I had a really amazing time during this program. CIEE seoulmate program was very helpful in making Korean friends and getting to know the area better. I definitely got out of my comfort zone and was able to become more confident and independent. Yonsei was a great school with a beautiful campus, but if you go during the summer definitely be ready for the heat and humidity! This is an experience I will be cherishing for a long time and was a great decision to explore and get to know my own culture and language more.

I absolutely loved this program. The staff at CIEE were incredibly helpful before, during, and after the program. There were many options in choosing classes and many activities to participate in with your fellow study abroad peers. Studying at Yonsei University was also amazing in that the location was incredibly convenient and the campus was beautiful. There were so many things to do in the surrounding city of Sinchon and the staff communicated well with participants about internship, volunteer, and extracurricular activities we could participate in. All together it has been an incredible experience and I would whole heartedly recommend both this program and others hosted by CIEE.

My experience with CIEE was truly unforgettable. The program facilitated my travels and provided unwavering support across various aspects of my journey—academics, social connections, and practical advice. The on-site staff was accommodating, ensuring I settled in smoothly and addressing all my needs and concerns with prompt solutions.

Through CIEE, I formed lasting friendships with people worldwide, tried delicious cuisine, and explored some of the most fascinating destinations. As a Korean American, I gained profound insights into Korea's history and culture, learning to immerse myself respectfully and become a well-rounded global citizen.

I wanted to come to Korea solely to learn Korean. I am Korean-American and was never formally taught Korean as a child. The Korean Language Institution at Yonsei held amazing classes and improved my Korean immensely. If it wasn't for CIEE's wide network and accessibility at so many schools nationwide, I would never have found out about this opportunity. They also provided me with seamless off-campus housing and always made sure we knew they were there to help at anytime.
Seoul is such a unique city, with an infinite number of restaurants to try on every block AND so many beautiful hikes within an hour away to get away from the bustling city.

The people, in general, were the strongest part of the program. The staff was engaging, helpful, and friendly and the students I met were all wonderful. The courses were reasonably challenging, about on par with my home university. The campus itself is gorgeous; the local students are all very friendly as well and I had no problems making friends/connections with Korean students and professors. CIEE's extracurricular excursions were great too, they did a good job of simultaneously leading us and giving us room for independence.

Yonsei was a great school with one of the best locations. Everything is convenient. Language barrier is not a problem. CIEE was super helpful in emergency situations and responsive when you need help. If you are there to study hard, I don’t think this is the place. Exchange students are usually chill, but contribute interesting points from different backgrounds! Public transportation is amazing and everything is on time. If you are into a party life, you can definitely find it here. Just be careful with the local guys if you are a girl. Sometimes they tend to go off limit. I felt like consent was not a common thing here. But nothing super serious. You will learn to deal with them.
Overall, great experience.

Offered a lot of events that helped to check things off my bucket list and gave a chance to meet other study abroad students. Offered a lot of support and liked that there was an office on campus. Thought the events could’ve been more organized and had more information provided. Would recommend though! Made it very easy to do everything and get accommodated here. Some meetings felt very unuseful and could’ve been better spent learning how to use the subway hands-on, how to use Naver or Kakao maps for buses, how to use Kakao T, or even basic Korean sayings for ordering at a restaurant or getting a taxi.

Everyone always talks about how studying abroad was the best time of their lives (and I 100% agree) but I think an important aspect that gets left out is the different ways one can study abroad and how that can impact the experience you have. There are two main ways that I would say one can study abroad: 1) Apply directly to the university in the country you plan to study abroad in. 2) Apply through a program. When I studied abroad, I applied through CIEE due to my university's COVID policies, but this ended up being one the best decisions I had to make. I had a couple of friends who studied abroad without a program, meaning that they applied directly through the university they wanted to study at. They spoke to me about how they didn't know that applying through a program was an option, and if they had known, they would have done it too. There are many benefits that come from studying under a program including abundant resources, community, activities, and cultural engagement. Through CIEE, I always felt safe because they provided me with adequate resources to refer to when any situation occurred. The CIEE staff were all so friendly and well-informed-- I was able to trust them completely. Additionally, I was automatically connected with everyone else that was studying under my program through a groupchat, so it was super easy to make friends with people right when I landed! I even had the opportunity to talk to CIEE alumni, expanding my network even further. When you apply through a study abroad program like CIEE, there is an extra activity fee that applies, but it ends up being SO worth it because they fully plan out multiple activities for you to sign up for and attend. It's all super fun because you can go on these trips with other CIEE students fully paid for!!! It's a stress free way to do things in a country you are unfamiliar with. Last but not least, CIEE offers a course called "Intercultural Communication and Leadership." I loved taking this course because I learned so much about the different customs in South Korea and was able to deal with my homesickness way better through it. I strongly recommend studying abroad through a program like CIEE because the extra cost is so worth it!!!