Program Reviews

In short, studying abroad in Sorrento is more than just an academic endeavor; it’s a chance to grow personally and culturally in one of the most beautiful corners of the world. The combination of high-quality education, breathtaking scenery, and rich cultural experiences makes Sorrento an unforgettable destination for any student.

Beyond academics, Sorrento offers an unparalleled cultural experience. The town is renowned for its friendly locals, who are eager to share their traditions and cuisine. From tasting authentic limoncello to exploring ancient ruins and picturesque islands like Capri, you'll find endless opportunities to immerse yourself in Italian culture.

I would a million times recommend this experience. I did the 10-week program. The first 5 weeks I did a class for my major and the second 5 weeks I did a social media and marketing internship with an art gallery in Sorrento, Italy. Sant'Anna Institution was very helpful in getting me set up with my internship. The staff was so friendly and became an integral part of my experience. I can't speak highly enough about this program. Seriously it was the best decision I have ever made for myself. I was nervous about doing 10 weeks as opposed to 5 but I took a leap of faith not knowing anyone going on the program and leaving my family for the longest I had been away from home. I now look back on this experience with absolutely no regrets. You get to experience things and places some people will never experience in their lifetime. I will forever be grateful for the people I met from all over the world (actually) and the beautiful destinations I visited. One of my favorite parts about CIS was their encouragement to travel outside of just Sorrento. I took full advantage of being in Europe and got to go to Greece, Switzerland, and Croatia. It was very common for students to go to different places for a long weekend and that to me was one of my favorite parts. The dorm life at Sant'Anna was amazing. The rooms were newly renovated and we had a beautiful view of Marina Grande outside our window. I would 100% recommend staying in the dorms. I got to meet so many other students and it was very convenient for class and other activities that the school hosted. The onsite directors Frankie and Emma were AMAZING!! They were so awesome in organizing different activities for CIS students and I learned that was not common with other programs as some students didn't get to do the things we did. Some of these activities include an Amalfi Coast boat tour, kayaking, pizza pizza-making class and a winery tour that were all included in the cost of CIS Abroad. Overall, I could talk about this experience for days and there isn't a single day I don't think about this life-changing experience. It is worth more than the Instagram pictures and crazy stories, but is one of finding myself, cultural appreciation, life lessons, culture shock, independence, and growing into the person I am today.

With CIS Abroad, I was able to experience many sides of Tokyo, not just the touristy, overcrowded areas. Housing was located in a quiet neighborhood, and the campus was near busy Shinjuku. The onsite staff were so kind and went out of their way to help us when we needed it. They also gave us the freedom to explore Tokyo (and Japan, for that matter) safely, but without making us feel like children. I would recommend this for a self-guided person who does not want to be required to attend mandatory outings.

Rome itself was a beautiful city rich with history, good food, and the hustle of city life that I was looking for. The public transportation made daily life very easy and the small size of the program and school I was studying in provided a closer community that made such a big city feel close knit. The classes I was taking were both interesting and of low difficulty allowing for ample time to actually enjoy myself. Cost of living was also lower than I have experienced in the States. The program also provided many excursions and dinners that provided experiences I would not have otherwise had if I were planning everything myself. The location of housing they provided was exactly where one would want to be while visiting Rome and was amongst locals to receive a full immersive experience.

Encapsulating my study abroad experience is nearly impossible. The time, experiences, people, and places I had the honor and pleasure of meeting and visiting were bountiful. Words could never possibly capture the human experience however, as a creative writer, this is truly something I attempt to perfect with every poem, essay, and short story that leaks out of my fingers and onto a white pixelated screen.
Firenze, Italia was my home for only a few months and yet I know the changes I experienced have taken residence deep within my new persona.
In order to fully appreciate Italy, I made conscious efforts to try and eat different regional dishes (made easy and affordable with the meal plan provided by The Social Hub), visit different cities small and large. Such as Prato, the most important manufacturing town in Italy, an experience provided to me by CISAbroad. But I also went on my own excusions too, like visiting Rome and Milan. I took an Italian class offered by my chosen university to make every attempt at conversing with the locals when ordering a meal or asking for the price of a cute handmade trinket.
I made sure the classes I attended at FUA (Florence University of the Arts) were specific to trades or passions of Italy. Examples of this were Wine Marketing and Fashion Marketing to satisfy marketing electives for my Marketing Major. And "Florentine Literary Walks" and "Love Letters by Great Men and Women" to satisfy English electives for my Creative Writing Major.
CISAbroad provided mentors to guide me. Like gifting me advice on which grocery stores to buy food from, where to buy hangers or notebooks, where to buy authentic leather, and which bars to avoid sleazy men. My program coordinators created activities to keep me busy and introduce me to other study-abroad students in my same program and new experiences, such as visiting small towns near Florence, local pastry shops, and even the Gucci Gardens!
Another activity I was super happy to do in Italy was to attend a concert. Something I'd highly recommend trying to experience if you chose to study abroad. I saw Pinguini Tattici Nucleari (a super popular band in Italy that had over 35 concerts within Italy that all sold out!) live in Bologna and Alfa (He does a duet with RosaLynn from the song Snap, I'm sure you have heard of it) in Florence. Just a 30 minute tram ride from TSH. As someone who has been to over fifteen concerts in the United States within the past two years, one of them being Taylor Swift, let me just say the Italians know how to 'concert' properly. It was the grandest experience to be so wholly immersed with natives and their language and culture at full height.
Italy was such a delightful life-changing experience I still cannot believe I was so lucky to experience it.

I think that this is an experience that everyone should experience. Everyone in Thailand was so incredibly sweet and you meet so many amazing people. The culture and community is something I urge everyone to be involved in. I felt safe walking home at night, I felt accepted and cared for by the people, and I was able to make connections for my career. The program and university itself were so incredibly welcoming and provided great activities for students. Along with program trips, I was able to travel outside of the program and make my own personal experiences!

After spending six months traveling, learning, and experiencing, I am happy to share that studying abroad has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life and learning career. I was able to meet people who shared my passion for exploring and learning, as well as be inspired by the community within the CIS program to see things and participate in activities I never would have thought of otherwise. The people I met while living in the CIS provided flat, combined with the group activities sponsored by the onsite coordinators made the experience so much more enjoyable and really made the transition to living in another country significantly easier.

Throughout my time in Sorrento with CIS, we were able to experience so many incredible things that I never thought I would be able to experience. Between a gorgeous boat tour to Amalfi to incredible dinners, it truly was the best five weeks of my life. I met so many incredible people from all over the United States and got to see the most breathtaking places. Italy truly is one of the most stunning places I have ever been to and the food was incredible. All around, the five weeks I spent in Sorrento with CIS were some of the best weeks of my life and I would do anything to be back.

This was my first time in Europe, and I am so glad it was with CIS. Going abroad can be nerve-wracking, especially if it is your first time, but I had an unforgettable experience. Barcelona is an amazing city with so many things to do and see and I never once was bored while I was there. Having a CIS on-site director in Barcelona the whole time I was there was great. She planned awesome excursions for us and was there if we needed, but also let us be independent and learn things about ourselves at the same time. You could tell she really cared for her students and wanted to ensure they had the best of times. I made some of the best memories in Barcelona and am itching to go back, I would recommend it to anyone!!

My semester in Barcelona was everything I hoped for and more! Through my program, I met so many lifelong friends from all different backgrounds. I got to immerse myself into the Spanish culture by trying new traditional foods, taking a daily Spanish course, attending Universitat De Barcelona, and traveling to different regions of Spain. Through the program CIS, I got to experience so many amazing activities and excursions that were included in my semester tuition. This included a cooking class where we learned to make a famous traditional Spanish dish, Paella. A weekend trip to Grenada, in the South of Spain was also included along with many more amazing trips!