Program Reviews

Having the opportunity to live in Australia for 4 amazing months is thanks to CISabroad. Every day I felt excited to see and experience something new. The CISabroad team helped me through the application process, and continued to be there even once I got back. The onsite staff felt like a family. They helped through ups and downs, and made sure we were always safe and happy. My favorite parts were the excursions that were provided by the program, but also the separate excursions I took on my own. They were a great way to get to know the other students in the program, as well as assimilate ourselves into the culture. It wasn't long before I started to feel like a true Aussie! Bond University is an amazing school. There is a lot of diversity, helpful faculty, and amazing facilities. I met so many people along the way; both on campus and off. The memories I made in Australia will stick with me forever! I can't wait to go back and reunite with friends! Thanks to CISabroad for the best experience of my life.

When you tell people your ethnicity, do you really know what that entails?
Last fall, I got to experience four months in the place my grandmother, and other relatives lived. Italy. Being Italian American, I had always wished to go to Italy to see what exactly it meant to be Italian. Luckily, I couldn't have experienced it any better, thanks to CISabroad. CISabroad had blessed me with such a phenomenal experience, and as I studied in Rome, I was also learning the culture, food, politics, and social happenings, thanks to my amazing CISabroad advisor. During my stay, I even had the opportunity to play for a football club, competing with and against local Roman men! I have never felt so confident meeting people, going places, and seeing things, and I owe it all to CISabroad.

Going into my semester abroad, I was super nervous about living in another country, especially without a support system. CISabroad calmed my nerves right away! From the very start of the trip they picked me up from the airport and helped me get settled into my apartment, and throughout the entirety of it they checked in and were always available for help and advice. Another thing I loved about CISabroad was the housing and school situation they placed me in. I was put into an apartment with other international students, making it extremely easy to meet lifelong friends. The location was in a family-friendly, safe, and centrally located area in Barcelona which I would not have traded for the world! As for the school, I attended the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and instantly made lasting connections with my professors and fellow classmates. CISabroad gave me the opportunity to safely explore the beautiful city of Barcelona for four months while meeting amazing people and growing everyday. Overall, I would not have done my semester abroad any different and I have CISabroad to thank for this!

I loved my experience with CIS abroad. From the time I arrived to the time I left it was truly unforgettable. Excursions, housing, and academics were excellent. I could not have chosen a better country or time to go abroad! They helped me along the way and gave me the tools I needed. Veritas is a small university located just outside the Heart of San Jose. San Jose is surrounded by mountains and volcanos. Every weekend you can take an excursion to the beach or the rainforest. There are endless possibilities. The academics are great. The department is small and so are the classes so the teachers get to give a lot of one on one attention. The class dynamic is also very flexible. The host families will become like your second family quickly. They not only help you learn Spanish but introduce and immerse you in the culture from food to music to dancing. It will be an unforgettable experience.

Bond University has such a welcoming and beautiful feeling to its campus and the members of their community. I made dozens of healthy relationships with people from all over the world who came together at Bond Uni and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Looking back now, jumping into their community and this journey with an open mind and positive attitude shed a new light into my life. I went through such a positive and enjoyable adventure while learning in and outside of the classroom, but most importantly about myself. One of the biggest takeaways for me is that I truly fell in love with learning. It may have been the beautiful Australians or the perfect weather, or a combination of those two and more, but picking up new hobbies or learning more about other cultures and groups is such a privilege. I pick up every local magazine I can find now, and try to chat with someone new each day. All for the love of learning! Now, a month and a half after returning to New Hampshire I can only smile as I just went through this amazing learning experience where I met hundreds of beautiful and genuine people along the way. I am incredibly thankful for everyone involved with this trip and the people are the ones who truly make the difference!

My semester in Limerick was absolutely amazing, I have so many memories that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. I, like others, was nervous about going abroad, but the support I received both before and during my program was outstanding. CIS Abroad really makes sure that you are doing ok, and checks in often. If I ever needed anything, I didn't hesitate to ask! I am so happy that I chose the Limerick program because it was a more authentic experience in my book. Don't get me wrong, Dublin was really cool, but I personally liked being in a smaller city. I felt like I could really connect with the locals. The University of Limerick was great, I really loved all of my classes. It was a little confusing at first because the Irish education system is a bit different than that of America, but I got the hang of it pretty quick! The awesome thing about being an international student at UL is that you get several weeks to try out your classes before registering for them. I liked this because I could go to a few that I was unsure about to see how I felt before committing to them. There are also a lot of opportunities, both with CIS Abroad and the University, to travel around Ireland. Let's face it, while it is so tempting to start traveling to other European countries right away (although I highly recommend you do) it is nice to get to know your country as well. CIS Abroad has onsite directors that organize meals and excursions around Ireland, so you get an insiders look at the beautiful country. I loved that these excursions were an option for us, because it allowed me to see Ireland while taking away the stress of planning the trip. Overall, this was an amazing program, and I wish I could have stayed longer!

I am so grateful for my experience studying abroad in London at the University of Roehampton with CISabroad. The CISabroad team was incredibly patient, knowledgeable and helpful throughout the entire process. I always felt taken care of, and encouraged in my study abroad endeavor. Onsite accommodations were awesome. I chose standard housing and was placed in Bede House with four other CISabroad students. I had my own room, and was provided with bedding and a kitchen set, making moving into my ew space easy. Classes at Roehampton were eye opening, challenging, and engaging. I took part in two "London Studies" courses that specifically encourage international students to explore the city. My two onsite advisors, Anna Bermani and Linda Hallback were absolute inspirations. Both of them worked very hard to customize our experience, and ensured our interests and concerns were always taken care of. Our excursions ranged from market tours on Southbank to a weekend in Edinbrough. I can easily say that these trips with CISabroad enhanced my experience exponentially. Overall I am forever thankful for this life changing experience, which was so much more achievable with the support of CISabroad.

I chose CISabroad because this program looked amazing and my school would only allow two people through the school. I did the program with my bestie Krystal and throughout the process we were guided by one of the advisors. CISabroad is very helpful and get back to you immediately. I enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to worry about housing and if I had any concerns there are people to help you. I had such a great time in Kyoto and I made so many friends in the University as well as the program! There are a lot of things to do in Kyoto like going to the Pokemon center or getting dinner at an Nepalese restaurant. I went to the Nepalese restaurant so many times and I highly recommend it, especially if CISabroad puts you in the Rapport residence because its a 5 minute walk from there. CISabroad provided fun activities for us to do and if I hadn't done this program I would miss out on some special spots in the Kansai region.

Dublin is such an amazing city. It's very multi-cultural, so you'll run into and get to know people from all over the world. I met people from South Africa, Brazil, fellow Americans, and people from all across Europe. Everyone in Ireland is extremely welcoming and friendly. They love to hear all about you and tell you all about themselves. They're truly fascinating people. CisAbroad did an amazing job at making sure that the students would be helped in making sure that we had everything we needed to do or have before we left, when we were there, and even helped us to re-acclimate ourselves to being home. CisAbroad has on-site advisors in each of the countries it has programs in, which is very helpful in case you have questions about certain things or need a guide for figuring out the city. The program also provides cultural excursion trips which let us visit different places in Ireland with the safety of a group and guide. Our on-site advisor in Ireland was great and such a friendly guy. My time in Ireland was the most memorable time of my life thanks to the help of CisAbroad.

This was an incredible journey I embarked on in the Fall of 2018. I headed to London, nervous, excited, and ready for a great experience. What I got was the best 14 weeks of my life, thanks to a great location, school, and CIS abroad. CIS does an amazing job helping you apply, prepare, live abroad, and even return home. The entire experience feels like you're on your own still, and you gain a lot of independence, but its comforting to know CIS staff is always ready to lend a helping hand. Studying abroad should not be a pain, and they understand that and want you to get the best out of your time. Included excursions were some of my favorite memories of studying abroad. Seeing the highlands of Scotland and exploring the U.K including Brighton are times that stick with me looking back. Anytime I had minor problems, with financial aid or in life, the support I received allowed me to feel completely comfortable adjusting into London. It truly is incredible and I am so grateful for CISabroad and the wonderful University of Roehampton, which had a great campus life and international student population. London center is a close distance and something I miss looking back. I am so glad I cherished every moment, the highs and lows, all making for an unforgettable experience.