Program Reviews

My summer semester abroad in Florence was a great experience. I loved immersing myself into a foreign country and getting into the flow of the culture, foods, and day-to-day life in Florence. On the weekends I enjoyed going on short trips and being able to see many different parts of Italy. I feel that visiting a country versus staying in the country for a month gives a very different experience and understanding of the place. Studying abroad is something that I hope I can do again.

Getting the opportunity to study abroad in Spain for a semester through the CCIS program was the opportunity of a lifetime. I had never traveled outside of the United States before, so this trip meant a lot to me. I learned about another culture and language completely different from the United States which broadened my horizon. I had the opportunity to travel to other parts of Europe and even North Africa! I absolutely loved the trips that CCIS sponsored. Those trips gave us the opportunity to experience life in such a beautiful different way. I often wish I could relive this time of my life over and over again. To the future participants: pack light, travel as much as you can, and HAVE FUN because the time passes faster than you think! Thank you CCIS for investing in my dream!

I absolutely loved this program! I have always wanted to study abroad and doing it through CCIS was perfect because it was 1. affordable and 2. fit right in with my summer schedule. I decided to go to Buenos Aires because I took 6 years of spanish in high school but I really want to work abroad and live in another country after graduation. My spanish skills were good, but nowhere near te conversational fluency I desired so what better than to live in another country that speaks it in order to get better?? My homestay was the greatest, my host mom was the best cook and we frequently had conversations while doing it together, she is like my Argentinian Grandmother and has said I am always welcome back to stay in her home when I return. The academics at the uni were rigorous, but very doable. I felt empowered and encourage, you really get out of it what you put into it. For fun, there was always a lot to explore, I love to just walk around and wander. I feel like you get to see more of the city that way, and you really get to experience the culture. The best part of the whole trip I believe was the friends I made. I am a Christian, and my church has a couple campuses all over the world, including one in Buenos Aires. I was able to be on the photo team when I was there, which was an absolutely incredible experience. I also met lifelong friends there as well who text me all the time wondering when I am coming back. It was hard at the beginning to make friends I will admit, since I am a shy person, but it was definitely worth it. Becoming friends with locals is the best decision you can make, for sure. By reaching out and meeting people, I felt, and I know you would too, that you are actually LIVING in the city rather than just being a student. And that goes for anywhere you choose to study abroad too. Locals live there, know all the cool spots, the shops to hit up and the underground bars with the best burgers in the city.

I totally fell in love with Buenos Aires when I was there, and coming back to New York City seemed the worst idea. But it wasn't actually as bad as I expected. Being away made me appreciate my city even more, for what it is. Seeing two major cities from two completely different parts of the world made me realize the differences and also the similarities between cultures and what makes all of them unique. In order to have the best time anywhere you go you have to be willing to live like a local and embrace the culture for what it is. Go dance tango even if it isn't your thing, try an asado even if you're not the biggest steak person. Walk in the park even if you're normally a homey person, and SPEAK THE LANGUAGE!!! You'll find that you got a whole lot more out of it, and enjoyed yourself a ton more if you do something that scares you every day.

Studying abroad is definitely one of the greatest decisions I have ever made. If you don't have a lot of money but still want to do it, I still encourage you to try. I am in that position, I pay for college and everything out of pocket, so I get it if your family can't help you pay for things. But save all your pennies and take out a loan for what you can't cover, I did and I dont regret it at all, not even a little bit. I wish you so much luck, whoever is reading this right now, go explore the world!!!

I absolutely love this city!!! Also, the faculty is really nice and understanding, we have planned city trips almost every weekend, and the classes aren't difficult at all. Seriously, I would 10/10 recommend this program. I was one of 26 students, so it's a good amount of people to be traveling with. I'm one month into this program, and I wish I could stay forever! Useful tip: don't over pack, you will want to blend in with the culture so you will want to buy clothes here. Also, it gets cold at night so I would recommend a heavy jacket.

This program offered by CCIS was one that truly changed my life. I made life-long friends, traveled plenty of cities in Europe and was free to have as much fun as I wanted. Classes were very connected, you were able to engage and conversate with the professors. People were kind and welcoming. The cities we were located in were filled with a vibrant nightlife as well as traditional European living. I find it that I grew as a student, tourist, and human while I studied in this program. I find myself more knowledgeable than all my peers when it comes to the EU and how it plays a role in the global atmosphere. While on the trip, I got to learn from the other people in the program who were from Mexico, the Philippines, China, Morocco, Isreal and Hong Kong. So it wasn't just a European experience, I got to learn a lot about different cultures and people. I definitely recommend this program to anyone who wants to have fun, learn a lot, travel a lot, and engage in further expanding your horizons.

I left for study abroad not knowing anyone else who was going and I left with lots of great friends from all over the world that I still keep in touch with after leaving! It was the best experience ever because it pushed me out of my comfort zone and I was allowed to see how other cultures lived. It opened my eyes to different ways of living that I now incorporate into my own life back at home. I gained a greater sense of sensitivity towards others, awareness of my surroundings and responsibilities in all aspects. I couldn't be happier with my decision and I do not carry one ounce of regret. If I could, I would do it all over in a heartbeat!!

My motto going in was to not allow money to get in the way of anything!! Whether that was going out to eat, traveling, different activities, night outs with friends. This is a once in a life time experience and I didn't want money to get in the way of that. I can now look back and know that I did everything I wanted without missing out. I didn't want to regret not having an experience just because I didn't want to "waste" money. It was never a "waste".

I had high expectations going into this study abroad program and and I left without all expectations being met or surpassed! From the daily conversations with my host mother, classmates and random Austrians to traveling all over Europe (Croatia, Slovenia, Ireland, Northen Ireland, England, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and all over Austria), I had the time of my life! I recommend this program to everyone wanting to study abroad in Europe, because I’d gladly do it at Salzburg College again!