During a worldwide pandemic, I had one of the most interconnected experiences. A situation that made it seem like socializing with people would be most impossible I was able to do it in a safe environment. I was able to challenge myself academically. Enrolling in a top university in Seoul was amazing. I was able to advance my Korean language skills by being put in real-life situations. CIEE was still able to provide great ways to connect with Yonsei's student body as well as provide us with cultural excurcisions. I can not recommend this program enough.

Studying abroad at Yonsei University with CIEE was an excellent academic and social experience. You will have the opportunity to take challenging classes at one of the best colleges in Korea while also being able to enjoy the beautiful campus and wonderful city of Seoul. It was almost difficult to choose what to do in such a short time frame as you can explore the more modern sides of Seoul with its various shopping districts or the more cultural and traditional sites scattered throughout the city.

I had a great time abroad at Yonsei Univeristy, Seoul South Korea with CIEE! It was really nice having the support from CIEE staff but also being able to independently explore and make my experience the way I wanted to. I liked meeting people from all over the world on this program. The only thing is that study abroad programs like this can create a bubble where it is harder to interact with local Koreans. Therefore, really push yourself to make those connections and talk in the local language! Since Korea has great technological advances, it is really convenient and easy to get around Seoul and neighboring districts. I definitely appreciated the efficient public transportation and customer-friendly GPS maps and used them to my advantage!

I did my study abroad program at Yonsei University in Seoul through CIEE in the Fall of 2021. Because COVID was still very prevalent, classes were remote. However, that did not make my experience any less memorable! CIEE had lots of programming, both on the weekend and weekdays, to ensure we were getting familiar with the city and other students. While there was no meal plan, meals at nearby restaurants or at campus cafeteria was both affordable and delicious! Finally, CIEE was supportive with academics even before the semester began by walking us through the class registration process. Later in the semester, there was a one-on-one check-in to ensure we were adjusting well academically and socially. It was really nice having that kind of institutional support when exploring and living in a city as exciting as Seoul.

As an Asian-American, this was my first time exploring Asia in my life. Coming to Seoul, I had limited knowledge of Korean (from a few courses I took in school), so I was nervous about how to navigate the region. However, CIEE had a Seoulmates program, where I was able to connect with local students and that had really improved my experience. I made many new friends and was introduced to many cultural experiences with them. I even made mini weekend trips to other parts of South Korea with my Seoulmates, which was amazing!

Korea's food is super yummy and affordable too -- I never had to cook or go grocery shopping during my time abroad. Definitely a great place to go if you're a foodie.

CIEE hosts many events throughout the semester, and I am grateful to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed each one I have attended — from cooking classes to archery cafes, from museums to excursions outside of Seoul, each activity was something I had always wanted to do, but perhaps wouldn’t think of during my time here. And to make the experiences all the more enriching, we are often accompanied by Seoulmates, who are local students that guide our small groups during the CIEE events. It was the best time of my life, and I wouldn't trade it for anything else.

I admit I had set the bar really high for my semester in Seoul, but I was not disappointed. It was just as beautiful and exciting as I expected. I didn't realize that Seoul itself had different provinces and that surprised me but made me more excited. When I got to the Collage Campus, I got lost because it was big and a little confusing, however, when I got used to it it was exciting just walking to class and see the changing season. My classes weren't all that hard and even if I had trouble the teachers were really understanding and helpful. I think the only thing that got me was the big language barrier, but I had both friends who could translate and the people would understand and switch to English. I loved my semester here and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to study abroad!

I really loved the program for my chance to get out of my small interconnected school and really see the world. Overtime in South Korea I sincerly developed a love for the nature and experience of being abroad and it wasn't significantly uncomfortable for me to be a minority. Of course, in the beginning I took longer on tasks than I would have in the states but it didn't take long for me to adapt and speed up my ability to function in a completely different society. One of my favorite things to do is identify all the unique plant and wildlife present. Its a lot more intriguing than reading from a textbook and its a unique experience for myself to actually get to see the material I'm learning about. Overall the experience was priceless and I can not wait to travel back!