Program Reviews

My decision to study abroad was one of best I have ever made; I challenged my comfort zone, gained a global perspective and learned how to become truly independent. One of the biggest contributors to my success abroad was the support system I had from CIS. There were negative and positive aspects to this program, but overall I am very satisfied with my choice.

Molly Bond was a great asset to have during the application process and was able to answer all of my questions and concerns about my visa! I also appreciated that CIS met us at the airport when we first arrived in Italy and arranged transportation to our apartments as it helped make that overwhelming day easier.

I ended up falling in love with the city of Florence instantly. I lived less than a 10 minute walk away from the breathtaking Duomo and the view of the Arno River from my classroom was incredible! I was able to travel to a number of different countries in Europe and cities in Italy such as Rome, Venice, Milan, Sorrento and Pisa and was amazed at the differences between each region! I also made it a priority however to fall in love with my host city and explore as much of Florence as I could. Studying abroad was a life changing experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

My personal favorite experience during my time in South Korea was participating in two homestays! The CISabroad coordinator for my program helped me set up homestays with two different families. I first stayed with a family that lived outside of Seoul, and they took me to places I would have never found as a foreign tourist. I learned about traditional Korean culture, wore their traditional dress(hanbok), visited a buddhist temple to have tea with a monk, went strawberry picking, and so much more! I also stayed with a girl my age who lived in Seoul, and she was my personal tour guide for all the major touristy spots as well as showing me some hidden gems in the city. She taught me how to make kimbap, helped me learn how to ride the bus system, and made me feel like I fit in as a young adult in Seoul. I know I have made lifelong connections with these people, and I am thankful to call them my friends. We often exchange pictures and stories from all our adventures, and I get to still be connected with my trip and the country even while I’m back in the states.

I had such an amazing time in Barcelona and Sorrento and it really changed me for the better. I was able to grow so much throughout the whole experience, and CISabroad made the entire trip not only easy to plan and organize but really fun. The program coordinators were always there for me and my friends, and they were so nice to us. The events organized were super fun, such as cooking classes, dance classes, and some optional trips. Barcelona was a great city to study in. There was so much to do and I barely needed to travel on weekends because Barcelona had everything I needed, including the beach and mountains. And Sorrento, Italy was so great for photography because of how stunning the Amalfi Coast was. Overall, my time abroad was one to remember, and I will definitely be recommending to all my friends looking for a summer abroad experience.

This past June, I attended Summer Session 1 in Greece under the program CISabroad. It is suffice to say that CISabroad provided excellent support in every part of my experience from the application process to being onsite and even when you're back home. Any concern I had was put at ease because the staff at CISabroad is amazing and helpful.

I was put in a beautiful apartment that had everything my roommates and I needed such as cooking appliances, a washing machine, towels, and much more. It was also within walking distance of the university we took classes at, so that was even more convenient. Also, the food was cheap which was very convenient, given that there was no meal plan included.

All in all, my experience was great and I got to live the most comfortable I could.

I absolutely loved my time abroad and I would recommend CIS to anyone going abroad. I was really nervous to go abroad because I didn't know anyone and it was a new place, but I am so glad that I did and so glad that I went out of my comfort shell. We had a point of contact we could always text for any reason, he took us out for free meals all the time, and we did about 2-3 weekend trips around Ireland where everything was included. It was very helpful to have a local as a contact point if we were ever lost or needed help with something. The trips that we went on were so much fun and I met some of my closest friends within the CIS program. We all got along and were like one big family. CIS definitely exceeded my expectations and I will never forget the experience I had.

The benefits of studying abroad are outstanding. In my time abroad, CIS provided academically stimulating environments, exciting excursions, and support for any of your needs. With CIS, the scary side affects of study abroad are lessened. Their support facilitated cultural immersion and allowed me to make the most out of my time in London and Barcelona. Afternoon tea, show on London's west end, a trip to the beautiful Calella, Spain, and a flamenco dance class is only of the few amazing experiences I had during my time abroad. My classes in both London and Barcelona inspired me and brought awareness to interests I never knew I had. Now that it is over, my experience has given me a new passion for learning and travel.I reccomend my program, or any time abroad to students everywhere.

While looking into study abroad programs, I knew I wanted a program that would give me the support I needed to fulfill my dream of studying in London. CISAbroad was so supportive of me every step of the way throughout the study abroad process. Before, during, and after my time abroad, CIS made sure I had the resources I needed to be successful. The on-site staff in London were phenomenal and were always willing to help my peers and I when needed. CISAbroad's planned excursions added so much depth to my experience, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I loved getting to meet other students from around the United States. I see myself staying in touch with some of these new friends for a lifetime, as we shared in such an unforgettable experience together. I would study abroad again with CIS in a heartbeat!

I loved my experience abroad and with CISAbroad. All of the staff was always willing to help. It was easy to schedule a phone appointment with staff before I left and the on-site staff was so supportive and always there to help if we needed her.

My host mom was the best . Carmen had 3 dogs which made it so much fun! She was a great cook and was always there to talk if I needed her. While I was there, she had two other students from other programs there as well, it was fun because we would all speak together in Spanish and talk about our days and weekend plans!

The only thing about my experience that was questionable about my experience was the university I attended. I loved my professors and my classmates, but the university itself was a little unorganized. They are a young university, but sometimes it took 30 minutes to an hour to begin an off-site activity because they were not organized.

The few months I spent in Edinburgh were truly some of the months of my life. I met so many wonderful people and instantly felt at home with the help of the amazing site director and the other students in the program. If I had the opportunity to go back I would in a heartbeat. There are so many opportunities to travel and the weekend trip to the Highlands was one of the highlights of my study abroad experience. There is so much to do and so much to see around Edinburgh - it is impossible to be bored! Simply taking a walk to Princes Street or to the Royal Mile offers you so many things to do. Pop into any cafe or the Starbucks on Princes Street (great view of the castle) or choose to discover some history with any one of the many free museums available.

In Spring 2018, I studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador with CISAbroad. I had such an amazing time. My absolute favorite thing was all the planned trips CISAbroad sent us on. I became very close with the other people in my program this way. It was very important for me to always be doing something so these planned trips were very helpful. I also LOVED my host family I stayed with. They made me feel like home even though I was abroad I met the whole entire family and was regularly invited to family outings. I still talk to my host family on Whatsapp regularly. I was able to experience so much such as the history of Ecuador, all the different food they eat there, city life, and so much more. I would not have had such an amazing time if it were not for CISAbroad.