there to help you every step of the way. Now go out there and have fun.

I did a semester abroad at Sophia Uni. in Tokyo with CIEE, and overall it was a great experience. The program provided many opportunities to travel around Tokyo with a group, and travel to destinations across Japan like Hiroshima, which other programs I've been on didn't do. Something CIEE did very well was reimburse students for cultural activities throughout the semester, and the staff did a great job keeping students informed on what activities were available and what complimentary tickets for exhibits and attractions they had on hand, which were plenty. Also, I liked the opportunity to write blog posts for CIEE and be paid for it, definitely helps to have more spending money while abroad. The staff were helpful when I had emergencies, and were always available when I had questions or concerns.

Japan is the first country I've traveled to and it's a big step from Minnesota. I did a homestay and I had actually started this adventure with a close friend and roommate. Things didnt work out and suddenly I was alone and far away from home. But staff at CIEE were right there beside me to help me put my happiness above all else and make the most of my time abroad. CIEE is more than just a program, it's a collective group of people who want the best for you and have gone through similar situations. My advice to those planning on travelling abroad is to lean on the support you're given with CIEE. Dont be shy to ask for help or just someone to talk or have ice cream with. Also, dont isolate yourself. Get to know some people in the program, your classes, around your living rooms. Have fun and let loose.