Affordable, Comprehensive Study and Intern Abroad Programs

Studying in Barcelona had been a dream! I took classes in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, and Spanish Art and Cultural Heritage at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. My 7 weeks in that paradise were filled with exploration, inspiration, and so much fun. From amazing people to the delicious cuisine, and stunning architecture to the colorful culture, Spain should be at the top of the must-visit countries list. My favorite activity, besides spending my day at the beach, was wandering around the city without a map and being amazed by the beauty hidden in every corner of Barcelona. Thanks to the Spanish Art and Cultural Heritage class, I learned even more about this impressive history and culture. CIS helped me through every step of adapting to studying and living in Barcelona. They planned fun events for us, such as various tours in famous parts of Barcelona, beach picnic and volleyball, wine tasting, tours to towns in Spain, and cooking classes. I stayed at Aparto Pallars, which is conveniently located near the metro station, from which you can take the metro anywhere. I'm so grateful for this experience, and I'm definitely willing to go back to Barcelona or any other program with CIS!

I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad with CIS Abroad in Thailand during the fall of 2024, and I can confidently say that it was an experience of a lifetime. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to broaden their horizons. The on-site staff were exceptional, offering unwavering support throughout the entire journey. Their dedication truly made a difference. The cultural richness of Thailand is something I’ll never forget. Thanks to CIS Abroad, I was able to explore countless temples, enjoy local cuisine, and visit beautiful islands and vibrant cities. One of the program’s standout features is its encouragement for students to travel and immerse themselves in new experiences. The staff not only helped prepare us for academics but also ensured we felt confident navigating the country independently. This experience reshaped my perspective on the world. I had the privilege of meeting people from diverse backgrounds, which allowed me to learn and grow in ways I never expected. I also gained a sense of confidence that I didn’t know I needed, thriving in an unfamiliar environment where communication was often challenging due to language barriers. CIS Abroad goes above and beyond to support its students. From teaching about local culture to offering academic assistance (specific to Thailand), they foster an environment of growth and opportunity. Their consistent communication throughout the semester was invaluable. I wholeheartedly recommend CIS Abroad. It’s more than just an academic program—it’s a transformative experience that will empower you to truly live your best life while exploring the world.

I love studying in South Korea! It was a bit of a culture shock when I arrived as this trip was a lot of firsts for me, like my first plane ride, time in an airport, and trip outside the country! The sunrises are beautiful, and the Cherry Blossom season is one of a kind. As a picky eater, Korea helped me find more foods to try and experiences I liked. If I had to do something different, I would travel more independently and get lost through exploring. The biggest advice I have is to give it a fair shot and do it. There will be moments when you'll get frustrated with not knowing what to expect, but take those in stride and be patient with yourself.

I was hesitant to study abroad for the first time and CIS Abroad exceeded my expectations. CIS Abroad is there to make all steps in your study abroad journey as seamless as possible. The application process is simple and straightforward, and if you have any questions they are always there to help and respond quickly. During the pre-departure meetings, and onsite orientation I knew that I was going to be okay, and this was going to be a journey I would never forget. Arriving in Florence with CIS Abroad, they truly made you feel at home, and the onsite directors were so friendly towards all of us. Without CIS Abroad there to help, my journey would not been of amazing as it was.

Studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan for a month was the most amazing time of my life. I was quite anxious to go to Japan especially since it was going to be my first time leaving the US and flying by myself, however, I received incredible and immense support from the on-site program directors. Being immersed in Japanese culture through program activities like kimono wearing, calligraphy, tea ceremony, and just interacting with locals overall was wonderful. I was able to make friendships with some Japanese students which was so nice because they showed me beautiful places and foods to try. Not only did I make become friends with Japanese students, I also became close with the other study abroad students so I often went out to explore and have tons of fun with them everyday. Waking up everyday in Japan brought so much excitement because there is so much to see and do so I NEVER felt bored. As for Seisen University, the campus I attended in Tokyo, was beautiful and quiet. It was only a short train ride and walk away from my accommodation, so maybe a 20 minute commute. However, it is on a hill so it was quite a workout to walk to campus from the train station especially with the really hot and humid weather during the summer months. Then, the teachers were great! They were really interactive, entertaining, and passionate about what they were teaching. Since it was a summer program that only lasted a month, the courses were very fast paced especially the Japanese language courses. Also, the Japanese students were super friendly and kind and I always enjoyed talking to them and eating lunch with them. It was truly fascinating learning from them and I learning from them about our lives. Overall, I definitely recommend studying abroad with Cis abroad and choosing one of their Japan programs. It was a decision that I was highly doubting before I went but after experiencing it, I have no regrets at all and am very grateful for it. It is an opportunity that I wish everyone to experience.

The School for International Studies through CIS abroad was the most perfect program for me. The program is three months long which is a little shorter than most programs however it is great for someone who is on trimesters, is nervous about getting homesick, or like myself- wants to travel for a while before their summer job starts. The academic coursework was challenging in a way that was incredibly rewarding. The professors don't give you hours of studying and homework to do because they understand that you are there to travel just as much as you are to take classes. I took several classes on the history of Spain and Barcelona and I learned more than I have from any professor or school because after learning about things like Gaudi's style of architecture we went out into the city and got a first hand experience by seeing things like casa batllo. My professors were so engaging, entertaining, and helpful, I still keep in contact with many of them today. They helped me to learn the rich and diverse history and context of the city I was living in. The CIS staff on sight at SIS was incredibly helpful in getting students involved in the Catalan culture and making us feel comfortable. It can be frustrating trying to get a hold of them before you go abroad for questions but as soon as you step foot in Barcelona the staff is ready to help out any time of the day. Whether it is a safety concern, you are sick and don't know where to go, or you are struggling in your classes the staff at CIS can help put you on the right track. The trips and activities (which are included in the cost of your tuition) are absolutely amazing and everything is paid for. My semester we went on two overnight trips, Sevilla and Zaragoza, where the food, accommodations, and planned activities were all paid for. We also went to the Dali museum, took a cooking class, and went out to dinner with our CIS mentor- all completely paid for by the initial cost of your program. This was absolutely amazing, especially for someone who wanted to experience Spain on a tight budget. As far as housing, I stayed in a shared room/ shared apartment with American students from other programs. This gave me the opportunity to get to know people outside of just the school I was studying at. The apartment I stayed in was in an amazing location and we had everything we needed (washing machine, dishes, bedding, towels). Our apartment was very close to a metro stop however most days I walked about 15 minutes to class to get to know my way around the city better. The CIS on site coordinators were available 24/7 through a cell phone in case of any emergency. I never felt unsafe in my apartment or walking around the city. I also purchased the international health insurance both through my home university and through CIS. I never thought I would need it but when I got sick while traveling outside of Spain, I was happy that I had insurance. The appointments, tests, and medication I received were completely free of charge and I visited a private travelers clinic where they spoke english and I had absolutely no wait time. Overall I think the CIS School for International Studies program in Barcelona is amazing for anyone who wants to travel a ton and get the most out of what you pay for. The only suggestion I would make is that about 2-3 times throughout the semester we had class on Friday. I had wished that our overnight trips were on the weeks where we had class on Friday because it was kind of difficult to travel out of the country on those weekends with Friday class. I ended up staying in Barcelona those weekends though which was a great decision so that I could take some time to get to know the city I was staying in and experience the weekend night life in Barna.

Costa Rica was truly the experience of a lifetime for me. As someone who is an environmental science major, this country spoke so near and dear to my heart as they are very environmentally oriented overall and really are striving to keep their forests thriving. I had the sweetest host mom, an absolutely amazing site director, great university staff and I made some of the greatest friends on my trip, not to mention the vast number of breathtaking places I got to visit during my summer in Costa Rica. I have gained such an appreciation for the Spanish language and can speak more now than I ever could before! And I truly fell in love with the Costa Rican culture - Pura Vida!

During my four months in Cusco, Peru, I was able to gain experiences and memories I never thought possible. I studied abroad with CISabroad as my program, and the support I received was amazing. Every question I had before leaving for my trip was thoroughly answered, and I felt more than prepared. While in Peru, I loved being able to take courses that were drastically different from those that are traditionally offered here in the U.S., such as Healing and Shamanism. I was able to travel all over the country and experience different ecosystems including the desert in Huacachina, the Amazon rain forest in Puerto Maldonado, the coast in Paracas, the cloud forest at Machu Picchu, and various Incan ruins throughout the country. We also hiked (all the way up to 14,000 feet!), went horseback riding, and volunteered at schools, an animal shelter and an orphanage. I think the best part about studying abroad is learning to love the culture shock and being in new situations you may never have thought you’d be in but are so glad you had the privilege to experience. Overall, studying abroad was one of the best experiences of my life.

Overall my experience with this program was excellent. My transition was very smooth and i was always comfortable and safe even when I kept questioning my decision of studying abroad on my last fall semester of college. As I am back on home university I don't regret my decision at all. This program gave experiences that you would never gain anywhere else by giving you the opportunity to engage with the community and also apply what you learned in the classroom to the outside world. It was difficult because we didn't get enough interaction with other Peruvian university student besides those that we had in our tandem session which were for students who were trying to practice there English or Spanish. Maybe it was just my group but we were pretty small with only 10 people which was nice but we lacked the ability to be more diverse in the international and national student. But if you are looking for a program that isnt too overwhelming and that gives you opportunities to interact with outside communities but also still have the ability to learn in spaces with other who are also international student this is a great program for that. I would also want to mention that besides the academics with the program you are able to go on excursions for free or for a reduced price, in my time in Cusco i got a trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu included in my program.

I spent Fall of 2019 studying at RMIT University in Vietnam. This was an amazing experience for my first time in an Asian country. Vietnam is a place full of culture and history. Being with the locals, going hiking, meeting interns from other countries, and meeting my closest friends is something I will never forget! The cultural experience that I had was unbeatable. School wise, my course at RMIT were not that challenging for me and structured differently than in the States. I recommend taking more classes than suggested if you want a harder course load, or use your free time to really explore Saigon, its food, and interact with the locals just as I did.

Studying abroad completely opened my mind to so many different ideas, cultures, values, ways of speaking, and ways of life as a whole. In choosing to study abroad in Australia, I initially did not expect it to be entirely different from the United States. However, I was shocked to quickly learn that this was a whole new world from what I was used to! For one thing, "uni" (as Australians call college/university) is very self-paced and independent. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that lectures were recorded and posted online, so if you missed one (or if you learn better by watching the video, as I do), you can still be caught up. I thought that this was really cool- my school at home does not do this, and I feel like it caters to multiple styles of learning. In this way, I experienced a new method of learning at school, which was really exciting. I also became familiar with the Aussie lingo. Initially, I did not think that there would be any language barrier- Australians do speak English, after all! Again, I was surprised. It took me a few weeks to really get familiar with the way that Australians speak, as they tend to speak quickly and use a lot of slang that I had never heard of. This was SO cool, because I felt as though I was almost picking up another language. Now that I'm home, I don't stop using the expressions that I've learned (probably to the annoyance of my family and friends who wish that they, too, could have experienced it firsthand;)). The most important part of studying abroad to me, though, was meeting so many amazing people from all over the world. JCU hosts many international students, so I not only met people from Australia, but I also met people from Germany, Italy, India, Mexico, and Austria- just to name a few. Meeting people from all over the world gave me so much insight that I never could have gained had I chosen to not study abroad. I have definitely found that I have been heavily influenced by the ideas of my international peers. To me, this is a really good thing- I have become a very open-minded person, and I find it easier to relate with other people who are different from me. In this way, I have seen studying abroad as a huge growing experience for me, as I have definitely become a more well-rounded person from it. I highly suggest that you study abroad, because it will truly open your eyes to how big the world truly is, and it will help you to achieve personal growth in ways that you did not even know were possible. Studying abroad is absolutely the best thing that you can do during your college years, so take advantage of the opportunity!

I was lucky enough to study abroad on the Gold Coast last fall. Choosing to go abroad with CISabroad was one of the best decisions that I made! The site director Jackie Chapman was incredible! She made us feel at home during orientation and continuously checked in on us throughout the semester! She introduced me to some of best friends who I still keep in touch with today! The program set up trips to Byron Bay, to markets around the Gold Coast and paid for coffee meet ups with other students so we could get to know each other! I did a ton of traveling and the CIS staff was super helpful with recommendations and making sure we stayed in groups! I would recommend this program to anyone considering studying on the Gold Coast!

To anyone considering a study abroad experience, it is one of the greatest college opportunities that can be right in front of you. Going abroad with CIS not only gave me many opportunities that I never knew I had right in front of me but they also provide many opportunities for scholarships to help pay for the program expenses, a new passport and travel expenses. Going from a small town in high school to the University of South Carolina was a big step for me, taking on the opportunity to travel to Greece never having been out of the US before has made my college experience that much greater. The CIS Abroad - Summer in Greece Session II was a three week long study abroad which took place during July of my Junior year summer. Spending time in a place where you have no idea any of your surroundings and getting to know 10-15 new people where everyone is just as long became some of the best bonding time of my college career. I was given the opportunity to room with 5 other people in a town filled with all Greeks to where we were immersed straight into the culture. CIS didn't house us in an apartment in a touristy area. Being straight in the middle of Athens CIS still put us in a local community surrounded by grocery stores, pharmacies, homestyle restaurants, chained Greek restaurants and many other available options right there at our finger tips. CIS also provided us with opportunities to do things as a group included in our program fees to make us feel at home to be guided around by a local working for CIS. I have already considered trying to find a way to do another study abroad program through CIS during my senior year!

There truly aren't words to describe the happiness I experienced while abroad in Cusco this past summer. I learned so much about who I am while being on a different continent than my family. I learned that I wasn't actually away from family, but right at home with my homestay family. Tania and Sandro took me in and made me feel like one of their own, and almost 4 months after coming back to the states I think I talk about them every single day. The culture exudes from every street corner in Cusco. Hundreds of years of cultures comes off the pages of a textbook we read in the United States and becomes real life while you walk through La Plaza de Armas or down Avenida La Cultura. From Mercado San Pedro to Sacsayhuaman, I could not imagine my experience anywhere else. CISabroad allowed me to foster independence while still providing every support needed to ensure my safety.

I spent this last semester in Dublin with the CISabroad program and I loved every minute of it. The CIS staff was amazing through the process and so ready to answer any and all of my questions. And our on-site program director was absolutely amazing! He was always there to check in on us and if we had any questions he was one phone call away at all times. He also knew so much about Dublin, and Ireland in general. He was like our Irish dad, always watching out for us. The university that I attended was also really nice, they had a large number of international students and a lot of events and clubs tailored towards all of us. I got to meet people from so many other countries through their events. The university also had a variety of classes available for me to take, and it was cool because I was in classes with other Irish students. For a couple classes, I was the only international student there. So I was really able to learn from those Irish students, and see what their courses are like, how their schedules work, and how their programs are set up. The best part of my time in Ireland was definitely the friendships I made with my other CISabroad program-mates. There weren't many of us, but we all became so close. I still talk to many of them everyday and I miss them all so much. I would highly recommend this program, or any CISabroad program, to anyone wanting to study abroad. You will be well prepared to go, well taken care of while there, and you will be with some of the greatest people you will ever meet!

My time in London and Barcelona was phenomenal. The experience of studying abroad gives a surreal feeling of personal growth right before your eyes. Being in metropolitan cities, I was exposed to the home culture, but also culture from immigrants and refugees all over the world. It is the opportunities like this that will better my character and allow me to make a difference in the future. I encourage students everywhere to follow their interests and study abroad.

Barcelona is an amazing city in itself, but exploring it through the immersive classes alongside the CIS staff made it twice as good. We did so many cool activities, went on awesome excursions, and got a real inside view on what life is like in Barcelona through all the program events that were included, almost all at no extra cost. Everyone from CIS was so nice and personable, I think we all felt like we had become friends by the end of the three months. I never felt like my money was being spent on unnecessary things and was surprised over and over by how much was included in our program. Some of the coolest things that we did, like staying with host families in Morocco or exploring hidden tunnels in Barcelona, really wouldn’t have been possible to do without the help of CIS. Also, the classes were the perfect level of difficulty to take while studying abroad - they were interesting, but there was plenty of time left to travel and explore the city. Although it would have been cool to take classes with more local students, having the curriculum geared toward study abroad students was a lot less stressful and let the classes be a lot more relevant to what we were interested in - I always looked forward to going to class and really loved my teachers. The only thing I really wish I had done differently was figure out a way to stay longer.

I believe that a way to find yourself is traveling and experience different cultures, it opens your eyes and you watch your life having a turn and making sense in every task you do. I put my heart and effort in this things so I become a better person every day by learning and spreading a little bit of my knowledge. If you are doubting to get abroad just follow your instinct and you will see how everything falls into place.

I had the most amazing experience abroad in AIx-en-Provence, France! From the moment I received my acceptance into the program until the end of my program, the CISabroad and IAU staff were friendly and helpful with answering any questions I had! The city of Aix-en-Provence itself is stunningly beautiful, and the people are friendly and eager to help you learn. In fact, my favorite part of my experience was my homestay because my host mom treated me as if I was one of her own. Often, I would sit in the kitchen and chat with her as she cooked dinner so that I could practice my French! I also loved all of my professors at the IAU, which made it hard to leave. I will never forget this experience and how it helped me grow into a more independent and confident person. I highly recommend this program without any hesitations.

I cannot say enough amazing things about CISabroad. Headed to Rome, I was initially nervous. However, I have never had my initial emotions changed so fast. CISabroad had immersed us in the culture, educated us on the food, people, politics, you name it. Within the first week, Rome felt like home to me, and what a blessing it was. I gained the confidence to speak the language, meet the people, and I even ended up playing for a football club during my stay! By no means am I exaggerating when I tell people it was one of the most unreal experiences.

My time in Spain was eye opening. Living amidst such culture and history was something I wish I could do forever. My program taught me a lot and gave me hands on experience with confronting new situations with urban design.

Interning abroad in Wellington NZ was the best decision I've ever made! I fell in love with the city and my job and really didn't want to go home! This experience was so eye opening and I can't wait to go back to Wellington!

Going with CIS Abroad to Australia was the best decision I've ever taken. I was able to go to an Aussie uni and get the true experience instead of just being another tourist student. I loved the campus and there were tons of activities to participate in. CIS Abroad also provided excursions which were amazing such as snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. Since all this was paid for in my program fees, I was able to experience the more "touristy" things without breaking the bank!!

I always knew that I wanted to travel to Barcelona, so I was excited when I made the decision to do an internship through CISabroad. My experience ended up being the absolute best that it could have been. I am an international business major worked for a company that worked with solar energy technology, and it was a great experience because the company I worked for had partnerships with companies in many different countries. I was able to learn a lot about an industry I had not considered before which was really enjoyable. I enjoyed my internship experience very much. The CIS onsite staff provided support for all of the students in case we ever needed help with something or had an emergency. They were also really great about letting us know about different events going on in the city - we received a weekly cultural agenda with different activities to do every weekend in the city. There were also multiple day trips outside of Barcelona included in the program, as well as a week of intensive Spanish classes. Overall, my experience in Barcelona was absolutely incredible, and I hope that I can go back again someday. I would recommend this program to anyone!

The CIS abroad program with School for International Studies in Barcelona gave the best bang for my buck! At a very affordable price housing, overnight trips with accommodations, transportation, and meals included, cultural and language exchanges, a cooking class, competitions for tickets to cool things to do around Barcelona- were all included. The trips to Sevilla, Zaragoza, and Figures were definitely my favorite part and they were included in the cost of the program so there was no added last minute cost. These trips gave me the opportunity to explore more parts of Spain and get the insider scoop on where to eat and what to do. The teachers at SIS are absolutely incredible and many of the classes are related to the history of Barcelona so we go to go on a lot of class trips to see the history we were talking about. I formed very close relationships with my teachers and I still talk to them after returning home. The courses that we took were fascinating and the language classes that were offered helped many students, some who had no Spanish language knowledge to communicate with locals. The only thing I can think of about the classes was that since it is such a small school with very intimate class sizes there aren't as many options as are offered at my home university. I stayed in a shared apartment with a few other roommates. Two of my roommates were interns which meant their program was shorter than mine and 2 of them were in a different program. This allowed me to meet more people outside of my classes and I still talk to my roommates and try to get together with them on school breaks. The communication with the CIS team was not instantaneous before I left which caused me to be a little nervous however, the CIS team in Barcelona is absolutely fabulous and they really help you with any situation you could encounter. They also try to help prep you and integrate you into the culture and they do a great job of it. I did have to use my travelers insurance once and it was such a lifesaver. I did not have to pay any out of pocket cost for the visit or the medication that I needed. Overall I highly recommend CIS abroad and particularly this program. It is only a three month program which is a little shorter than some of the other programs offered which is perfect for anyone on trimesters, who feels they might get a little homesick, or if you want to travel after your program is over but still be home in time for a summer job (if you go in the spring).

Through my time in Ireland and Scotland via CISAbroad, I had the time of my life. Although the trip was short, I was able to do so many activities and see so many parts of the countries due to the scheduling of CIS. There always seemed to be an activity planned to get us around, and even if there was not, our site directors and professor gave fantastic suggestions. The course work also helped in understand the culture, both pre-arrival and while abroad. The professor did a fantastic job in teaching the material while also making it fun and interactive. Most of all, however, it was the people I met abroad that made the trip. CIS organized the trip in a way that you could truly connect with others and di not have to go in blind even if you were traveling alone. CIS promoted a friendly environment that made the trip that much more enjoyable. Overall, I could not have picked a better company to study abroad with, as everything was safe and easy. I would definitely recommend going, and I will certainly consider going again.

I studied abroad through CISabroad in Paris, France last summer. Paris, France has always been my dream and I am so fortunate that I got the opportunity to explore their culture. I had so much fun going on trips during the week and the weekend. The exclusions and food was the best part! I hung out and got to see the city in further depth with two of my roommates. They made the experience that much better (mainly cause they spoke some French and I barely knew anything), just kidding! I had tons of fun with them. I loved my apartment, it was so super cute and homey. I got the chance to live along the Seine River; just almost outside of the city. Going abroad inspired me to go abroad again with CISabroad this upcoming summer. I also applied to be an Alumni Ambassador as well as finding the career path I want to pursue. I want to help others who want to travel either domestically or overseas. I highly recommend going abroad; you won't regret it!

I chose to do the study/intern program in Aix-en-Provence, France with CISabroad because I wanted to learn and also gain experience in France. My internship was an amazing opportunity. I learned new skills like digital marketing and even how to operate the French bus system as I traveled to and from my internship. My schedule worked out perfectly and my host family was so welcoming. My semester abroad is one that I will never forget.

I lived in Beijing, China for three months. I spoke some Mandarin before I went, but when I got there I felt like I knew nothing. When I arrived someone was waiting to pick me up at the airport and take me to my apartment. There were some problems with the apartment, but ImmerQi and CISabroad worked to quickly fix the problems that I contacted them with. (They are partner companies and ImmerQi will work with you in China.) Some of the problems were with fixtures in the apartment and bugs, but all problems were promptly taken care of. I was, also, really scared using the subways in China to find my job. I was afraid I would get lost or not be safe, but I found a few other interns to show me the way and after about three or four days could navigate myself all around China. Work was a little far from my apartment, but it was doable. I did, however, live very close to my language school. When I came home from China I could understand my boyfriend and friends conversations much better and can hold my own in a conversation, too! Perks: The internship was designed around my interests. Problems were promptly taken care of. It was very independent and I could travel or do whatever I wanted in my free time. There are SO many things to do and places to see in China. I was never bored. The medical insurance was great. The people are very nice, the city is super safe, and the food is FANTASTIC (taste, amount, and price!) If you try to talk to someone in China, more often than not they are going to be ecstatic that you tried and will try their best to communicate with you. Many of the places I went were beautiful. I traveled to some of the most famous and gorgeous places in Beijing- Great Wall, Summer Palace, Tienanmen Square, the Forbidden City, and so many more! Disadvantages: If you cannot speak Chinese you will have a hard time getting around and doing things you want to do. If I could not speak the language I would not have been able to go to the places I wanted. There were a lot of problems that needed to be fixed; in order to get them fixed, you have to be very pushy and persistent. If you aren't careful people will try to take more money than a product or service is worth. (Scammers) Taxis tend to not stop for foreigners; if they do stop they might try to charge you too much for your trip! Be prepared to use the subway for most travels. The internship is very independent. While I loved this about the internship, other people may not. You need to be very self-sustaining and confident. You will not have people helping you with everything or with you all of the time. A lot of the time you will be on your own (you may or may not have a roommate while you are there). The best way to have fun in China is to make friends with the locals. I made so many friends and this helped my language skills soar! Going out and really seeing the city and fully immersing yourself in the culture is the only way to get the most out of your experience. Beijing became my second home. Everyone is asking me when I will be back, inviting me to events and their homes, and so on. If you immerse yourself you will be happy with your experiences anywhere you go.

My time abroad in Cusco, Peru was absolutely life changing. I learned so much about the culture and myself. I grew as a woman and I cannot be more thankful for the experiences I had abroad. My program was through CISabroad. CISabroad was an absolutely amazing provider. I felt safe knowing they had an onsite director in the city I lived for four months. I felt secure about the insurance that was provided within the program cost, so when I got sick I knew I could go to a local clinic. CISabroad offered three trips, including a trip to Machu Picchu, within the program price, thus I did not have to do a lot of personal planning for those three trips. I really enjoy that CISabroad offers an alumni program afterwards, where alumni can get paid for doing activities. The program has allowed me to better understand the workings of study abroad programs. The culture shock was definitely a thing. In Cusco, you cannot drink out of the tap water, thus I had to become accustomed to paying for water all of the time. Luckily, water was very inexpensive. The way of life was much more different than in the United States and it took me a couple of months to get used to it, nevertheless, once I became accustomed to it, I felt I was at home. Some of my greatest memories while abroad was when I spent time with fellow CISabroad students and our program site director. We went out to dinner and talked about our experiences, concerns, and needs. Overall, this program was an amazing experience for me and I know that for many others, it was a great opportunity as well. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is searching for adventure, learning, and growth!!

I have nothing but high remarks for CISabroad. From the very beginning of choosing a program, they were very welcoming and extremely helpful. They were able to answer all of my questions I had. This was one of the main reasons why I chose to go with CISabroad. They were eager to help and very affordable compared to other programs. Although the process to get all of the necessary documents was very stressful, CISabroad was very responsive and helped in any way they could. The pre-departure activities were very helpful to prepare me for a semester in London. Arriving in London I was very nervous, to be so far away from home. But the CISabroad on-site staff were very warm and welcoming. My homesickness went away very quickly thanks to them. The housing situation was great for interns. We were given a flat, we lived just like anyone else would have lived in London. I felt very independent having to buy groceries and cook for myself. All of these correspond perfectly with being an intern. It was like being in the real world with a job and everything. There was a grocery store right down the street from our flat which was very accommodating. There were also several restaurants as well. I think it was a perfect location in a nice residential area. We lived about 15 minutes from Big Ben, so the location was perfect, right in Central London. My internship placement was really good as well. I had a marketing internship for a health and wellness company. The commute to and from the office was easy. There was a tube station located right next to our flat which was a bonus. With CISabroad there were also social programs that allowed us to meet other students in London as well as do new things in London. One for example was attending the evensong at Westminster Abbey. There was also a social program trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. I was very grateful for this opportunity to see other parts of the United Kingdom. All in all, choosing CISabroad was one of the best decisions I could've done for myself. It allowed me to achieve my dream of seeing the world. It gave me friends that I will have for the rest of my life. And it allowed me to experience things I would not have been able to otherwise. If you are reading this and you are deciding whether or not you should go abroad with CISabroad. I say go for it, you will not regret it.

Rather than write paragraphs about the experience, I am just going to divide the experience into two lists: Things I liked: *An internship is much less stressful than a 'study abroad' internship because you don't bring work home with you. This means that you are free to do whatever outside of work hours, and on weekends. *There were many planned cultural and social events planned by CISAbroad, but they were purely optional, meaning you could take advantage of them or do something else if you'd prefer. Of the ones I took part in, the weekend trips and the cooking class were the most fun. *It varied by person, but the housing that I was placed in was probably in the best location we could have been in. It was in the middle of a tourist-y area so most of the restaurants and such spoke English. *Staff members were always available if there was every an issue of any kind. *My school (UT Austin) had several dozen students in the program, and all the guys were placed in the same apartment complex, so there was never a time where I felt I did not have someone to do things with. (this didn't seem to be true for the girls, and most other schools didn't have enough students in the same program for this to matter) Things I didn't like: *The weekend trips that required extra payment. While they were fun - I felt as though the prices they charged were somewhat high compared to going to those places on your own, especially considering the price of the program itself. *I felt like the program was not very specific on what I should bring with me. I was unsure on whether I would need to bring towels or bedding with me. *This is an issue specific to the country, but I had trouble adjusting to a lack of A/C

I couldn't have been happier about choosing CISabroad ad the program to help me find my way while studying in a new country. The process was smooth and easy and they set up everything so that I could start my journey stress free. They had a program coordinator in the host country who was the nicest and most helpful person to guide us on our adventures. Living abroad changed my life and I couldn't have had quite the experience without the housing, advising, and guidance that this program provided.

This experience changed my life. It was worth every penny and I wish I could go AGAIN! I studied abroad almost 2 years ago now and I miss the adventures and people everyday still! I would go again in a heart beat. The experience opened my eyes to so many new cultures and now staying in the US seems wrong. All I want to do is continue learning about the world thanks to this program. We met so many amazing people that showed us the ropes of their country and the CISabroad staff was extremely helpful and open to do anything. I liked that they gave us options for excursions and the work load was not bad at all. The assignments were more about the experience of travel and new people. I highly recommend this program.

Imagine waking up in the morning, and being exposed to freshly baked croissants that melt in your mouth no need for a drink because there not dry in the streets of Paris, France. Taking a nice scroll to the metro with no worries because every 5 minutes one comes. Taking Cheap flights to Italy, and Bus rides that go underwater to London, and another flight to enjoy rich rich streets of Nice. Taking three hour classes with teachers that make you feel like the class has only been an hour. The experience was more than words can express with over 4,000 pictures to share!

Although Hellenic American University had its challenges, Debbie--the program director--was amazing and response to students' needs and desires. For example, aside from answering occasional questions, she accompanied me to the doctor when I was sick and stayed with me there. She is also so open, warm, and I felt very safe during this program because of her.

Studying abroad in Greece was an absolutely incredible experience. The country is not over-saturated with study abroad students which makes it perfect for true cultural submersion. Debbie, the on-site director was extremely passionate and incredibly helpful. The school staff and students were extremely nice and welcoming towards us. We had a couple of amazing excursions with CIS that Debbie curated to our liking. The whole group was incredible and it was honestly one of the best experiences that I've ever had.

I decided to do this program on a whim. My parents did not take me too seriously when I told them that I found a program in South Africa that I needed to experience. I went alone, as this was also my first time traveling out of the country. Once I got to the Cape Town airport, I already felt welcomed by the people and by the shuttle driver that the school had prepared for each student to have once they reached the destination. The next 4 weeks included with learning, laughing, meeting amazing new friends, and having fun. We did things from wine tasting, to hiking iconic mountains, to hanging out with elephants. To this day, I think about this experience every day. I look back on my pictures constantly and reminisce. This experience changed my life, I got to see how others live, eat, and even talk. After this experience it has lead me to find a passion in traveling and learning out how others around the world live. I hope to one day go back to South Africa, in the near future, and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Upon leaving the U.S. to study abroad in Florence, just like most other students I felt under prepared by my university and had no idea what to expect. When I arrived in Europe, CIS was there every step of the way. From greeting us at the airport to making sure our visa appointments we in line. I wouldn't have changed a thing! Highly recommend studying abroad with CIS

This program was awesome! I studied abroad over the 2017 summer and got to see so many incredible things. I have to say the bast part about this program was that even though my older brother goes to a different university than me we still got to go on this trip together. Also what made this trip amazing was the staff. Having Rachael Capuano, and Kevin Anderson with me on my trip made it way more amazing then I ever could have ever imagined, because of them this is a trip I will never forget. This was a great experience and I can't wait to study abroad again.

Tons of fun touring some of the most beautiful and fascinating countries with great classmates and staff! Living spaces were clean and safe. Staff was friendly and supportive. Classes were educational and interesting. Teachers immersed you in the culture and history of the countries! Experienced interesting tours while having our own time to explore. Fellow classmates will become your friends for years to come!

CISabroad did a great job at being in the background of my study abroad experience, but I didn't interact with them very much. I think they were great at connecting with the University of Westminster and answering questions I had about the process of applying. However, I had some issues with the planned trips. One example was going to Edinburgh; they anticipated an eight hour ride by coach back to London, and it ended up being closer to 10 or 11. I had a friend who flew in from Malta to see me that day and she was anticipating I would meet her at an earlier time, but because the bus was late I was late in getting to her. Another issue I had was airport pick-up; CISabroad didn't show up for about an hour or an hour and a half , after I arrived at the London Heathrow Airport. They informed me they'd be there with a sign, but I didn't see one when I landed, so I waited on my own in a seating area for them to come. All in all, though, I think CISabroad did a good job in helping me with any questions I had about studying abroad, and were a great resource for getting me familiar with Central London.

I met some of my best friends while studying at DCU. The Irish are such friendly people and all of my professors made my educational experience so worth while. My CISAbroad peers were like my family by the end of the semester and I will never ever forget this experience.

Studying aboard on the Gold Coast is one of the most amazing and memorable experiences I have ever had! Or site director Jackie was amazing. I felt like I could go to here with any troubles I was having. I can't wait to plan my next trip back! Thank you for everything CIS!

Getting to study in Scotland for a month was a dream come true. Scotland is absolutely breathtaking and there wasn’t a day that I didn’t remark about its beauty. I made wonderful life-long friends from all over the world and met some incredible people. There was a great balance of letting us be independent while also providing ample opportunities to see and experience Scottish culture.

Aix en Provence is a great place to study abroad- the college town vibes while close to Marseille is great. You truly get a small town French country feel, while living in the bustling windy streets of Aix. The program itself was okay. There are a few schools and providers you can study abroad with in this college town. The program through CIS entailed going to an American school for study abroad students, which i didn’t really like. I would’ve liked more immersion in the French university system, going to Aix- Marseille. In addition, communication with CIS wasn’t the best pre departure. I don’t mean to sound off-putting; I highly recommend Aix en Provence- just do a little research before you go to see what options suit you best.

All throughout my experience with CIS and Paris in general was very well done. My advisor in Paris was so wonderful and helpful. All throughout my trip I felt secure and like I knew where to go if I needed help. That, for me, is a sign of a good study abroad program and I’m glad I went with CISabroad.

I would highly recommend the CIS abroad program in Madrid to anyone interested going abroad, specifically during the summer. The program was so accommodating, and they gave me a wonderful flat to live in with four other people from other international programs. It was a great way to make friends. Additionally, my program director, Adrián, was so organized and set up many events each week to help us get to know Spanish culture. One of my favorite events was our Flamenco class (even though I really am not a great dancer). I made lifelong friends on this program and established a great community in Spain. I cannot wait to go back! Thank you CIS!

Although Spain was beautiful the program is set up in an interesting way. All of the students are spread across the city and not a lot of academics are offered! The memories and friends I made are unforgettable but the school wasn't involved with that

My experience with CIS was truly incredible, largely because this program provides so much "bang" for little "buck." I got to explore Europe, staying for a month in Spain and a month in Rome, as well as visiting southern Italy, Portugal, and France, all for a lump sum under $11,000. CIS has scholarships, and the team that gets you to your housing, to your site, and into your school is really dedicated to keeping you safe and happy. I highly recommend this program, particularly if you want to study in a diverse range of places but stay consistent with administration.

I was fortunate enough to partake in this program Summer 2017, and it changed my life! I loved being able to explore many amazing cities while studying. This program allows you to fully immerse yourself in four countries’ culture. You get the full experience because you get to live in these countries instead of just being a tourist. I would recommend this program to everyone because you really do get the full European Experience in one summer!

This January, I had the opportunity of a lifetime and got to study abroad in New Zealand through CIS Abroad. I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but it was an overwhelming thought with all of the options of places to go, figuring out how to make it work with my university and all the little details in between. CIS Abroad helped make the entire process smooth and enjoyable. I had an advisor the whole way through who helped me make sure I was as ready as possible for my trip abroad. Once I was there, I had the most amazing 2 months of my life. I created life long friendships, got to see the most spectacular views and most of all I got to experience a different culture and truly appreciate what they had to offer. I highly encourage everyone to study abroad!

I titled this 'Dreams Come True' because for me, studying abroad, living in Paris, France; they did. My dream was to go to Paris and live there; I made that happen. I loved learning and experiencing their culture. I think their language is one of the most beautiful languages that there is to learn. There was always something to do in Paris and I loved that. I also gained a whole new love for art. Prior to Paris, I had never cried or had gotten emotional looking at artwork. All of this changed when visiting the museums in France. Their artwork is one of a kind and it is astonishing learning the history behind these artifacts. I got to live another dream of mine which was going to Disneyland Paris. This was my first time at Disney. A lot of tears were shed to say the least. I love Disney and it was honestly the best day of my life. Each day was a blessing. It is hard to put into words how amazing it is to have the opportunity to live and learn other cultures besides your own. I highly encourage individuals to venture out and grasp new civilizations!

Traveling abroad for a semester changed my life. I loved everything about Athens and couldn't have picked a better program to go through. The on sight director was extremely passionate about the Greek culture and we got to go to many amazing places because she was familiar with the cities. I met some of the best people being there, everyone in Greece is extremely genuine.

Last spring I studied abroad in Ghana through CISabroad. I had an absolutely amazing experience. I learned so much about life and the world around us. Ghana is a wonderful country to learn about a different part of the world that not many people choose to visit. CIS works as a middle man between your home university and the university abroad. They set you up with a pre-departure orientation to let you know what to pack and prepare for. Also, the site directors (who are AMAZING!) take you on a week long orientation once you arrive in country. It feels like a mini vacation to help you adjust. They are also there to teach you about the culture and daily life. CISabroad puts a lot of work in to make sure you are prepared and have a great experience abroad. I highly recommend studying abroad in Ghana.

My first impression of the program was that it was a course on photography in the outback. Seems very self explanatory right, I mean it is in the title. But the course is so much more than that. For your first week you are in the class room and dive in to the history of Australia and the Aboriginal culture. It is an amazing, rich and heartbreaking history that I felt so ashamed that we did not cover back in the States. The second week you spend out in the backpack going to different reserves with an Aboriginal Guide and he explains the history of the land and all of the significant meanings behind each place. This is where all of the amazing photography in the outback comes in. And then you get to spend your last week editing and printing your photographs to display them in a gallery in Mildura. It is honestly an experience that brings you and everyone in your group close together making bonds that last a lifetime.

I will never forget the experience of a life time that CISabroad and Bond University have given me. I have made the most amazing friendships and was able to explore wonderful places. CISabroad made both the adjustment to Australia, but also home from Australia as smooth as possible. My site director's abroad were amazing, and were so helpful with everything. We became really close with them, and with each other. The excursions provided by CIS were also awesome! AND I should mention our orientation in Sydney. Everyone in CIS Gold Coast that semester (about 18 of us) got together in Sydney for a few days and got to know each other and the amazing country. This whole experience is something I would relive in a second, and I owe it all to CIS and Bond University!!

I spent an entire semester in Perugia interning and taking Italian language classes. I had the support of the faculty at both my internship placement and the Umbra Institute, as well as the guidance of a wonderful professor while conducting research. The Italian language courses are challenging and authentic but easily accessible to all students. The community engagement is a highlight of the Perugia program, and they really succeed in doing this well. By learning with Italian students and taking courses with service learning components, you will have a completely immersive experience that is exciting and educational!

I am writing this review as a parent. I am completely sold on this program. I feel my daughter was supported by the local rep and that she was in a safe environment. The program is organized and offered a lot of cultural activities I did not expect. One small issue I raised was handled immediately and satisfactorily. This program is run by experienced, caring people and I highly recommend it.

This past summer I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain for six weeks. During these six weeks I met amazing people through the program that I am still in touch with today. This program also allowed me to grow and mature as an individual by placing myself in unfamiliar situations. I was able to experience a culture that I would never be able to find in the United States, thanks to program sponsored events such as dance and cooking classes. I highly recommend studying abroad, especially with CISabroad.

Deciding to study abroad in Rome and Barcelona through CISAbroad's Mediterranean Culture program was the best decision I made for my academic career. I met great people, took great classes, had memorable experiences, and learned and immersed myself in cultures all throughout Europe. If you are even considering partaking in this program, then do it! When you are picking classes for Rome, make sure you pick On-Site Roman Archaeology. I went to historical sites all throughout Rome that I would've never gone to if it wasn't for this class. Studying abroad is one of the best decisions you can make while in college. It's a great way to get to know people from all over the globe while completing classes for your degree. CISAbroad and their faculty could not have been more helpful in the entire process. They are always engaging and there to help you throughout your time in Rome and Barcelona. Don't miss out on these two amazing cities and what they have to offer in expanding your global horizons.

Studying abroad in South Africa was the best decision for me when going abroad. Being in historic Stellenbosch really offered a unique opportunity. The student life was great from good fun on the weekend to well developed and active clubs looking to help international students get involved. CIS’s program helped me have amazing relationships with locals and other internationals. They also did a stellar job making sure that I was safe. The on site director Athena is an amazing resource and does a great job showing you things that no one else knows about. Overall I had no complaints and countless stories of my once in a lifetime experience.

While not one of the most well-known Italian cities, Perugia is a truly amazing place to study abroad. For those looking for a small-town feel and full cultural immersion, this is the place for you. One of the best things about Perugia is its size because it is large enough for you to still get lost in its beautiful winding cobblestone streets during the last week of the semester, but small enough for you to be on a first name basis at all of the gelato shops in town. My experience in Perugia was everything I'd hoped for it to be. I spent my afternoons studying on the sunny church steps in the piazza with my friends and learned enough Italian to be completely comfortable navigating my way around Italy with my friends. Combined with the world-famous Italian cuisine and a crew of lifelong friends, my semester couldn't have been better. Academics: I took classes at the Umbra Institute with the other American study abroad students. The diversity of the students is limited - I only had a handful of Italians in my classes, but this didn't detract from my experience. If anything, it was comforting in the beginning to be with other Americans who were also adjusting to a new lifestyle. I had amazing professors. My Italian professor was hilarious and personable and taught us more Italian in one semester than I've learned during 2 years at school. I took an International Business Strategy course with one of the best business professors I've ever had. The classrooms are basic and on the small side, but the material in all of my classes was relevant and interesting. Some classes are more difficult than others, but overall the academics were less demanding than at home. Housing: I was lucky enough to live in a beautiful, recently modernized apartment with three other girls. We had 2 spacious double rooms, a decent sized kitchen with new appliances, a huge living room that was great for hosting dinner parties, and a bathroom with a washing machine. We lucked out. The apartment I lived in was not your average Italian apartment - it was much larger and we did not have to deal with any of the issues other students in apartments had. The only consistent difficulty was the wifi, but Italian wifi is unreliable at best. Cultural immersion: Your level of cultural immersion is up to you. It's very easy to spend time with only Americans. You live with Americans and learn with Americans so if that's what you're comfortable with you're all set. If you do want to be more immersed in the culture, Umbra makes it really easy. From soccer games with locals, conversations over sangria with university students,to volunteering at nearby schools, you can meet Italians if you want to without a problem. Program administration: Overall, I had no issues with the program administration. All of my questions were answered relatively promptly and things were pretty organized. The only issue I noticed was that there was some miscommunication between staff about changes to schedules and who told students what. Health and safety: Umbra gives a very thorough health and safety talk at the beginning of the semester. As long as you pay attention and stay with friends, you will be absolutely fine. It's the same as cities at home - be smart. Social life: Perugia isn't a huge city with endless nightlife options. There are a few decent clubs and bars in town, but they can get boring after a little bit. There are clubs on the outskirts of the city and there are buses that can take you there and back. Most of the time, however, you are traveling on the weekends and experiencing different social life weekly. The piazza is the main gathering place in town. Whether for smoothies on the church steps to protests and parades, the piazza is where most of the action in the city takes place.

Studying abroad is something that I suggest for everyone, no matter his or her field of interest or past experience with travel (or lack thereof). I studied abroad last year with CISabroad Semester in Thailand. I had traveled quite a bit before that, but it truly provided me with a unique experience and taught me many lessons. Prior to that program, I had mainly traveled with family. Studying abroad with CISabroad provided the perfect mix of self-sufficiency and intensive support system. My experience abroad taught me to rely on myself in new ways, and I discovered how much I love to travel solo. This summer, I intend to do exactly that. While I learned this about myself, I also really appreciated the structure of the Semester Abroad program. There were multiple people from the program that were based in Thailand and they were always very friendly and helpful. They always offered advice and guidance when needed. The other participants in the program were also a major highlight. Not only did we enjoy having classes together, we also traveled together on the weekends. There were multiple excursions planned by CISabroad during the semester. These provided a great way to see more of Thailand, without having to worry about logistics because everything was taken care of. All in all, I suggest the program to anyone interested in visiting South East Asia. I am already wishing I could return!

I absolutely love Australia! The people, their morals, the scenery, food, etc. This trip really has opened up my eyes to make sure I see as much of this world as I can. CISAbroad helped me make an easy transition from the states to Aussie life. It was great we had an orientation starting in Sydney that allowed us to meet other students staying at other universities to give us opportunities for future visits and friendships. They had so many awesome activities planned for our orientation, so worth it. At first, I thought the program was so expensive, especially since I'm paying it all on my own through loans. Seeing where my money went towards though, I can definitely see where my money went towards and that I got a huge bargain. Staying in Newcastle though, wish we were placed in housing with roommates to help us meet people from the uni. When we got there, everyone already knew each other and it sucked living alone all the time. Other than that though, I completely love the experience I'm having here, and wouldn't change it for the world!!!

CISabroad hands down was absolutely amazing!!! If I could study abroad 1000 times with CIS I would absolutely do it. They were affordable, professional, and provides top notch programs. I studied abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica for a semester. CIS supported me the moment I applied to the moment I returned. They always answered my questions and we're constantly attentive to my needs. The transition from undergrad student to study abroad student was simple and life changing. Currently I am a alumni ambassador for CIS and I am able to continuously relive my amazing experience. They always ensure the safety and well being of students and offers pre departure help along with in country orientations. CIS ROCKS

I loved everything about my semester in Thailand. After contemplating for 2 years about going abroad, I'm glad I went because it has helped me grow as an individual, see the other side of the world in a different view, be more open-minded, and meet amazing people! Being abroad has allowed me get out of my comfort zone and experience things that I would have never gotten to experience because I got to use the excuse "I'm only in Thailand, once. So, just do it!" instead of debating if I should've done it or not (whatever the excursion was). Being abroad, I had made amazing friends, created great memories, and enjoyed seeing a lot of what Thailand had to offer- my favorite thing about Thailand that I would never forget is the ELEPHANTS. But aside from all of the fun things that I have done, I've gotta say, the program staff was very helpful! The staff was great (still is!) and I've had no problems with anything from the time I applied to the time I got back from my trip.

Overall, I loved this experience and what it gave me in the long haul. My internship placement was AMAZING and I would not have traded it for anything. I was fortunate enough to have the closest location to travel to, just about 5 stops on the tube and a 5 min walk, which I couldn't say for everyone else in the program. Even now, almost 3 years later I'm still so happy I was able to have this experience and work with the best people. In terms of living accommodations, we weren't exactly in Central London, we were just south of it. The rooms were small and thankfully I didn't have to share it with anyone or it would've been extremely cramped. It was also just not as amazing as I thought it would be. The fact that it was just a short walk from the tube was probably one of the best things going for them. But to have that living situation to have the internship placement was worth it in my opinion. Some air conditioning would've been appreciated though. I also would've liked if we had more than just 1 or 2 optional excursions that were free of charge. In terms of safety, I felt very safe where we were staying, even being out late at night. Maybe since I'm from the New York area I wasn't so fearful of anything because nothing is like New York. Overall I would recommend this program to a friend, but let them know that they need to prepare to adjust to the living accommodations.

Studying in Ireland was the perfect amount of balance between school and being able to actually explore the beautiful country! The professors are very understanding of cultural differences and are more than willing to accommodate you in any way possible. Awesome Experience! Suite type apartments that were cozy and made me feel like I was back at my home university! They give you enough privacy, but also invites you to be social with the people you are living with. The food in Ireland is to die for! Beef and Guinness Stew is by far my favorite meal on this planet now! They really know how to make a yummy meal. Irish people are the most kinda and genuine people ever. They LOVE Americans and will stop at nothing to help you get to where you are wanting to go. I met so many locals and would go out with them often. I felt extremely safe in Ireland. I was studying abroad during the Paris attacks and the university as well as CIS Abroad did everything they could to make us all feel safe and make sure we were all doing okay. My advisor was super helpful and made sure I was prepared to embark on my adventure! SAVE SAVE SAVE! You will want to go on so many adventures while abroad and its so important to budget out each trip when you get there but make sure you save enough before you leave! This program gave me so many opportunities to learn about the Irish Culture and took us on trips with locals to get the full experience. I was extremely prepared through CIS and was never nervous about any plans. I wish I was still in Ireland! Studying abroad made me learn so much about myself and what I want to do with my life after I graduate. It helped me experience life outside America, and gave me an idea of what different countries value and how they function. Cherish every single second you have while studying abroad. It goes by so fast. As soon as you know it, it'll be over and you will be wishing you were back in the country you studied in.

I never imagined that my semester in Perugia would be as full and as fulfilling as it was. I furthered my academic and career goals through a customizable research program, became a member of the community through volunteer opportunities and connecting with locals, and expanded my horizons in so many ways! The Umbra Institute faculty and staff help to make it feel like home, and the CISabroad team is ready to answer any and all questions to make the semester the experience of a lifetime. If you're debating whether or not to choose Perugia, do it! Your experience will be indescribable!

It was an amazing experience, I would highly recommend studying abroad in Australia. I got to meet a ton of people from all over the world and experience different cultures. I saw so many different things that I thought I would never see. It was an incredible adventure.

Wellington is a fantastic city to live in and study in. There is always so much to do and see and you will always find yourself trying new things- sometimes things you never would have imaged yourself doing! While I was here I visited almost every other part of the country and as amazing and mind blowing as the whole country is, I always really enjoyed having Wellington as my "home"

I had such an amazing trip. I met a lot of people that will continue to be my friends for decades. Getting to travel around the British Isles and then spending the time in Spain was a perfect combination. There was an intense time of traveling and sight seeing and then once in London it was easier to pick what we wanted to do. It was a trip that I will always think about and compare to my time back in the United States. I want to go back because I had such an amazing time.

My time in Scotland was easily the beat right weeks of my life. I met friends that I will keep in contact with forever and locals that I will sure to see when I make my way back to the beautiful country. Nothing compared to lessons you'll learn while out in the world by yourself. I learned more about myself than I thought possible. The Scottish people are absolutely lovely. They're kind, friendly, and open; a combination of traits that can be hard to come by. At first the cloudy weather and frequent showers bothered me, but by the time I arrived home I missed the beautiful clouds, cool climate, and green scenery. To put it simply, Scotland stole my heart.

Doing my internship in Dublin Ireland was the best decision I could have made. I am an interior design major and was placed at an architecture firm in Dublin. At first i didn't think the placement was right for me but after awhile I began to realize it was perfect for me. I cannot wait till I get another opportunity to go back! It was a perfect experience. I would recommend this program to everyone!

Stirling, Scotland is a great place to study, intern, and call home. It was easy to visit the rest of the UK via train, bus, and plane, and I was able to fly over to 6 other countries as well! I always enjoyed coming back to Stirling, however, because it was a great place to relax, hang out with friends (whether in the neighboring mountains, golf courses, shopping centres or pubs -- take your pick) and (of course!) speak English. Before going to Scotland, by the way, everyone told me that I wouldn't be able to understand their Scottish accents. That's not true at all -- I could understand everyone, especially the younger ones, and I actually prefer a Scottish accent over a British one right now!

My summer in Barcelona will forever be the best summer of my life. I had the best teachers and they helped me so much with my language and my overall experience while in Spain. The excursions were wonderful as well.

Barcelona is a awesome city to live in. Consider the living of cost of many countries in Europe, Spain is a great country is study/intern abroad. My personal feeling is that your goal is to learn Spanish then choose study abroad program where you attend classes. But if you want know more about local people, local business cultural,etc internship is better. After all, everyone will have difference experiences with same story. I love the onsite cultural activities. It helps me to reconnect with other interns, onsite staffs, and enjoy the food at the same time. My internship placement was not a "best" fit for my optimum placement. However, I did gain some basic people skills and logistic which is critical in business or in life in general. People in Barcelona is very enthusiastic. Double cheek greeting, the closeness between people are something I miss a lot after I came back. Food in Barcelona was also good, most famous one, tapas. Whenever I don't know what to eat, i will always go for tapas, is easy, and fun to eat. i did alot of traveling while I was in Europe, some over the weekends of internship, some are after internship finish. I was able to find really good budget flights from Barcelona where I leave really early on Friday morning , and comes back on late on Sunday night. Public transportation are very accessible everywhere in and around Barcelona at a reasonable price.

My summer spent in Stirling Scotland was an incredible experience and wouldn't have been possible without CISabroad! I am already planning the next time I will be able to get to Scotland. I would recommend CISabroad to anyone who wants to have a great experience abroad.

I loved my internship site in Puyo, Pastaza. I learned so much by working with wild rainforest animals and the wildlife vets at Yana Cocha. I will definately go back in the near future. It was a life changing experience that I would recommend to EVERYONE!

I loved every minute of being in Barcelona. The staff made this trip so memorable and did an incredible job in everything they did. They taught us culture and the right amount of information we needed. They were very helpful and you could tell they were so excited for us and the opportunity we had ahead. The only thing I wish, was that our friends were closer together in a near by apartment. My friends were so far away from me so it was hard to meet up and go do things when we don't have wifi on our phones. My sister went to Italy and they gave them all wifi devices so they were able to communicate, which would've been very helpful and easy.

If i could say anything bad about my time, it was that my apartment had no A/C and it was SUPER hot! Everything else was perfect! I will always remember this trip as the best trip of my life! I have grown so much as a person and i recommened it to everyone.

My experience with Intern in Dublin was the greatest of experience of my life. Forever thankful for my time in Dublin, everyone I met truly touched my heart and my life has been forever changed. I learned so much about life and myself and have grown so much as a person.

My summer in Scotland was the most amazing experience of my life. I didn't know what to expect going into it, but I found that I felt more at home in Scotland than I ever have anywhere else in my life

I had a great time abroad. I had a tough time while traveling to New Zealand but after that it went without a hitch. Living arrangements were decent and the locals were great. I made many life long friends.

The program coordinator was difficult to contact, tardy in response, and at times, misleading with vital information. Part of my $6000 program fee was supposed to cover an orientation upon arrival, which I never received.

New Zealand is an amazing place. I had a great experience and made a ton of connections/ friends! The living arrangements were less than expected for the price of accommodation. I expected to at least have my own room but was lucky to have a really cool roommate. Definitely recommend going to New Zealand.

I had the most fun in Peru and it was made possible by the amazing staff here at CISabroad. Even though I applied on time, I wasn't able to pay on time so I withdrew my application but my scholarship came in last minute, making it possible for me to go. The people at CIS really came through in organizing everything last minute--including a vegetarian homestay family. The tours included by the program had great tour guides and overnight stay options. We had a lot of tour guides that we organized but the ones we met on tours organized by CIS were literally the best.

I absolutely loved this program. The University of Stellenbosch staff were all incredible. They bent over backwards to make sure we were safe, having a good time and learning a lot. I saw more of South Africa in 6 weeks than I ever thought possible. It was an amazing experience and I would go again in a heartbeat.

This trip was very fun and amazing. However there were different situations where it felt very unorganized and lack of planning. I have this huge conflict about my flight plane which felt inconsiderate and unorganized. Also after the British Isle trip there was an overwhelming amount of school work to do along with the Spain's school work. I did not explore Spain for the 1st 2 weeks of being there for i would do 6 hours of homework every day in order to finish projects from the British Isles as well as homework from Spain.

This program was incredibly rewarding, lasting 2 months and allowing you to visit both Rome and Barcelona. Both universities were great, as well as the living conditions. The program is very helpful, but at the same time, you have so much freedom. It's a lot of fun. The Barcelona portion is especially good, because there are a lot of arranged program trips to places like Valencia and Sitges. So worth it!

Argentina is an absolutely amazing country with so much to offer. Culturally amazing and very unique. So much to do. Buenos Aires is an amazing city and lots to do outside of the city. This was a great program and lots of fun.

My experience in Quito, Ecuador was one of the most amazing adventures of my life. I met countless amounts of fantastic people who have helped me to grow as a person and see different points of view. The country is absolutely incredible and has endless amounts of things to do. It is the experience of a lifetime and I would recommend it to anyone who is even slightly considering it.

This truly was an amazing program and had so much to offer. I am so thankful I chose this program. I was unsure of what would I would experience while abroad and I could not have been more surprised. It really was breath taking and just everything I could have imagined while being abroad.

I really enjoyed this program. I learned a ton while living in such amazing and breath taking cities. I was immersed enough that I could learn all about culture- while also still being able to get around and understand

My semester in the Aix-en-Provence, France was an experience I will never forget! The internship was a great help in improving my language skills, and helped me to really see the culture of the French professionalism. I recommend this program to anyone seeking an experience where they can make professional connections and really be immersed into the culture. The classes offered at IAU were outstanding. The professors are first-class with real life experience to back-up their teaching. The courses offered truly were great! This region of France is very welcoming and really encouraged me to improve my French constantly. I made friends just by going out at night and sitting in the same coffee shops or boulangeries every day. I still keep in touch with some of the French people I met! I hope someday I can return to the amazing memories I created while I studied abroad!

The trip was a great way to see many different places in one trip and while learning on the way. I ended up learning and incredible amount in all three countries. The administration on the trip was excellent and I could not ask for better.

I had an incredibly time in South Africa. I was there during the monumental movement of at UCT entitled Rhodes Must Fall (RMF) which spawned the movements at Stellenbosch University, #OpenStellenbosch. This experience was so amazing. I learned so much about South African history, culture, and social environments. I was also able to learn even more about the Black Consciousness.

I really enjoyed this program as a whole. The people that I met while I was abroad were so easy to get along with and fun to be around. Class was fun, but long. I learned so much just from being surrounded by french speaking people, that it made the trip more than worth it.

This was definitely an experience I'll remember. I was able to go to places and learn about things I wouldn't have known to go to if I had gone alone. I definitely recommend this experience as I was able to have comforts of back home (American students and teachers) as well as plunging head-first into the cultures abroad.

This program was advertised on the CISAbroad website as a good trip for beginner travelers. I couldn't agree more! As a first time traveler, it was extremely nice sharing a common language. It made it less intimidating to ask for directions or to find out where all the best spots were. Between the classes, excursions, and the people I met, it was incredibly easy to get comfortable in another country.

After trials and triumphs, I would summarize my experience in Ecuador as life-changing. My internship taught me how to be more independent and gave me the freedom to customize my experiences there. I was fully immersed in the culture and language, and I improved my skills-set while helping the community. At times, there was confusion over the food and living conditions. More preparation and a clear lay out before arrival would have been preferable. But, with an open mind and positive attitude, I welcomed all challenges. The local foundation I was connected to had amazing people with whom I've made lifelong friends. If given the opportunity, I would do it all over again.

Amazing program, I had the time of my life. Seeing New Zealand in all its glory is nothing short of breathtaking. Alex Hill is amazing and I loved working with her as my site director. Hats off to Seth, too, for answering all of my questions. GREAT program.

My internship in Ecuador was a great experience for me, personally and academically. I am pursuing a career in the field of animal science which CIS was more than thrilled to accommodate me and my passion. I had just recently finished a semester abroad with CIS in Asia and immersed myself in a whole new culture in South America. I have met various people, became more adventurous, expanded my knowledge of my future career, and saw myself as the independent woman I am now today. I do not regret any minute of this experience.

My experience with the program empowered me to go out into the world and live bravely. Through this journey, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and discovered I was capable of so much more than I dared to believe. This program is the perfect blend of adventure, cultural learning, and fun. I am so extremely lucky to have been a part of it.

I had the most amazing time abroad in Australia. There was always something new and exciting to see or do. If my family wanted to move out there, I could honestly see myself living there for the rest of my life!

Everything was great except the living arrangements. Broken washing machines resulted us spending money for laundry when it was supposed to be included, and a major cockroach infestation in apartments

Such a wonderful experience that every student should take a part of. The Dublin coordinators and DCU made everything a smooth transition for our four months abroad! The city is vibrant, friendly, and there is always something to do.

An incredible experience! I loved being able to improve my Spanish while living with a family. The program was exactly what I was looking for and more. Not to mention CIS was extremely helpful every step of the way.

This was the first time I studied abroad and I absolutely loved it! We went to many different areas throughout the British Isles and saw many well-known sites! The trip itself had a lot of activities packed throughout so it was a tiring trip, especially the first two weeks. But, it was all worth it because we accomplished a great deal! I met a great group of girls from the U.S. and it was a pleasure to bond with them all. The trip abroad was definitely one I'll never forget and I'm so thankful for going on the trip!

The Summer in the British Isles program offered me a wonderful introduction to Ireland and the UK. Six weeks traveling through the British Isles was the best possible start to my summer, and earning 9 academic credits was an unbelievable bonus. My professor was a charming woman and clearly very smart, but the academic side of the program was not a rigorous nor as comprehensive as I would have liked. That being said, it was an abroad program and it was good that it didn't match exactly a regular academic semester, so I suppose my complaint isn't really valid. I loved reading a few canon works like the Robin Hood ballads and King John. I expected it to be a little more Harry Potter-focused, but I loved visiting the Warner Bros. Studio in London and The Elephant House in Edinburgh (my two favorite cities!). Outside of the classroom we went on countless excursions. Most were fine but a couple were a bear (Mary King's Close was brutal, the Ceilidh was annoying because we all would have had a free night, and Liverpool was not the most fun). The best parts were getting to know the group as we took little tours of cliche tourist sites, though, if you are not museum-focused, as many of the students weren't, it would be torture to go to so many cathedrals and such. We visited a lot of cliffside spots in Ireland so I wish I had been told to bring clothes for freezing cold weather AND hot weather! London was amazing because we got enough free time that we could mix in socializing with exploring more historically significant locations around the city. It was amazing getting to know our way around. The first two weeks of the trip were a whirlwind and exhausting visiting so many cities that we were relieved to settle down at Roehampton. HOWEVER the accommodations were awful. After living in hostels that were always gross and inconventiently located for two weeks, all we wanted was to rest in our apartments, but unfortunately Roehampton was under severe construction (we were not told of this) and we were placed in a crappy dorm with dirty linens, no air conditioning, and overpriced laundry and gym services (which we were told would be free) AND NO WIFI. (I would have bought an international plan if they had prepared us better. It would have been well worth it. Sometimes I couldn't even submit schoolwork or talk to my family for days.) The first few days in London were awful--we couldn't even leave campus because they gave us empty Oyster cards. Eventually things got better, but it did not change that we were in a dorm with 21 girls sharing two messy kitchens when we were promised apartments of 6 with sitting rooms. The bathrooms never had toilet paper and the trash cans overflowed, but THANKFULLY it was easy to get into the city and spend the day happily wandering about. The trip required some flexibility, but it all balanced out. Well worth the time (not the money--hopefully we get a bit of a refund for the brutal accommodations everywhere). It was a life-changing experience and surely increased my tolerance level. I am now better in groups and have a great understanding of British culture.

Going on this trip was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. Great professor, great staff and great people. Some hostels are worse than others but it is all part of the experience. Just do it.

I gave my overall experience this rating because, while not everything was perfect, I had an absolute blast. The country is beautiful, the people are so nice, and it's really great to explore. My academics section got this score because, while the "study abroad" classes that were taught in English were superb, insightful, and enlightening, the Arabic classes reminded me of those I had taken in the past. My expectations were honestly too high, and I'm sure, especially if you are a language person (unlike me!) then it will help you a lot. For the living situation, I lucked out. I loved my flatmates, and we were lucky enough to have the only oven (yay)! The cultural immersion score was the lowest that I gave out in the above questionnaire. I was disappointed with the number of excursions as well as the fact that many people didn't do home-stays. I was the only student in the entire CIL program who did, and I had an absolute blast. My host family was so nice (I miss them now that I'm home, even though I only lived with them for one month), they showed me the area from the viewpoint of a real Omani citizen (ladies, engagement parties and load so fun), and the food was awesome. I was disappointed, though, because I feel that students didn't go out enough in terms of meeting Omanis and becoming friends with them. We were there not only to learn, but to see the culture. Prospective students: make as many Omani friends as you can. They're wonderful and can become life-long companions. The program administration received a high score because everyone there was absolutely wonderful. All of the Arabic teachers are incredibly patient and understanding, along with them being just good teachers in general. Dr. Issam Khoury is one of the best teachers I have had in any college course...plus he's just awesome in general. Everyone there is willing to help. The health and safety got a perfect 10 because I never felt like I was in any kind of danger, there were plenty of clinics nearby, and the pharmacies acted not only as drug stores but if you wanted to see a doctor they were the places to go. My social life section received that score because I befriended so many people who attended CIL, but it took me a while to make Omani friends. Everyone is wonderful, though!

My semester in Perugia was the best four months of my life without a doubt. I was able to live in a foreign country and more specifically a town that barely spoke any english. I practiced my Italian, made amazing friends I will never forget and truly immersed myself into the culture.

I LOVED Oman. I loved the Center for International Learning and all their staff! The excursions were fantastic and breath taking, I always had something to do almost every weekend. I loved living across the street from a shisa cafe, game me something to do at night, a place to do my homework and to meet locals! I would highly recommend this program! Issam the director at CIL is incredible, and you learn you much from him and everyone there.

I had an amazing time in Florence. I met a lot of people from all over the world. I would definitely recommend Florence as a place to study abroad. I think that it has a lot of opportunities and offers a lot to students. I would have to say that I enjoyed Florence more when I first arrived in January. There were very few tourists and I wish I would have taken advantage of that more. The lines to the museums were 10 times shorter and you could easily walk to the Duomo without being surrounded by tons of tourists. Since Florence is such a well known tourist destination I felt that I didn't learn the language as much as I was expecting. Most locals and shop owners speak english pretty well. At times it was convenient, but I also really wanted to learn the language and be emerged in the culture.

My site director Milena was amazing. She took us to really great restaurants and we did fun activities like go to a hockey game. She would check in on us and help us with anything we needed. The dorms were nice because it allowed you to be social. My classes were good but I wish more economics classes were offered with CESP. Overall I'm very happy I choose CIS. The group was small and it felt like having a family in Prague.

This program was a great experience to have. I have learned so much through out my semester abroad. I was disappointed in the school system set up through my program, but it could have been worse. I was ripped off so much money by choosing this program, but it is what it is.

When I boarded a plane for the first time four months I ago, I would have never guessed I would be who I am today. My study abroad experience has been everything that I never could imagine and so much more.

I chose CIS Abroad because of how accessible they were at my university and they had the university that I wanted/needed to attend since it followed the U.S. Spring Schedule. I studied abroad this Spring 2015. I loved Australia very much! The weather is incredible and so perfect! The only thing that was stressful for me was the money situation. It was quite costly so I was resistant to doing a lot of outside travel. However, in the Gold Coast there are plenty of nice beaches to visit and places that aren't too far away to do short day trips that won't burn a hole in your pocket too much. If you want to learn more about my travels check out my blog flyawayfaye.wordpress.com. The academics I gave a poor rating, because I did not care for them too much. I do not feel that I learned very much, but that has more to do with Bond University rather than the program. The focus was more on memorization and the way the exams are conducted are more stressful than in the states. I had my last two finals in the gym and we were given seat numbers and we can't bring anything in to the exam room. They also have this weird thing called perusal time which is just 15 mins to read but not write or do anything on the answer booklet. It felt like these exams were death! However, they were just once at the end of the semester, so it wasn't too bad. I took an Organizational behavior management class which was okay. I didn't learn very much, but it was quite easy. I also took an Australian Popular culture class which was interesting. The main topic is the Australian Legend, and it was not very challenging. I also took and Managerial Planning and Controls subject which was okay--I didn't learn anything in that class that I didn't learn from other business classes. I believe this class will be dropped soon. Finally, my 4th class was Sustainable Tourism and Indigenous Culture which was an awesome class. Most of the professors seemed to care about the subject and really encouraged us to work hard. The living situation--I loved it. People would come and clean my room and make up my bed once a week. That is really nice! I def. recommend living on campus and having a roommate! I am sad that I didn't get to meet that many Australians while at Bond. I lived in the Accommodation Center on campus and basically it's the dorm for Americans. Also, the social life at Bond revolves around alcohol. If you like drinking than this is the place for you. However, it is important to remember to NOT PULL the FIRE ALARM or basically do stupid shit because you can end up getting hefty fines for the nonsense. However, you will learn all about this during orientation week. Anyways, I enjoyed my time here. I bought a bike so I did a lot of biking around which was a fun and cheap way to explore. Australia is great. I will be coming back some day!

I absolutely loved the excursions we went on with CIS and I couldn't have asked for a better group to explore Thailand with (or better coordinators- David Jackson, Ya Ya and Porn). Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

This is a great program. The staff is there when you need them. Mahidol's campus is gorgeous. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in the region. The campus is just outside of Bangkok so you have easy access to the city with out the constant hustle and bustle of being downtown. Cheers to David and Phorn.

I would definitely reccomend CISabroad. If you are looking for a program on a budget, this is a really good one and with a lot of activities. CISabroad was really organized and our local advisor was really helpful. She helped us do things we would not have been able to do otherwise. Morton Island was the best trip I went on, so go! Oh and... Skydive!!!

Coming to Australia opened my eyes to so much stuff. My favorite part about studying here has been traveling to different places in the country; Melbourne, The Outback and Morton Island were amazing. Being homesick wasn't even an issue because it has all just gone by so fast! I've learned a lot about different people and that traveling on my own can be the best thing ever. Idefinitely reccomend CISabroad because they do such a great job and they pushed us out of our comfort zone in the best way. At the orientation, they tell you so much about Australia and throw you right into so many activities. We went to the Wildlife Sanctuary, then Byron Bay and even an Australian Football game. These things that you do with CIS are such good stories to tell/bring back home with you.

Everything went really smooth as far as living, academics, cultural immersion, as well as program administration. Academics at Bond Uni are top of the line and the living situation is as well- with having your own bathroom with cleaning ladies every Tuesday. Jackie was an awesome program administrator, with always helping us out and going out of her way to make sure everyone was safe and enjoying their stay there.

I attended La Trobe University in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. It was fun socially but disappointing academically. My professor had a lack of passion while teaching (which depressed me, as a future teacher.) I tried new things, made Australian friends, who taught me the ropes and tried my damndest to get my experiences worth, fully! Although, my one professor was disappointing, I still would not trade the experience I had here and I learned so much about myself, my abilities, what challenges me and how I can overcome those challenges in a new place, when I apply myself. The logistics and everything done administratively by CIS was very good. Australia is an awesome country and Melbourne is a great city. I am grateful I had this opportunity and the site directors in Australia were wonderful.

My semester was the best six months of my life. New Zealand is the most beautiful country I've ever stepped foot in, but it's more than just the landscape. The people are so warm and friendly, lending a hand to anyone in need. Everything is informal with them, and they make you feel comfortable just in how simply they live. Dunedin is bursting with life and trust me, there's never a dull moment there. By far the best decision I've made in college, and the best time I could have ever asked for.

Amazing staff and professors! They all know multiple languages, have been everywhere in the world, are all geniuses, and are genuinely concerned with your well-being. Sometimes with so many places in such a sort time, it can be a bit of a blur, but there is always some downtime when you can go out and explore outside of lecture.

Studying abroad is what everyone says, the best time of your life! Being able to immerse yourself in a whole new culture with new foreign friends was worth every penny. It is also a must to travel and explore the land because that is one of the best ways to meet the real Kiwis. Also, you need to hitchhike because it is safe and fun.

I loved everything about my internship especially my placement in a nice school. The onsite staff were great. They were very nice and friendly and helped is with any questions or concerns. They really made the experience better. They were very knowledgeable and helped us settle in smoothly. They gave us tons of valuable information and tips. They set up many different events and trips to help learn new areas and to meet new people. Things could not have gone better!

I had a terrific time while abroad. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I met so many new people from different colleges around the entire U.S.A and I also made friends with some locals. I travelled to 9 countries in Europe and I was afforded an opportunity that I will never get again. It was amazing. I recommend everybody to study abroad in Florence, Italy with CIS. Thank you

I had a wonderful experience in Limerick with CIS. They were very supportive through the whole process, the living situation was great, and I had no problems with classes. I particularly liked that we had an excellent advisor to support us and take us on amazing trips I enjoyed very much.

UL was the some of the best 16 weeks of my life. I met people from all over the world and made lifelong friendships. By joining different clubs and societies I got to see new parts of Ireland and meet tons of Irish people. If you want great craic, go to UL no doubt!!

Going abroad, I was a little overconfident. I thought that I wouldn't experience culture shock at all and that I would just arrive and jump into the Spanish life without missing a beat. Oh, how naive I was. While every part of my study abroad experience from my homestay to my internship and my the friends I made were all amazing, it was still overwhelming to be in a new culture for the first few weeks. I missed my friends and family back home and more importantly, I missed a culture where I knew everything. After a few weeks, however, I got more acclimated and became comfortable and happy and was able to fully enjoy my time abroad. I started traveling, reaching out beyond the borders of Spain. As I sharpened my Spanish language skills, I began to form stronger relationships with my advisers and co-workers at my internship. If you have the chance to form friendships with locals, do it. First, it is a great experience that you will likely never have again and it will help you form a deeper understanding of the culture. Second, they are extremely helpful and knowledgeable about basically any question you have about the city you're studying in and give great advice for trips as well. If I could give any advice, I would say to spend more time traveling in the country you choose to study in than I did. I did travel to Sevilla, Girona, and Madrid while I was studying in Barcelona, but I wish I had traveled to other areas such as País Vasco and Málaga as well. I think that visiting more areas in the country in which you are studying will provide you with a deeper cultural experience, is less stressful (easier traveling), and will leave your wallet a little fatter.

I participated in the semester in Cusco program and had the best 4 month experience of my life. I had the great opportunity to travel to many different areas around the region of Cusco. We went to Machu Picchu, hiking in Calca, we went to Puno and Manu, as well as parts of Quillabamba. The adventures I participated in were once in a lifetime and even to this day, and being back home, I still reminisce about them all. But it was also really the people that made all the experiences. The people I met in the program became some of my closest friends I have ever made and I can rest assure knowing they will be lifelong friends. Our group was amazing and we had the best times together on our adventures and daily excursions. The classes I took were all so very informative teaching us a lot about the history, culture, and way of life of Peru and Cusco. It was refreshing to take classes that focused on culture more so on our specific majors. The classes in Lima are more focused on your major so I would have taken mundane business classes, but the classes I took in Cusco were very focused on the culture and the area such as history of the Inca civilization, andean nutrition, biodiversity of peru and spanish. I learned a lot about the country of Peru and also learned a lot about the outside world. And lets not forget that I learned a lot about myself. The experience I had in the Semester in Cusco program was amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone and anyone who is looking to study abroad.

Cusco could not have been a better cultural, social, academic and overall wonderful experience. I have nothing but positive things to say about my four months studying abroad. Unlike Lima, Cusco is not as city-like, which I preferred. My program consisted of 10 students and we were all family and very tight-knit by the end of the trip. The classes were all about the culture and could be applied very easily. There are hundreds of shops, restaurants, nightlife spots, museums, markets and natural settings to explore within walking distance or a short taxi ride. I was able to visit other places such as Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Manu National Park and more. Everything was inexpensive compared to the US and I made a lot of local Peruvian friends. My spanish improved greatly, I know so much about Cusco, the Incas and history in general. It was very hard saying goodbye to this beautiful city, but I will definitely be returning in the years to come!

My host family was located right down the street from the University where I took my intensive Spanish course as well as had my internship, so I only had to deal with a straight, roughly 10 minute walk to and from the University each and every day which was not too far at all. My internship was located in the exact same office where our on site director also had office hours, so she was always available if I had any questions and I also sometimes served as a messenger for her if she had to leave for a brief period of time. My location also really allowed me to get to know nearly all of the international students that came to the University.

My experience with CIS was great. I study in Paris during the fall semester. The classes were great and I really liked my professors. We would have a class off campus every Tuesday to visit a historical site in the city. It was amazing! I loved my apartment and my roommate and I got along really well. This program included a metro pass which saved me a lot of money. However food was not included which I didn't really mind but I know this is something a lot of people care about. I was able to travel on the weekends to different countries which was amazing! The program also included a weekend trip to Burgundy for a wine tasting which was wonderful as well. The class was very small, there were only 5 of us. The only thing that I really didn't enjoy was how little the US students were immersed into the French university. The website promised us "French Buddies" who were supposed to students from the university that would show us around. This never happened and it was a little difficult to meet French people our age. Overall I had a great experience though. I became very close with the people in my program as well as new friends from other countries that I met during my travels. This was an experience I will never forget!

I had a fun time on this trip. Not only did I get to see Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, but I got to meet some amazing people as well. I also got to experience a different culture from my own. Both Dr. Haavisto and Kelli Malone were helpful if anyone had any questions in regards to the places that we were visiting and both were very enthusiastic about teaching the class. For the most part the hostels that we stayed in were well kept and safe. The big problem that I had was the hostel in Belfast. There were health issues with my room, and safety issues as well. I found all the information that was given to us interesting, however, I was going into this class thinking there would be more literature involved and discussed.

I loved the school aspect as far as teachers and learning go, I think the trip could have been organized more efficiently. I loved my teachers GenIs and Veronica. They really did their best to make class time interactive and helpful. I didnt exactly like how far away we all lived from each other or how you all did not include metro card costs. It would have been better if we could have shorter school days.

Memorable experience was spending my birthday in Africa, on a weekend trip. I chose this program because it fit my desires the best, and was suggested to me by my study abroad office at my home university. Great living situation, I was able to live a family and an actual experience the culture.

CIS abroad was an excellent program that allowed me to immerse into Spain's culture really well and maintained an active academic program.

I had a fantastic experience with CISabroad. I participated in the Semester in Ghana program, and I loved every second of it. The administration was great (both in the US and in Ghana), and they helped the students every step of the way. There was a point where there was a bit of a housing issue during our semester, and CISabroad staff worked around the clock to accommodate us and make sure that we were okay. The orientation for this program was also great - we traveled a lot around the country and got accustomed to being a local before the semester even started. If you have the chance to travel with CISabroad, DO IT! You won't regret it.

I had a fantastic experience with CISabroad. I participated in the Semester in Ghana program, and I loved every second of it. The administration was great (both in the US and in Ghana), and they helped the students every step of the way. There was a point where there was a bit of a housing issue during our semester, and CISabroad staff worked around the clock to accommodate us and make sure that we were okay. The orientation for this program was also great - we traveled a lot around the country and got accustomed to being a local before the semester even started. If you have the chance to travel with CISabroad, DO IT! You won't regret it.

My semester abroad was a thing to remember. I had three Irish roommates who I believe will be my friends forever. They invited me out when I felt homesick and were so much fun! I made friends with other international students who I still keep in contact with. I learned a lot about their culture also. People in Ireland are without a doubt the nicest I have ever met. They are always willing to stop and help you whenever you are lost, wanting to know something about their culture, or just talk. Dublin City University is a great and fun campus with tons of fun clubs. I myself joined hiking and paintball! I will never forget Dublin, and I will go back!

I was in Shanghai and I loved the independence that I was offered. I got to travel and visit so many different places. >>> However!!!!! If you don't need to earn class credit, go through Immerqi. Their program offers the exact same services as CISabroad. I seriously can't stress this point enough. <<< Everything I enjoyed about this study abroad is wholly attributable to the work of the Immerqi staff. They did everything they could to welcome me into Shanghai and make sure I was comfortable. Internship Placement: Having to write 5 essays over the course of 10 weeks semester was intimidating at first, but once I discovered that the grading process was so lenient, I wasn't as worried. Living Situation: I got to live in an apartment near Shanghai's city center. It was a great location and I had so much autonomy over the course of my internship because it wasn't a dorm with an RA. My roommates and I got along well even though most of them weren't even students, much less study abroad students in the same program. However, one of the walls in my room didn't connect to the other wall. In other words, there was a small gap between my room and the room of my roommate. Luckily she was also a girl, but I had little to no privacy. Cultural Immersion: The program does a great job of dropping you in the middle of the city and leaving you alone. It was wholly up to me to be a culturally immersed or not as I wanted to be. I loved this high level of independence. Program Administration: When I arrived in Shanghai, I discovered that CIS ran the program through a partner company, Immerqi. Immerqi offers the exact same services for about $5000 less. On top of that, all communications with Immerqi (aka the people who were actually doing the work to prepare for my stay in China) had to go through my CIS advisor and I felt like this wasted a lot of my time. Luckily, CIS gave me class credit, which Immerqi did not. I'm just not confident that this is worth an upcharge of almost $5000. Health and Safety: Despite initial concerns, I discovered that Shanghai is an incredibly safe city. Unlike in the States, there really is no worry that someone might assault you late at night. For the most part, Chinese people go to sleep quite early anyway.

We visited a great variety of places, met extraordinary people, and experienced cultures that differ in specifics, but are united in charm. Looking back, I am able to say that I had a wonderful time, as long as I don't think about the academic side. As an avid Anglophile, I was hoping to actually learn about the cultures as I visited them, so the lack of actual teaching was a disappointment. Keep in mind that on top of the initial price tag, you're responsible for buying your own meals for the first two weeks. Also, the groups were much larger than I was anticipating (38-45), so just a heads up! Academics: My professor was a lovely woman; I would love to take tea with her any day of the week. However, she didn't really teach. Coming into the program, I expected the classes to be somewhat less in-depth in comparison to ordinary collegiate courses, but these classes were downright disappointing and a bit of a joke. The syllabi are intriguing, but don't be deceived. Your attendance will be required for your grade, but you'll end up watching videos and doing busy work. Program Administration: The main CIS office is MA is fantastic. They offer you lots of resources as you prepare for your trip and answer your questions very quickly. The admin side of the actual trip was mildly inconvenient, at best, and downright aggravating, at worst. For the first two weeks, we had no idea what our detailed itinerary was. We got off the bus when they told us, woke up when they told us,tic. The London-based staff was much more organized and on top of it.

Fabulous program. A bit pricey, but it's Spain, and the money was well worth it; I'd do it again. There was a great balance of free time to explore on my own, while also doing group activities. These included trips, cultural immersion experiences, and guided tours. We ventured to surrounding areas and learned inside and outside of the classroom. The professors in class were wonderful as well; very well-educated and firm, but fair. The only thing I would improve is the communication between the Administration and clients. I hardly ever heard back from anyone in the office (US-based or abroad.) It was often difficult to contact a person.

My experience studying abroad with CIS was very smooth and I would recommend them to other prospective study abroad students. The only thing I have to complain about is the University's administration that was used abroad, there wasn't much information or assistance in the Rome portion from AUR. Barcelona was a much smoother, culturally different, and safer experience after coming from Rome.

Summer Art and Photography in Rome was the perfect study abroad experience for art students and art enthusiasts alike, as well as for those who are interested in a smaller, more personal study abroad. I decided on this program through CISabroad because I wanted a more personal study abroad experience in which I was living, taking classes, and going on excursions with the same students. The small format of the program is a definite plus. This summer program consisted of 12 students, three professors from Jacksonville University in Florida, two on-site assistant directors, and one site director. All of the students, professors, and staff got to know me personally through the month long program, and I feel like a better, more confident person from knowing them. The professors were excellent and extremely passionate about their subjects, and encouraged me to be a better art student. The on-site assistant directors that I had in Rome were one of the best parts of the program, for being a constant supply of kindness and enthusiasm, and for putting on Friday/ weekend trips and activities for students to do together. Each Friday we visited a Roman site and learned about its history; we traveled to Florence for a weekend and had a wonderful day in the Chianti countryside wine tasting; and we had a day swimming at the lake in gorgeous Castel Gandolfo. In total, the small size the program, its focus on art and art history, the fantastic professors and on-site CISabroad staff, and incredible activites/ day trips made Summer Art and Photography in Rome one of the best experiences of my life! Academics: The layout of classes in Rome was wonderful- busy yet manageable and interesting. Each student took two classes, one in the morning from 9:00AM- 12:00PM, and one in the afternoon from 2:00PM- 5:00PM. For this summer, we had a choice between Beginning/ Intermediate Drawing or Art History in the morning, and Digital Photography or Beginning/ Intermediate Italian. The morning classes were both taught on location every day, with the drawing class going to different parks around the city to sketch, and the art history class going to different Roman sites to learn about its history. It was absolutely amazing to be out in Rome every day instead of in a classroom! The afternoon classes were both taught at the Pantheon Institute, a small institute catering to students studying abroad, and located right across the piazza from the beautiful Pantheon! The professors on the program were incredible, and were definitely one of the best parts of studying abroad.Three of the four professors teach at Jacksonville University in Florida, with a Roman professor teaching the Beginning/ Intermediate Italian class. The professors truly cared about their students, making sure that they had a comfortable and enjoyable stay in Rome, as well as encouraging students to become better artists and students. Living Situation: The living situation in Rome was much better than I'd expected. All of the students in our summer program were housed in three apartments in the Trastevere area, located across the Tiber River from the center of Rome. Trastevere was the perfect area to live in, for it has more of a neighborhood feel than other districts in Rome. It was a great place to wander around, shop, and try different restaurants and bars. Cultural Immersion: While the program provided students with the comfort of being around other American students and professors while in a foreign country, students were also encouraged to immerse themselves in Roman culture. Outside of class, students were free to explore the city, take day trips on weekends, and live independently in their apartments in Trastevere. CISabroad also put on trips to different sites around Rome (and outside of it) that allowed students to further appreciate the Roman culture. Program Administration: The CISabroad administration that I interacted with on-site in Rome were fantastic! They did a wonderful job at making students feel safe and secure, and excited about studying abroad in Italy. They also put on a number of fantastic activities and day-trips, such as a day in Vatican City and a weekend in Florence. However, I thought that the administration that I interacted with pre-arrival in Rome were disorganized at times. I think that this disorganization could potentially turn away a lot of prospective students! Health and Safety: I generally felt safe around Rome, even at night time, but definitely be watchful! Social Life: Rome has something for everyone! Whether its restaurants, bars, clubs, or simply wandering around the Eternal City, I was constantly impressed with the amount of things to do and see.

Studying and living abroad in another country is an experience completely unparalleled to anything I have ever experienced. The opportunity to take classes, from learning about the local history while out amongst the sites to making art that involved the my personal journey while living in Rome, was something magical. CISabroad allowed me the opportunity to take in the sites like a tourist while living "la dolce vita" in Rome like a local. With the awesome on-site support system and a close group of students on the program, I instantly felt at ease while abroad, experienced minimal culture shock, and easily considered Rome was my second home. Academics: I had some of the best classes of my educational career through this CISabroad program! I really appreciated how the classes that I took--Art History and Photography--really utilized Rome as the backdrop for all things that we learned and did in class. It made the experience more meaningful and helped with cultural immersion. The teachers had such passion and dedication to the students, really wanting us to get the most out of the CISabroad program, and I genuinely rate them as being a top reason why this program was such a success. Living Situation: Lived in a typical Italian apartment in the heart of Trastevere, right around the corner from Santa Maria in Trastevere Piazza! I was, in general, really pleased with it. A cleaner came in once a week, which was amazing, and in general the apartment was roomier than I had anticipated: two bedrooms, a shared bathroom, kitchenette and dinning room/living room area. The best part was the location: I couldn't have asked for better! Cultural Immersion: The classes and program events all centered around cultural immersion. Even the theme of my photography class was to capture my personal internal journey while living in Rome through photography. Although the summer program only lasted a month, I felt like I was immersed in the culture almost automatically while still having a support system from the American teachers, coordinators, and students. Program Administration: Mixed feelings in regards to this section. The ON-SITE program administration was Excellent. Any problems or questions were brought to them and quickly resolved, and they provided a truly great support system while abroad. However, the PRE-PROGRAM Administration, I felt, was lacking in some regards. There was a definite lack of communication and organization, probably because CISabroad was switching from a summer program in Florence to Rome, but for weeks on end, I received little to no information in regards to what was going on. Even after I decided I wanted to do the CISabroad program, I felt like my adviser wasn't being clear and concise, couldn't tell me classes let alone give details about the program in Rome. Of course, I'm glad I stuck with CISabroad in the end, but communication skills at the beginning could definitely have been better. Health and Safety: I never felt unsafe during my month abroad. My apartment was well-protected and in a safe part of Rome. I even went walking all around Rome at night and not once was afraid or in fear for my safety. Social Life: I felt really fortunate to be a part of the CISabroad student group. There were only 12 students on the Rome Art and Photography Program, and we did everything together. We became each others' support system and would get together to do anything, from going to dinner to hanging out in the piazza to going to bars. Because we also had classes together, I was constantly with these 11 others students, who quickly became an essential part of my experience in Rome. The people in my group added immensely to the study-abroad program!!

I am very satisfied with this program. The one difference between Rome and Barcelona was the colleges. AUR was very little help to us when we needed things while BIC was very involved with us during our stay. Academics: Classes weren't too difficult which gave us time to explore the cities Living Situation: It seemed as though some students were given better housing than others. Our friends had AC and a very nice apartment while ours was very different. Cultural Immersion: AUR didn't give us any opportunities to experience traditional things in Rome. However, BIC did an amazing job of this. There were plenty of opportunities for us to immerse ourselves.

Great experience. Poor advisor Program Administration: Advisor was not helpful or available. Went out of town the week I left. Told me I had all my paperwork in when I didn't.

Wish I could have traveled more around the country, but the school was great, the residencia was a great experience and I'm glad I did not do a home stay. And the city of Buenos Aires was amazing.

Six weeks in Barcelona was the perfect time for me to: make new friends, experience a completely different culture, and also learn a lot about myself that I would not have learned had I not traveled abroad. Living Situation: My host family was absolutely amazing! I loved living with them! Health and Safety: I was a little nervous about pick pocketing; however, it was stressed to me so much that I (fortunately) was not a victim.

It was amazing from start to finish the school not so great but the people you meet and where you go and what you do is amazing. simply put this country and its people will surprise you and you will be left will the experience of a life time. Living Situation: Some of the rules were a bit unreasonable considering we are all college students. Health and Safety: Just be smart about where you go and what you do always use the buddy system. Social Life: AMZING SOCIAL AND NIGHT LIFE SO MUCH TO DO AND SEE ITS ALWAYS A GREAT TIME!

Coming from someone who never traveled outside the country before this program, I definitely think that it opens up the door to different cultures and places for you. While it didn't really feel like I was in Australia until about halfway through, it was amazing to see a place I never even dreamed possible that I would be able to see. Three weeks doesn't seem like that long, and it isn't at all. If anything, it's not enough time there. Sure, the class and learning part is great (with awesome instructors) but the experience of seeing new places with people who will become some of your best friends is worth more than you can put into words. Academics: Being someone who really enjoys photography, the class was incredible. However, I don't think that I learned that much, but I believe that the entire experience provided by the program itself more than makes up for it. Living Situation: I really enjoyed the hostel and all the places we stayed in. They were different than anything I was used to or thought we would have, which added to the experience of being in a new culture and everything. Cultural Immersion: I loved becoming a local. We walked everywhere, we did what the locals did, we left what we knew behind and did what everyone else was doing. It was a very good experience.

Being in Aix-en-Provence was an amazing experience, the people here are warm and welcoming. It felt like I was at home the whole time I was here, I can only hope that one day I could actually return and make Aix my home! Health and Safety: Use common sense, bad things can happen anywhere in the world, aix felt completely safe the whole time I was here. You just need to be intelligent when going out at night.

Aix-en-Provence has been wonderful! I have met so many students from all over the United States, and I am extremely blessed to have studied in a great country!

If you go with an open mind there will be no problems, remember you can never compare to home a place 5,000 miles away. Academics: There was a constant confusion on the requirements of the courses. And a clear disorganization in the time tables.Yet, most of my professors seem to care and make an effort to explain their expectations. Also they were attentive on international students, as courses had a flow of their own given the students are already aware of how the system works. Living Situation: Personally the troubles I had were addressed rapidly by my CIS coordinator and this pressured the University to make changes. Already stablished, there was some delays in cooking equipment but then again nothing to worrying. Very very satisfied with Sasakawa Chalets. Cultural Immersion: There is a day to day grasp of Ghanaian culture, in and out of the University. To my understanding I really learned from their culture, the only way to be more immersed is to live with a family. Program Administration: Poor administration from beginning to end, even though the personnel is incredibly nice and really caring about your academic and general wellbeing. There are simply technological and infrastructural issues that cripple what could be a really nice system. Health and Safety: Oh my God I did not expect these at all. I thought being Ghana (Africa) there would be some robberies. No guns no nothing. There is some stealing in crowded places or if you leave an attractive possession unattended. Just care for your things and be always a little suspicious about leaving stuff around. Social Life: Very social people. Some would say too social. Friendship is very important to them so be careful in not hurting anyone's feelings. If you reach out either in class or in the street, almost always you'll get a positive response.

I lived 95% of my time in Ghana. The people are great, traveling is pretty cheap, and living is very simple and grounding. If you want a culturally significant study abroad experience full of amazing people, funny stories, and dirty clothes, take a semester in Cape Coast, Ghana. Academics: Academics were different compared to the States, but some of the best in Ghana. It was difficult to adjust to the style of lecturing and life without a textbook, but teachers were generally understanding! Living Situation: I loved living on campus near Ghanaian students as well as other international students! There are some power and water outages, as well as some days you just don't know how to cool down, but overall a great accommodation comparatively. Cultural Immersion: The CIS on site director did a fantastic job of introducing us to Ghanaian culture! Living in a dorm with Ghanaians helped as well, as did the orientation crew at CIE. Program Administration: CIS always did as much as possible to make sure we were comfortable and taken care of! Health and Safety: Don't walk alone in the dark... but I would hope you wouldn't do that at home... If you get a funny feeling about a certain route (especially around the castle at night), go a better lit and more widely traveled route. Social Life: Finding true Ghanaian friends can be difficult at first, but don't be afraid to refuse to hand out your number. Some people only want to befriend you for what you can give them. Protect yourself by having a few people with you and having a back up "spouse" or "fiancé"!

Aix will steal your heart and provide you with some of the best memories of your life. Get ready! Academics: Studying abroad is unique in that you get to learn outside of the classroom and that is something I was grateful for during my semester in Aix. While the classes I took abroad were no where near as challenging as the ones I take at my home university, they did allow me to learn about my self and my passions. What you learn from your classes abroad could never be thought by a textbook. Living Situation: The family that I lived with were very accommodating and loving and made me feel welcomed. No surprise there were cultural barriers at times but we were able to work through them and enjoy each other's company. Cultural Immersion: I lived the French lifestyle for 4 wonderful months. I truly felt like I was immersed in French culture. The only thing is that French people are culturally very private so it was hard to spark up conversations in French with people. Program Administration: At times the administration could be disorganized and it seemed that they had difficulty with communication. There is definitely room for improvement in those aspects. Overall the administration was quite nice. Health and Safety: I felt completely safe in Aix. There was never a time were I felt unsafe even at night. Social Life: Aix might not be a big city like London or Barcelona but don't underestimate it. There is A LOT to do here and the night life it not bad at all. I promise you will have an amazing time in my lovely Aix.

I know it sounds cliché but truly my time abroad in Florence was the best decision I could have made in my life thus far. I met incredible people and experienced life on the other side of the world with them. That is something you will always hold close to your heart. I had incredible adventures not just in Florence but throughout many countries in Europe. I gained knowledge about other parts of the world, but also gained knowledge about myself. I had to step out of my comfort zone, home, to truly figure out who I was and who I am. Florence is my home outside of home, and I can't wait until we meet again. Academics: I really appreciated how passionate the professors were about the subjects they taught. Living Situation: I was fortunate enough to be given an apartment that had a great view and everything within the apartment worked well. Cultural Immersion: I wish I could have immersed myself more in the culture, but I am happy with what I was able to do. Program Administration: well done Health and Safety: I never felt in danger in Florence. Social Life: It is very easy to make friends and get use to the social life. All it takes is 20 seconds of courage and to put yourself out there.

I found CISabroad via a google search and am so incredibly happy to have participated in their Ghana program this semester. CISabroad directly enrolls participants as full time students in the Ghanaian University of Cape Coast. We took classes alongside Ghanaian and other West African students and had the opportunity to live in the same dorm buildings as many of these classmates. Our cultural immersion experience was truly unique and I learned just as much outside the classroom (in the community) as I did in my academics. Academics: I dorm building we lived in was guarded 24/7 but a porter's desk who held your keys when you were not in the building. There was only one copy of each key between the 2 roommates...so that is why the porter would hold the key when you went out. There were some security issues towards the end of the semester when students accidentally left their doors unlocked...but has long as you always made sure to lock your bedroom doors at all times, you were ok! Living Situation: We were provided with a shared dorm room (2 students) and a communal kitchen that was shared amongst 8 students. 2 weeks into the semester we were provided with cooking utensils and pot and pans...so that was helpful in our food preparations throughout the semester! Cultural Immersion: Taking classes and living in dorms alongside Ghanaian students was the ideal opportunity for us to learn about the culture and the community we were living in. Program Administration: CISabroad did a fantastic job of meeting all our needs and addressing all our concerns. There was a bit of a difficultly in keeping constant communication between CISabroad and the local partner, University of Cape Coast in Ghana. Sometimes messages would get misinterpreted or things would take a long time to be addresses...but CIS did a fantastic job of working with the difficultly of international communication and making our experience truly remarkable. Health and Safety: Safety is again all what you make of it. As long as you were very aware of your surrounding and careful about locking your door, not walking by yourself at night, and not caring valuable belongings on you, you were find. I frequently went out to restaurants and bars at night and never ever in my five months in Ghana felt unsafe in the community I was living in. Social Life: Definitely the best part of my study abroad experience. I made close friends with other Americans, European exchange students, and I also made very close friends with my Ghanaian classmates and peers, as well as community workers who ran local businesses and market shops.

Once I got to Perugia, everything was smooth sailing. Prior to my departure , not as much. I felt as though there were so many unanswered questions that I had about my time in Italy, which made it hard to be totally excited about studying abroad. I wish that I had known some more information about my living arragements or class schedule before I left the States. That being said, I had the most amazing experience of my life in Perugia and met some of the greatest people that I plan to keep in contact with. I am completely satisfied with my choice to study in Perugia. Academics: I enjoyed working with all of my professors at Umbra. They were all very friendly, helpful and approachable. Living Situation: I was placed in a very nice apartment, but it was hard to keep it as clean as the school wanted. Cultural Immersion: I loved that Umbra was so community based. I was not aware that all of my classes were going to be so involved outside of class, but it gave me a great education about the city and country I was staying in. Program Administration: I wish I had known more information before I departed to go to Perugia. For example, many other students knew their living arrangements prior to our arrival in Perugia. This would have allowed me to connect with my roommates and would have lessened my anxiety levels. Health and Safety: I felt safe in the town, though there were a few safety incidences that we encountered, that can be expected almost anywhere. Social Life: There were lots of opportunities for Umbra students to do activities together as well as many tandems, which were mixers with Italian students from Perugia where they provided free wine/sangria and snacks.

This is a great program to truly incorporate and immerse yourself in the Italian culture. Set in the hills of Umbra, Perugia is the capital city that summarizes the italian life perfectly in one location. Close to nearby cities, you will enjoy great food and feel part of the city and leave not a tourist but a citizen. Academics: Some of the courses were excellent, others were more slow paced but all around great incorporation of community engagement throughout the city Living Situation: Great apartment, beautiful location and close to the city center. Excellent wifi and supplied kitchen Cultural Immersion: You truly feel part of the community here and that you are living in Italy Program Administration: The staff was incredibly welcoming and were always there in any time of need Health and Safety: You are abroad...many things can go wrong that put your safety at risk (traveling, foreign culture) you just have to be smart. Housing wise decently safe. Social Life: Easy to make friends with the locals and especially Italians since many programs offered allow this opportunity. The American students are good to have around to so that you can relate to some of your own!

My vast range of my study abroad experiences in Cusco, Peru is comparable to the ever shifting climate of a city that is today both a tourist hotspot as a jumping-off point to Machu Picchu and the home to a varied population of professionals and indigenous peoples. One day saw me exploring the Peruvian jungle, the next in class studying that same region. I studied Spanish by day, using what I had learned to converse with my host family and buy copious amounts of produce (I promise you, the mangoes in the States will never compare with a Peruvian mango) from my favorite vendors. While the process to get to Peru was extended and tedious, in the end it was more than worth the cost. If you're looking for a little adventure, a location off the beaten track, and an experience that will teach you patience and flexibility, Cusco is the city for you. Academics: The courses at USIL were varied and interesting, taught my professionals active in their field of study. Living Situation: The host family I was paired with exceeded my expectations. I left Peru feeling like I was leaving my (Spanish-speaking) family behind. My host parents shaped my time in Cusco, providing me with an insider's view of the city and invaluable advice. Cultural Immersion: Cusco, Peru is an incredible study abroad location, where you are immersed in both the Spanish language and the living legacy of Pre-Colombian cultures, the Incas, and the Spanish Conquest. Program Administration: The staff of the USIL extension center located in Cusco, Peru, was incredible. Each member was there for matters big and small - from advice for treks into the jungle and the best ceviche in the city to academic concerns. Health and Safety: I felt safer in Cusco than I do in a big city in the United States Social Life: Cultural immersion is an inevitability in Peru, especially when living with a host family. You will come to know and love the quirks of Peruvian culture and have to opportunity to meet travelers from all over the world (who are often on their way to Machu Picchu).

I had the pleasure of spending 4 months in Peru while studying abroad and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Cusco is a fascinating city with so much to offer in the way of history, culture, nightlife and endless beautiful memories. While in Peru I lived with a wonderful Cuquenan family who accepted me into their lives and homes with open arms and made me feel like I was one of their own children or sisters. I was able to study Inca history and architecture right at the heart of the Incan empire and visit many famous sites, partake in numerous festivals and see the different sides of Peru. Peru is the land of a thousand landscapes, it's topography changes from highlands and mountains, to jungle, to deserts and beaches. For anyone who wants to learn Spanish, or even just have an adventure, I recommend a semester in Cusco. If you keep an open-mind it will be an unforgettable and un-regrettable experience! Academics: The courses were very easy and didn't require very much depth of analysis, critical thinking or much study. However, the cultural class and business class were very good as they both gave a good perspective on issues relating to Peru and South America. Living Situation: Loved my host family!!! This was one of the best parts of my experience. They made me fell so welcomed and at home and I was blessed to see their culture and lifestyle up close and personal! I highly recommend homestay to anyone seeking for an authentic experience abroad! Cultural Immersion: Because I stayed with a local family I was able to use Spanish on a daily basis, eat local food every day, see how festivals and holidays are celebrated in Peru, and got to make a number of wonderful Peruvian friends. Program Administration: Overall the administration was very good, however there could have been a little more information about the courses themselves as I pretty much had to choose the courses based on their names and guesswork. Health and Safety: Nothing negative every happened to me in Peru and I always felt very safe walking around in Cusco, taking public transport, and even travelling late at night. I was always very alert but never felt threatened or had cause for concern. Social Life: I was able to interact with not only my program peers and my extended host family (who are friends for life) but I also developed friendships with many great local people: business owners, guides, musicians, professors, photographers and VJs-- Beautiful people who enhanced my experience and ensured that was never alone unless I wanted to be.

When considering options for study abroad, China may be one option that is underrated. The countryside and landscapes are beautiful. The culture is rich with history and traditions that are worth exploring and learning about first hand. While many are preoccupied with how different the East is from the West, getting to know local people and their thought processes will undoubtedly remind any foreign traveler how similar we all are in the end. Academics: The academic rigor is naturally higher in the language studies over the cultural and business courses (taught in English). The teachers are competent and qualified to teach their respective subjects. Living Situation: Foreign students experience accommodations on campus that are suitable for a semester of study abroad. It can be difficult at times to resolve questions or concerns without someone to translate - even basic things like washing clothes, paying utilities, or clogged toilet for example (but there is help). If you live off campus, you are pretty much on your own. Cultural Immersion: Cultural immersion is a natural consequence of studying in China. On the flip side, CIS Abroad did a fine job with preparation to receive the full benefit of such an experience. The online pre-departure videos were very helpful. More of those recommended for future travelers. (Language videos, Beijing videos, UIBE campus and daily life videos, etc.) Program Administration: The administrative staff overall is strong. I would like to see admin in the West communicate more with reps in the East on behalf of the student. If any major changes happen while student is abroad (stateside rep changes, financial changes, program changes), student should be notified by administration well in advance. Health and Safety: Beijing and other places I visited in the East felt very safe. Travelers should, however, always use general caution. Social Life: Beijing is a major city with plenty of daytime activities as well as nightlife. As with anywhere one visits, much of the social experience is dependent on personality and character of the individual.

This j-term allowed me to see many cultural perspectives and scratched the surface on each, but to completely understand each aspect more time is obviously needed because four countries in 3 weeks is a lot to cover. Overall one of the best experiences of my life because of the people and places I experienced. Academics: Learned a lot through IAU college about culture and academics of the countries visited. Living Situation: Lived in good hotels, home stay, and one hostel. Enjoyed all. Cultural Immersion: Saw and learned many things but the shortness and quick pace of the trip did not allow me to get acclimated enough to feel completely immersed. Program Administration: Provided good information through e-mail but could have been quicker on information such as books and travel info at times. Also could have been more clear on amount of money needed and number of meals that would be needed to pay for. Health and Safety: Never felt unsafe. Social Life: Was really able to try new things and shop new places. Great!

On the trip, I was a little disappointed that we didn't learn more and engage more with the subject of Islam. Of course we learned tons, but I thought there were so many more opportunities. However, coming home I realized how much I had learned and how stimulating the trip had been academically. I'm still someone who always wants to know more, so I'm still left with those feelings. I would recommend this trip to those who take initiative in engaging with academic content. If you life formulating your own questions and are willing to ask them, you will get so much more out of this trip. Academics: The material was often there in lectures, but it could have connected more. We spent so much time touring places that could have been followed up by a lecture that linked the more "touristy" things directly to our content, or had tours more oriented toward that in the first place (note: those tours given by our professors definitely were more on point). Living Situation: Really impressive. Some had complaints about the hostel, but it's the nicest hostel I've ever stayed in. Definitely 4 star hotels other than that. Cultural Immersion: I acknowledge this is very hard to do with a program like ours where we went to 4 different countries in 3 weeks. Overall, I was impressed with how well this was accomplished, particularly when we were given free time and with the addition of a 2-night home stay. Health and Safety: Always felt the coordinators cared about our safety and held that as most important. France at night was surprisingly where I felt least safe. Always travelled in groups wherever we went. Morocco, and Istanbul especially, I felt very safe (still important to be respectful of local cultures, norms, etc.) Social Life: always with your group of students. build community quickly.

I was immersed in the Spanish culture and found out what it is like to live in Barcelona in only a few weeks. The program provided amazing cultural experiences including guided tours, field trips and dinners that made the experience worthwhile. They also allowed enough free time to explore the culture and discover things on our own. I would recommend this experience to anyone. Academics: I learned a lot about Spain's history and culture in just a few weeks. Our teacher was excellent. Living Situation: The apartment itself was very nice with great appliances and furniture. However, the neighborhood was not so nice. There were gangster like men outside our apartment building all day and night and the streets were very loud every night. Health and Safety: It is a relatively safe city, however there are bad neighborhoods just like every city, and you should be careful of pick pocketers. If you are careful then you won't get pick pocketed.

I have always wanted to live a short while in another country but signing up with CIS was better than anything I could have asked for personally. The job placement was amazing, I woke up every morning excited to go into work. The trips planned by CIS were so fun because we were able to share with all the abroad students and the coordinator really knew her history and way around the country. Although, I was an intern I could not enjoy all the trips, I was able to pick small trips to go on by myself in place of the planned trips. The whole experience was life changing because I now want to see so many other cultures and work internationally. This was an amazing experience and I hope I get to do it again someday. Living Situation: My living situation was in the perfect location for me to be able to go where I needed to go! It was spacious enough and I had plenty of room for all of my things. It was nice enough for a 3 month stay. Cultural Immersion: I was thrown into so many cultures while abroad. Many of the trips planned by CIS immersed me into the culture of the country I was in and brought me all kinds of history. Program Administration: Everyone was very helpful along the way and my program coordinator was amazing! If there was anything I needed I felt comfortable calling her while abroad and she was always happy to help. Health and Safety: It's the same precautions as any city but as long as you know the basic safety tips you are good to go plus the program coordinator is only a call away. Social Life: Ireland has the best social life! Everyone is so nice and there is a pub on every corner so there's no problem finding somewhere to just go have a pint with somebody. The Clubs are nice too but the pubs are a great way to meet people.

My study abroad experience was the best time of my whole life! I met so many incredible people, some I know I will be friends with for the rest of my life. Health and Safety: My friends house was broke into two different times and valuables were stolen.

It was cool. Academics: Classes were very informative, I feel like I have a much greater understanding of Peruvian society. I felt that the Spanish class was too fast without enough time for review. Living Situation: Don Ignacio is a great place to live. Although constant construction is frustrating and the breakfast could use more variety. Cultural Immersion: Including field trips in the classes really added to the element of cultural immersion. Program Administration: Everyone at USIL and CIS was great. Very helpful and knowledgeable of the process. Health and Safety: I always felt very safe in Cuzco, however watch out for your belongings while traveling. Social Life: You can go out every night of the week if you want.

This experience opened my eyes to a unique city both in its attractions and flaws.

I really enjoyed my time in France. The CIS team was very helpful and I got the most of my experience.

CIS Abroad really is only an intermediary, they will not provide you with any help that you will see or benefit from directly. Honestly I did most, if not all of my work for studying abroad (coordinating flights, classes, housing) on my own because where they were involved I was quite dissatisfied. Otherwise Australia is an amazing country filled with the most incredible, friendly and calm people you will ever meet. If you feel like you need to relax, or even if you don't really know where you want to visit, go there because the country will show you more about yourself and teach you how to just be happy. You're probably doing a lot of things wrong if you don't come back saying you loved your trip to Australia, no matter what. Living Situation: I was not warned about my roommate I didn't have any options at all Dirty Over Priced CIS did not prepare me for living there Cultural Immersion: That was mostly on me, I could have hung out with all americans if I wanted to which was not at all what I wanted. Program Administration: I had a few issues during my trip and felt I had no help or support system.

Although my experiences in NZ was beyond amazing and the school was wonderful, I feel that other programs were given more in return for their money. Their bedding pack was provided upon their arrival, they had many meetings during the semester, received tickets to sporting events, and had an orientation prior so they knew people coming to campus. Academics: Although difficult, the classes at Otago were well managed. I would recommend other students to only take 3 courses as finals are worth 50+% of your grade and makes it stressful. Living Situation: I lived in a flat within a complex and loved it! Cultural Immersion: The kiwi host allowed us a chance to get to know the kiwi way of life and ask questions although more kiwi friends would have been cool. Program Administration: They were always there to answer questions. Health and Safety: Campus watch was always around and I felt very safe everywhere in NZ

I enjoyed my program. I liked everything about it. My placement was great, the orientation was good, housing was good. I would say that interning does not include a ton of hand holding and students who want every moment of every day scheduled with activities should study abroad instead. The local coordinator was good. The experience will definitely be good for my resume .

CIS Abroad worked with me so much before my trip. They were always easy to contact and clarify things with. Though the agency is expensive everything about it is worth it, I was always able to communicate with someone, felt safe, was confident in where I was going and what I was doing, and all the criteria my university needed was supplied. They found me an awesome place to intern and I was thrown in right away! I never felt abandoned and was always informed about what was going on in the city I was in or near by as well as cared for by Angela, my CIS Abroad agent. You could tell the CIS Abroad workers genuinely cared about your best interest and assuring you a wonderful time. Living Situation: I was placed in an apartment with five other Americans and it was so great meeting all of them and getting to know what it's like to live in other states or attend other universities. My roommate that I shared a room with became one of my closest friends and now we get to travel to one another in the States and stay in contact all the time. I thank CIS Abroad for pairing me with such great people and allowing me to have a family away from home, Cultural Immersion: Angela, my CIS Abroad agent always contacted us to let us know what cultural events were going on and where all the locals would be. She also drove us to events occasionally and would stop by with treats and pointers of where to get what.

My three months in New Zealand was truly life changing. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I was able to intern at two different places as well as travel whenever I pleased. I learned more in my three months in New Zealand then I have in a year in school. The laid back culture and natural beauty of New Zealand are two things that will keep me motivated to work on going back there as soon as I can. I can't say enough good things about my experience! Living Situation: Living situation was great. I made a lot of new friends and felt very at home. Cultural Immersion: The places that I interned were very helpful with this. The staff was incredible at suggesting activities and travel plans. I really felt like part of the culture. Program Administration: The administration couldn't have been more helpful. It was like having a second family to fall back on.

Most of the international students who came to San Jose, myself included, were disillusioned by the dirty capital city in the middle of the reportedly most environmentally conscious country on planet Earth. What was more disappointing was the fact that it takes a full day of stressful traveling to reach any of the destinations outside the city, which means students attending school during the week will need to wait until the weekend to take any trips. However, the school had some great Spanish language courses, and living in a Spanish speaking country was the single-best decision I've made for my education, period. If you've come to Costa Rica to learn Spanish, work hard and you will fly. If you've come to see the beautiful country, it might be better to travel outside the program. Living Situation: My host mother was very interesting and kind. We never had any problems. Cultural Immersion: Very interesting city. Wasn't what I expected, in that the city was not very safe, the air was dirty, and it was a full day's trip away from any sight seeing Program Administration: The administrators at Universidad Veritas were very professional, though my internship was a disappointment because I didn't get to work the kind of hours I wanted to in the tutoring center. My CISAbroad correspondent in Costa Rica was late for many of the administrative work on the days leading up to my trip--to set up an placement interview, and to send me the invoice for program fees to name two complaints. Social Life: I started to build up a great relationship with my students in my tutoring internship program. It was a pleasant experience when I had classes to teach.

The internship module was the best decision I made. It changed my experience for the study abroad trip and was well worth it--only if you take it seriously and fully immerse yourself in the job.

This study abroad program was everything I could have asked for, and then some! Academics: It has been mentioned that, academic-wise, I represent the the top 35% of my class. I also have a GPA of 3.34. This only refers to my home university; at the University of Stirling, I have not received my official final grades yet. Living Situation: For eight weeks I lived in a dormitory with other ISS students. Each of us had our own room, with the individual flats having their own separate kitchens and living rooms. Cultural Immersion: I do believe that I learned more about the culture that best represents Scotland, by interacting with the Scottish citizens and also by spending a day with a UK Host family. Program Administration: The staff members of ISS were extremely helpful from the very beginning, from organizing group events to assisting the students with advice and information. Health and Safety: I felt satisfied knowing that I could traverse all of campus or one of the cities within Scotland and not have to worry about crime too much. Although it was usually recommended that no one travels alone, traveling alone usually never resulted in any scary situations presenting themselves. Social Life: Even though I did not always hang out or go out with the other ISS students, I would try to spend as much time as possible during a given day engaging in social activity. I usually had school work to do, or I had to work at the organization I was interning for.

My overall experience was amazing. Our group leader in Dublin did a fantastic job of making sure we got the most out of our experience and that everything went according to plan.

Overall my experience with CISabroad was great. Our director was more than great! She took us on a few trips and made sure all of our needs were met as far as city living in Dublin. I enjoyed my stay at our student housing. The facilities were very nice. My workplace was also very welcoming. I learned so much and cannot imagine my life without having this experience! Social Life: I would enjoy more events that were scheduled by CIS.

My overall experience was a good one, be prepared to hit the ground running with everything from bus routes to what you do in your internship. The first week is chaotic, but you settle in well. Keep asking to get involved at your internship, your supervisor or boss has no idea what to expect from you, so get involved. You get out what you put in. Living Situation: None. Cultural Immersion: None. Program Administration: None. Health and Safety: I never felt like my safety was threatened. Social Life: Its Dublin, not much else to say.

They were very accommodating for exactly how I wanted my internship. Language classes could be group classes, private tutors, online courses or none at all. They took my desire to live with the locals to heart and made it happen. Living Situation: Tried their best to accommodate my desired living situation. My only wish was there to be opportunities to live in a less expensive neighborhood which might have had a nicer apartment for the price or reduced the cost of the apartment. It was a convenient location for my place of work as I was capable of walking everyday. Cultural Immersion: Planned tour visits quickly gives some knowledge about their culture and community. They also gave many different choices for language courses. Preferring interns to live together rather than seeking to live with the locals might hinder local immersion, but living with the locals probably is more stressful than living with other interns. Program Administration: Responded quickly to questions I had about the program. However, frequent emails asking me to fill out this survey and join them on Facebook. I don't have a facebook account and I don't appreciate spam.

Living in Italy was beyond amazing, but I don't know if I would travel with CIS Abroad again. I felt like the program description was a bit of a lie - guaranteeing me that I would have adventures and more to do than what was actually included. Academics: Classes were okay, but some professors were very difficult and not so flexible. Living Situation: No AC, but that's not why I rated this badly. Saw many other apartments in Rome and all seemed to be in much better shape than the one we lived in. Upside: location. Health and Safety: I made it okay, but at least half of the people I knew got mugged. Social Life: Campo de Fiori, Club Mood, On the Rox :)

Classes are five hours a day, five times a week with a one hour break spread out through the day. I felt that the classes were very challenging, yet they were fair and did not give out a ton of homework outside of class. Even though the classes were long, our teachers did a good job of being enthusiastic and made an effort to try to make the day go by faster. Health and Safety: During the day it is completely safe in the area I am at. If it is night time, don't go out by yourself and don't go to touristy spots. Don't whip out your phone or any other valuables at night if you are by yourself. Social Life: There are hundreds of bars and restaurants within a ten minute walk from my residency, so I always have somewhere new to try with my friends if I want to go out. Living in a residency is nice because there is usually someone there to go out at night with if you feel like going out. Living in a residency gives you the freedom and independence do go out whenever you feel like it without having a curfew.

Going abroad with CIS has been pretty awesome. The on-site director and director in the US could not have been more supportive or knowledgable. I think I got reallllly lucky with my homestay. My host family was absolutely incredible. I did not have a roommate (which I highly suggest!), so I really became part of the family. I learned so much, saw so much, grew so much and can´t wait to come back! Living Situation: MY HOST FAMILY WAS ABSOLUTELY, INCREDIBLY AMAZING. Cultural Immersion: With the help of my director and my host family, I felt like I was really immersed in the Tico culture! Program Administration: Besides a slight lack of communication between the U in Costa Rica and my director at home, CIS was a great program to go through. Health and Safety: If you are safe, the city is safe. I´m from New York so I´m used to being aware of my surroundings and living in a city. But I pretty much felt completely safe for the entire duration of my trip. Social Life: I´ve made such great friends! I really clicked with a couple of students in particular so we usually spent our weekends traveling or exploring San Jose together!

London is the perfect place to spend a month. There is so much to do and there is never a chance to be bored. I loved every second of my time there and I would go back in a heartbeat! Academics: Assignments were not made clear about what was expected to be in them and when they were due. Program Administration: People in charge of excursions never knew were they were going. Never gave us directions to meeting points, ESPECIALLY FOR THE GOODBYE DINNER! Or let us know how long it would take to get someplace. Was not helpful when we came to them with problems we were having and did not help us figure out how to get to the airport whatsoever. And I want to be able to see where my money went during this trip because I do not understand why it cost so much for the things that we did. The Oyster Cards that were given to us were the best thing they did. They were awesome! Definitely keep doing that! Social Life: Everything was so much fun!

Studying in South Africa was by far the most amazing experience of my life. The classes where interesting and the trips were amazing. I also meet so many wonderful people and I know the friendships I made will last a lifetime. The garden route tour was a great way to see more of the beautiful countryside and was, with out a doubt, the best part of the trip. Health and Safety: I never felt like I was unsafe.

Exciting, informative and motivating. Social Life: Pleasurable and refreshing.

the trip was awesome and the cultural immersion was outstanding. overall awesome experience. Health and Safety: 100% safe. Social Life: best part of the trip was the social life

CIS did a wonderful job of getting me prepared for my travels, everything was spelled out very clearly for me. They did a very poor job however, of connecting me with other students in the CIS program. Especially when compared to the other students traveling with different programs.

I was able to see so much and learn a ton in just 6 short weeks! Academics: Not much depth in the class discussion or material. Social Life: Made great friends!

I would recommend this trip o any and everyone. I was granted the opportunity to see what some people will only see on t.v. I met people that I will remain friends with for a life time, and I'll truly never forget this time of my life. Academics: I can honestly say that I have learned alot during my time abroad. I have no complaints Program Administration: The program was great however I think something's could have run a little more smoothly. Some of the excursions were definitely unorganized and could have been put together better by the programs administration. Health and Safety: I

My trip to Ecuador was life-changing. Three factors were key to the resounding success of my experience: my host family, my project, and my language school. First, my host family was welcoming and inclusive, allowing me to safely practice the language and learn the culture; my program directors adequately matched me with a school where I could teach English, where I had some hilarious and heart-warming experiences that would be too long to recount here; and finally, my objective to become fluent in Spanish was fulfilled, thanks not only to my homestay, but the wonderful instruction at the Spanish school where I studied. Internship Placement: The Spanish school where I studied in Quito was one of the best parts of this trip. I came home from my trip almost fluent, and a large part of this success is directly attributed to my time studying at the language school. Living Situation: Again, this was a crucial factor to the success of my program. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed my host family, and absorbed much of the culture and practiced the language when I went to events with them, and even just watched t.v. in the house. Cultural Immersion: My program also ensured we had many different cultural events--including a dance performance and night bike ride of the city--that also contributed to my cultural understanding of the country. Program Administration: I did not have any major problems while I was on my program. Health and Safety: While I did not necessarily feel safe in all parts of the country where I stayed, I certainly felt safe in the neighborhood where I was staying. Social Life: I was blessed to make local friends that took me around to the favorite restaurants, bars, dancing spots, and historical sites. They made my trip unforgettable.

The course was fantastic! Our instructors were knowledgable, our material interesting, and our time their was fun. Academics: The teachers knew the material and how to best present it. They also worked well at working 1-on-1 with any student. Living Situation: Housing did not only contain students in the program but migrant workers as well. It was distracting. Cultural Immersion: It was nice to learn about the Aboriginal artwork that we encountered. Also being able to interact with the locals was a plus. Program Administration: Great! They were willing to work with the students to fix problems that were not even their fault in the first place. Health and Safety: Felt completely safe wherever we went in Australia. Social Life: The Australian football game which we went to was absolutely awesome! The rules of the game or more so lack of rules made the game fast paced and soon we were cheering with the regulars.

I dont know what i'm supposed to put here Program Administration: I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be rating the EOTO program or CIS... Health and Safety: I never once felt like I wasn't 100% safe Social Life: Staying in the hostel and meeting backpackers from around the world was sooo much fun! Plus we went out with them on the weekends and that was a blast!

Greatest 5 months of my life

Anyone who is interested in the course I would highly recommend the Summer Photography EOTO program, but DO NOT do this through CIS go through Global Links! I had nothing but trouble with CIS and was very misinformed. Every student from CIS in this program was very uninformed our scheduled departure dates were even wrong and La Trobe ate the hotel bill and apologized for CIS's poor communication. Everyone in Global links had no trouble and we were told all the paperwork was received by La Trobe early unlike CIS who submitted late... Health and Safety: Always felt safe. Social Life: Fun Bars and Night Life.

Living with a Peruvian family and traveling around Peru with friends from around the world helped my Spanish, showed me culture and was a great all around experience. Academics: The school needs to help the students out much more with scheduling such as emailing within a 2 day time frame rather than 5 days after an email has been sent. Also the students need to be allowed to take the Spanish class that is next for their minor or major and not have it based on a test, the semesters are spaced 2 months apart for americans and without classes it takes a little time to recall the information without practice.And I along with many other students were bored to death in a lower level Spanish class where not much new information was learned. Living Situation: The Acosta family was just like living in my house with my family, they couldn't have made me feel more at home and part of another family. Cultural Immersion: With my family and friends I was able to really get to feel the Peruvian life style for a while and make it a little part of me. Program Administration: Bryan Waldran and Patricia our site director were both very helpful with any questions starting with the paper work to leaving the country. Patricia did an amazing job with the trips that we took within Lima where we learned some of history and culture but as well were able to have a lot of fun. Health and Safety: If you have common sense and don't dress too nice your ok most of the time, but there are always narcos trying to sell drugs to white people and always foreigners are number one targets for bus pickpocketing Social Life: As long as you try there are plenty of people to talk to although I wish more wanted to speak Spanish instead of English with us English speakers here

This internship abroad in Barcelona couldn't go any better. The entire staff was very helpful, friendly, and welcoming. It definitely beat my expectation both as a tourist and as a worker.

I am overall very satisfied with the EOTO program and La Trobe staff. This was an amazing experience and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I am, however, disgusted with CIS and would never use them again even if they paid me. There was far too much misinformation and meeting many other students who had the same problems made me feel taken advantage of. The EOTO program is 100% worth pursuing and someone of any level can succeed in this course. Academics: rigor is appropriate for course length and content. Living Situation: dirty and unfavorable living conditions. Cultural Immersion: great involvement in local affairs and culture. Program Administration: happy with all things related to La Trobe (overseas university) but incredibly displeased with all administration related to CIS. Health and Safety: i felt fairly safe, but i think that it is a poor decision to put foreign students in a hostel with other foreigners who sometimes partake in illegal activities/business. Social Life: everyone i was living with was courteous and easy to get along with.

Peru has some of the nicest people you will ever meet, if you want to expand your language skills, and your world view, there is plenty opportunity in peru. The cusqueña is good to. I have made many international friends and learned about other cultures not just peru. I wish I would have done this earlier so I could have done it twice. In due time I will return. Academics: school kicked my but the last month or so. Living Situation: A++++++++++ wasnt offered so I hope just a regular A+ suffices Cultural Immersion: being from LA area Lima is much like LA, but I still learned spanish and learned about food. Not much different though. Program Administration: Brian has been super helpful Health and Safety: Lima is not safe, many people get robbed, and robbers carry guns and knives, don't carry valuables and to walk around lima with more than 100 soles on you. Im never been robbed but I've heard a lot of stories and seen it happen. Social Life: too much life here, you might need to have some you time, once in a while but there is ample opportunity to go to paries and travel, and hand out with friends.

I learned a great deal. I had an awesome time and I personally think every student should experience this.

I had a great time in Madrid Academics: Great Teachers from Suffolk and I learned a lot about my subjects. Living Situation: Great place in the center of town

First, UIBE is not a typical Beijing university, and the courses you study there are not the same as what local students take. I was surprised to find my classes full of foreigners, and adjusted for, er, "foreign" tastes. I expect Chinese students' classes are much harder than what we had. However, the foreign aspect of UIBE was also what made my semester in Beijing so interesting. Not only was I fully immersed in Beijing's local culture, but I was also meeting people from more countries than I had ever dreamt of. My roommates were Italian and Moroccan, for one. I was able to learn from them what it's like to be Muslim in China, or what aspects of Chinese culture clashed with Italian culture. My experience was made much more diverse due to the nature of the university. As for the program, Alice, our coordinator in Beijing, called me regularly to chat and brought us to places around Beijing on the weekends. She even helped us out when one of the CISabroad students got food poisoning, and when I had my fever. She was consistently a huge help for all of us, and did her best to help the CISabroad students bond over the course of the semester. Terrible weather, good food, and countless stomach flus later, I think it all balanced out. Would I live in Beijing in the future? I think I'll stick with sunny California. Was it worth it to go this semester? Definitely. Academics: Morning language course teachers were very good, and the classes were useful. The afternoon courses were very lax, with many students goofing off during class. Some of the professors seemed like they were reading off of other people's slides, and did nothing to maintain order in the classroom. The projects weren't very interesting (in one class, the project felt irrelevant to the course) and people who obviously slacked off got the same grade as those who had impeccable presentations. Lots of easy A's, not much homework, a lot of overlapping generic "China for Tourists" information. On the plus side, teachers were all very friendly and helpful during breaks and after class. Living Situation: Many of us foreign students were put into the local students' dorm, which had no private restrooms and terrible amenities. Noise complaints were completely ignored, and as a result, there would be foreign students yelling and screaming well past midnight, making it difficult to wake early for my morning classes that began at 8am. The restrooms were dirty and half the sinks were usually taken up by the students' laundry, because the laundry room was close to impossible to use (due to the convoluted coin payment system). Cultural Immersion: Aside from the enormous foreign student population on campus, the local area was very good for cultural immersion. Many of the streets around the school had great local food, boutiques, and demonstrated really authentic Chinese culture. Program Administration: Didn't get to meet my advisor until the last week of my program, but that was due to her health and understandable. Health and Safety: Had a thief try to snatch my phone, another stuck his hand in my pocket. Someone tried to grope me at a subway station. Still, that's basically the extent of things in Beijing- there are rarely any violent crimes, so just watch out for your belongings and you'll be ok. Social Life: Can't complain! Had lots of friends, went out very often.

I´ve really enjoyed the internship program and am very satisfied with the staff and accomodations.

Interning in Barcelona was definitely a life changing experience. The CIS people are very helpful and very nice. Barcelona is an amazing city and anyone who is thinking about going should! Even if you don't speak spanish (or catalan!). I could not speak spanish at all however people in Barcelona were mostly very nice about still helping me to find my way around and to find the places i was looking for. If you go in the summer, make sure to stay in town the weekend of San Joan, incredible fun on the beaches that night. Wouldn't trade my experience here for any other place in the world. Living Situation: Way more then i expected, wonderful living conditions compared to expectations Program Administration: Never had any problems getting in contact with administrative people in Spain Health and Safety: i personally never felt like i was in danger in my entire time in barcelona. wile i would encourage people to be careful, i never was pick-pocketed or even approached in any kind of manner that would make me afraid. very safe city Social Life: Never a dull moment really, either out at a local bar or sitting with my roommates on our balcony watching the local kids play futbol below in the courtyard. When neither of these things was going on we always were out doing things, too much to do in Barcelona to sit around at home all day

My internship in Barcelona with KIMbcn was a great experience both in and outside the office. At the internship placement, I learn a ton about business and market analysis from a technical perspective but also learned some Spanish and even how to use LinkedIn, which is essential in the 21st century. At the office I learned much about the culture of Spaniards and even received tips about where to go and what to do. Outside the office, I learned about our local neighborhood Gracia which is probably one of the best places to live in. They've got great local food for amazing prices! The cultural immersion activities were fantastic learning experiences, especially the cooking class, tours of the city and networking events at Barcelona Activa and Dostrece. Overall, I didn't exactly learn as much Spanish as I'd hoped to but I am still surprised by the amount that I did learn. I will definitely be back to Spain. Academics: I learned many things from doing the internship in Barcelona with KIM Global. Most of my learning was either relating to business analysis, using LinkedIn or using my soft skills when communicating with people. The Spanish classes on the other hand were in my opinion oddly placed as I was too tired after work to learn anything at all. Living Situation: I loved the very Spanish flat we lived in. We were located in Gracia, which is a lovely neighborhood and the flat itself was relatively tech-free which was great as it taught me about traditional living in Spain. Cultural Immersion: I think that I was very well immersed into the culture, especially thanks to the location of our apartment. The Spanish classes did help me understand the culture, and so did my Spanish speaking friends. Program Administration: I think the program was administered very well and I had no problems whatsoever. Health and Safety: Barcelona is a very safe city, but the only problem is pickpocketers. They are never armed, but will prey on unwary tourists. Social Life: Everybody in Barcelona is very nice and friendly. There are also many ways to meet people from bars and clubs to just walking around and talking to people at stores etc.

I went on this trip hopeful to learn about other cultures I did that and then some I also learned alot about myself and made life long friends Academics: the guide that came on the bus with us had alot of very valuable information Living Situation: i do understand that hostels are the very basic of living but some of them were simply disgusting Health and Safety: belfast was a pretty nerve wracking place to be, considering they have not been at peace for all that long and some neighborhoods still get blocked off at night and the hostel was not hygenic Social Life: having so many excursions especially early ones made it a little difficult to want to go out and explore after

An experience both of ups and downs .. Good overall

My summer in France was absolutely unforgettable. The staff at IAU were so willing to help us and accommodate us in any way. My only regret is signing up for three weeks instead of six. Three weeks is just not enough.....

Great city with tons of activities around. I reccomend buying or renting a car and taking road trips. Health and Safety: Very safe,

nz is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is filled with nothing but adventure. The kiwis are all welcoming and the university of otago campus is beautiful. every weekend I would go on a tramp with twenty of my friends and explore everything nz has to offer. I recommend traveling to both the north and South Island but preferably I liked the south better. This was the best experience I could have ever imagined and I've never been so sad to leave such a wonderful and eaceul place. Academics: different kind of learning than a small school. they grade way too hard and it's all based off book knowledge not student opinion. Living Situation: flatting is the absolute best Cultural Immersion: New Zealand is the absolute best Program Administration: felt very taken care of Health and Safety: never had a worry about safety Social Life: I loved living in dunedin, especially where everyone parties and has the time of their lives every weekend. definitely a work hard play hard kind of university

I thought my program was very helpful in adjusting to living in a foreign country. I wasn't here for very long, but I wish we had done more as a group.

I loved going to Ireland and Scotland! I loved how we were able to see so much in such a short time! I would have only made a stop in Belfast and instead stayed in the Highlands longer however other than that I loved the schedule! I wish we would have gone to more museums that were guided by Kelly! Academics: Our tour guide for the first portion of the trip was incredible! She was so knowledgable and was able to make history very interesting. I greatly enjoyed the walking tours of the different cities. Living Situation: Most of the hostels we stayed in were clean and safe however the hostel in Belfast would get an F rating. The bad neighborhood and extremely bad sanitation made the trip to Belfast unenjoyable. Program Administration: I felt informed on what was going on however sometimes I felt like I was not informed on what was supposed to be completed before coming on the trip. Health and Safety: Felt very safe except when we were in Belfast. Social Life: I met so many people because we were around each other everyday, all day!

I learned a lot about the culture of Ireland and Scotland. I have a new appreciation for how different the way they live is. I really enjoyed my time and would love to one day return. I got a good variety between urban and rural life in both countries. Living Situation: Belfast felt very unsafe, some places sheets not clean Program Administration: loved tour guide and bus driver Health and Safety: Belfast was scary, for the most part I felt safe other than the one hostel. Social Life: I felt like the groups were cliquey, it was hard if you didn't want to go out every night

Ireland is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. The people are great, food is fantastic and the scenery is unbelievable. I also enjoyed my visit to Scotland, food not as good as Ireland, nor the service you receive at restaurants. The tours we did were awesome, as well as educational. Ireland and Scotland both have a majestic aura, that fills one with inner peace and contentment. Living Situation: Some of the residents or next door neighbors, are very disturbing, loud, and intoxicated in the late night. When I say loud, I mean beating on walls, doors slamming every 2 seconds, yelling and cussing. Is there security on guard, and a number that we can call? Health and Safety: It all depend on which side the steering wheel is. Social Life: Relaxing, enjoyable smog free, and refreshing.

This trip was FANTASTIC! You learn so much about the culture of Ireland and Scotland yet you learn the real culture and not the stereotypes you hear about in the states. You get to go to so many amazing places and meet amazing locals who are friendly and just want to teach you more about where they come from. Ireland and Scotland are even more beautiful than you could imagine! This was my favorite trip and I am so thankful for the memories I created here! Academics: I loved the courses and I loved our tour guide and bus driver. The journals were new even for our professor and to be real honest with you they were a struggle to do with the lack of internet and availability of time to do them. Other then that it was a great way to record what I had learned on my adventure. Living Situation: Some of the hostels were great and then some were not (Belfast). To be completely honest I would NOT put 10 girls in one tiny room for more than 2 days because that 1) gets stressful and 2) gets a little irritating especially 10 girls trying to use one outlet because that was all that was in the room. The hostels in Galway, Glasgow, and Edinburgh were amazing though and I would suggest staying at them again. Program Administration: Everyone was really friendly and willing to help no matter what! Dr H was so sweet and really took us in as her own. Leslie and Kelly were amazing and I am pretty sure we would not have made it without them! Health and Safety: We had to count off everywhere we went like little duckling's but we were constantly safe 100% of the time which made everyone not worry so much about what was going to happen to them. Social Life: We got to go out and explore the culture and its people in its true form. We also were treated like adults instead of just students.

A.) The hostels were very very cheap in some places, and really shouldn't have been for what we paid. ie: Belfast. B.) Meals should be included for what we paid. C.) I would have liked even more lecture and led tours, there were times where we were set free but I would have liked a guided tour. D.) People were great, guides were great (Kelli and Les!!!) overall I had a blast. Health and Safety: ...belfast did not feel safe at all.

So far the program has been very informative as well as fun. You go to many different cities and do excursions at each one. There's extensive traveling which can be a bit hard at times but most places are spectacular and the work isn't too hard. Living Situation: Varies by city but most hostels were fairly nice and the campus is great. Social Life: You can always find something to do and there are lots of people on the program to hang around with.

This particular study abroad program has been running for the past ten years; each year the same teacher tries to improve the trip even more. You can not go wrong when picking the program Academics: i felt i learned more on my last study abroad trip i learned more and in addition we had less work. However i did think do be considered a study abroad class my last trip should have had more assignments. If i were to design the class, i would make the trip latter in the summer and have to assignment that are do at the end of the trip before. This was when you write the papers you learn more about where you are going. I also disagree with having quizzes. I have always hatted pop quizzes because you cant study for them. I also dont feel people learn from quizzes Living Situation: Most rooms were nice except for one location which was absolutely gross and sketchy. The only problems with the other rooms where the number of outlets for the number of people in the room. Also the breakfast was not the best. The leaders kept on telling us to eat a hardy breakfast but that was hard when you only have a choice of cereal and toast in most of the locations Program Administration: I did not feel like we were really prepared for the trip. My lat study abroad trip i went on, we met ever other week so we would know more of what was happening. I also wish we know more about the history before we arrived Social Life: My last study abroad trip had only 5 people. The five us us had a blast. This trip there were 29 of us and it was impossible for everyone to hang out with each other at the same time so it was not as fun. I felt left out a lot

I absolutely loved traveling around Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. I feel as if I truly got to see what each of these countries offer and how incredible their natives are. I could not have chosen a better study abroad program. Health and Safety: A- only because of Belfast. Everywhere else I felt completely at ease, but I definitely don't think the Youth Hostel was the best place to stay. Social Life: In each place we went, there was always fun to be had and something new and exciting to do with friends.

I had some reservations when I first signed up for this trip as I am not a first time traveler, but I am very glad that I decided to follow through with the experience - I have learned a lot about myself along the way! The academics of the program are challenging but the professors work with you to make everything interesting. Not every place we visited was to my liking, but each destination was unique in every way! I have only had one or two minor issues with some of the accessibility of the trip (due to medical issues) but the excursions have been worth it! Academics: The academics involved in this study abroad are definitely challenging, but are not so complicated that it is impossible to complete your work. There is a lot of reading involved in some of the courses offered but the work, alongside the excursions, is engaging! Living Situation: The dorms are OK - they can be a little noisy at times. I am a little bias about the situation though, as this is my first time ever living on a University campus. Definitely pleased with the conditions of the suites! Program Administration: Love the coordinators! They have made this a pleasant experience thus far and are very accommodating! Social Life: I am not huge on going out, but if you are into that kind of thing, there is plenty to do! It has been very easy to meet and somewhat get to know everyone on the trip as well!

While i choose the trip mainly for the London part, i was excited for ireland and scotland as well. Overall, i feel that throughout the two weeks the main problem was time. We either spent way too much time at a certain location or way too little. Dublin for example i would have loved to explore more, whereas Belfast and the Aran Islands should have been cut off. The living situations were what i expected and managable except for in belfast. The academic aspect to the ireland and scotland portion i thought was very managable. i was must surprised by how much i liked scotland, perhaps even more than Ireland. Living Situation: Belfast especially was absolutely horrible hostel conditions, unsanitary. had to stay in hotel for one night

Overall, I came into this trip thinking that I would get to spend a few blissful days in Europe without any real cares, with the exception of the work that I knew would be on the horizon. The workload, though, was appropriate, although difficult to achieve with little internet access, accentuating the information that we learned during the tours. The information was presented by very knowledgable people, one of which is a professor that I have had for several semesters in a row. In the end, I saw so many beautiful sites that it didn't really feel like much of a chore to take this class. Academics: I felt that both the tour guide and the professor that was present provided a great depth of information that helped the class to better understand and appreciate the sites that were seen. The journal prompts alllowed students to dwelve deeper into the experiences, which was quite beneficial. Living Situation: The hostels as a whole were acceptable, although the one in Belfast was quite disgusting. All of the places, likewise, had little, if any, wireless access, leading many of the students, myself included, to get behind on the journal prompts. Program Administration: As previously stated, I thought that the instructor did wonderfully on this trip. My only suggestion rests in the students having to do the journals the day that the trip was done, so that they do not get behind. Health and Safety: As long as we travelled in groups, I felt that we were fairly safe. I never thought to venture off alone. Social Life: I was quite sociable, although I did not partake in the endless nights of drinking and revelry that most of the group enjoyed. I instead enjoyed hanging out with a few people and exploring.

This trip was a great experience to be able to visit the British Isles all in 2 weeks. Everyday there were new activites and you are always on the go. However, if you plan to go on a trip and stay in nicer areas of the towns and cities this might not be the best trip for you. Living Situation: Living Situation was by far the worst accomadtions I have ever slept in. I have been on 3 other study abroad trips and this trip by far was the worst. Belfast was the worst hostal- as bad as 10 people in the group paying for a hotel down the street that was 70 pounds a night. Including myself who paid for it too. No soap, no clean sheets, "Cleaning lady was off duty" hair all over the mattress, and door didn't lock. Not to meantion homeless people allowed to stay there too. Not a student friendly hostal at all. It was a problem of cleanliness of the hostal and rooms. Health and Safety: Felt safe around the cities. Not always at the hostals though. Social Life: Very fun nightlife everynight around the towns!

Best life decision I've made thus far. Aix is so incredibly charming. The people, the food, the atmosphere -- all wonderful. You'll discover something new about this city everyday. Study in Aix, stay with a host family, explore the world ... you won't regret it. Health and Safety: Always felt very safe. Just make smart decisions and you'll be fine! Social Life: There's something going on every night of the week in the centre-ville. Hint: Tuesday is Ladies' Night at Manoir ... free (cheap) champagne!

Classes overall are pretty good I got really involved with my teachers and learned a lot. My host family was awesome and made a lot of friends in the city.

If you want to speak Italian, learn more about Italian culture and interact with Italian students and other Italians, Perugia should be the place you go. The staff at Umbra is fantastic and the Italian professors will make sure you really learn the language. Program Administration: The process of enrolling in classes during the first week wasn't organized as well as it could have been. They gave many students overlapping classes on their schedules that had to be resolved.

Perugia is a great city, much to do and great scenery. It is centrally located in Italy, being only 2 hours from Florence and 3 from Rome. This makes travel an ease. The professors and School employees are very helpful with any question you need. Academics: Great variety of courses and great professors Living Situation: Landlords were very helpful. Wifi in all apartments Cultural Immersion: We were encouraged to meet and talk with locals Social Life: Many great places to go at night.

New Zealand is a great country, the people are friendly and the land is beautiful. CIS made it easy to get here and study. I know a lot kids who had trouble when they got here because they didn't have everything done right. I didn't have to worry because it was done for me by CIS. Academics: The classes were fun and engaging. I enjoyed the professors a lot and the classes were not huge so you could make friends. Living Situation: Got a flat with my own room and my flat mates were super chill. Cultural Immersion: I was able to travel around fairly easy. All the locals were super willing to show how to get somewhere or take me themselves. Program Administration: CIS is a really good program to go thru they make easier on you and you save money. Compared to kids I know that came without a program. Health and Safety: I never once felt unsafe on or off campus. On campus they have a patrol that is on duty 24/7 Social Life: Dunedin is a college town and is a little dead during summer. As the come back it starts to pick up and the party the first week of school is great. The city center is only 15 minute stumble to school so no need for taxis.

I found the people to be friendly and welcoming and the staff to be helpful for the most part. Transportation was the only problem we had as students because it was hard to find ways of getting around NZ because public transportation was not great. Academics: The academics were challenging but not horribly difficult Living Situation: I was switched from living in a dorm to a "flat". One of my roommates was also an exchange student and we became friends but the roommate that was from NZ and was supposed to show us around was no help at all. But the living conditions were nice in general. Cultural Immersion: We were forced to be culturally immersed and I found it to be overwhelming but nothing out of the ordinary. Our Kiwi host was useless, most of the time no where to be found. Program Administration: The program administration was good but i found i would rather try to make friends with students rather than spend time with an employee. Also, there were papers that i had not been informed i needed filled out so i had to go around trying to fill out forms before classes started. Health and Safety: I felt safe on campus with the security guards that walked around. The city was for the most part safe as well. Social Life: Alot of people had their own social groups already but some people were very open to helping show us around and show us "touristy" places to go.

I had a blast on my trip, learned Spanish and am now fluent and made a lot of great friends. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world and wish I could go back and do it all over again. Health and Safety: As long as you don't go looking for trouble you won't find it. Social Life: Best in the world.

I literally had the most phenomenal time abroad! The staff of CIS beforehand made me feel super comfortable and were always really helpful and made it easy for me to get excited for my time in Ireland. It was the best three months of my life by far!

CIS's study abroad program with IAU in Aix en Provence, France is absolutely amazing, and I would highly reccomend it. The city is breathtaking, living here is just a joy. I would definently reccomend this program to someone who wants a semi-relaxing semester somewhere beautiful. For people who want cultural immersion, you should be warned that you'll be going to school with all Americans, so getting to know French students can be a bit hard. Academics: The classes offered at IAU College through CIS is amazing, and should be highly appreaciated. I took the POL-SCI classes, and I very much enjoyed them Living Situation: Meh. Host mom was OK, apartment was OK, room was adequate. Honestly I didn't really spend that much time in my living situation. Cultural Immersion: Hanged out with too many Americans, hard to get to know French people since everyone at IAU is American. Program Administration: Amazing! Leigh Smith is great, and so is the president of IAU! Nothing bad to say about the admin. Health and Safety: Never ever felt unsafe at any time walking home for 30 minutes in the wee hours of the night, Extremely safe city! Social Life: Great social atmosphere here in Aix

best time of my life

Best life learning experience I have recieved

At first the program sounded good because it was cheap and the staff was very helpful. But once I arrived their was no real support and the on site coordinator was in another cityand hard to reach and there were no program excursions included like others except Macchu Piccu but you had to pay extra. Living Situation: I lived with my boyfriend and his family Cultural Immersion: No activities or anything from my program sponsors Program Administration: Very helpful through the process but once I arrived to my country not so much Health and Safety: Must be careful at all times because their are many robberies and things like that. Social Life: Many things to do like Miraflores with clubs and bars and also many clubs, bars and good restaurants to go to in other parts of the city.

I learned so much in the few months abroad. I cant even explain how my experience was. It was nothing close of perfection. The friends I've made overseas will forever be one of the closest friends I will ever have. New Zealand has made me a better person and I have learned more about the world through this experience.

Definitely recommend doing a study abroad. I chose New Zealand and I was in awe every day. The landscape coupled with the friendly atmosphere was more than i could have asked for. Living Situation: Apartment style living was really fun and a new experience Cultural Immersion: Hung out with mostly international students but I got the feel of the culture right away. Program Administration: Did not have much communication with this area Health and Safety: Never once was I afraid to walk down the street at night. I was in a college town and campus watch was always out. Social Life: Friendly atmosphere, easy to make friends, tons of opportunities to get involved.

Visiting Costa Rica to intern and take classes was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I met tons of new people, learned a lot of Spanish and grew way more culturally aware. For anyone who's an adventurer, or even if you're not - take this chance. You won't regret it. Cultural Immersion: I would have loved to get to know more locals - often times it was hard to get out of the student bubble. Maybe if there was a group of ticos who would be willing to show us around?

The most difficult part about any study abroad is the logistics before actually leaving. Setting things up, putting together the program, and getting final details of information can be a hassle, especially when the only mode of communication many times is just email. I will say the only time of frustration for me in the whole experience was going through the same stress, that I am sure each representative feels taking care of dozens or hundreds of students at the same time, of finalizing costs, passports, and other pertinent information for such a long stay abroad. Once my internship and classes were set up, everything was smooth and I didn't have anything to worry about except the things that I could take care of myself. Overall, I appreciate the work CIS did for me to create an experience that I honestly didn't expect. It was exceeded, and I highly recommend CIS to any student seeking an experience anywhere in the world. Living Situation: I believe the families that house students should have some expectation to try and associate with the students. It is invaluable to have any chance to speak spanish, and some families have their own agendas before and after feeding their students. Cultural Immersion: Saw many great places and really feel like I got a feel for what it is like for those living here. It is difficult, however, to see more without spending more out of my own pocket. Program Administration: Sometimes it took a long time to get a response from representatives. Even a 'I am still working on your situation' is comforting to know when dealing with international places and personal information. Health and Safety: No problems, felt safe always. Social Life: True, social life really depends on the individual. However, sometimes it is better for many to make friends when there are extensive opportunities. Even though we have classes with other students, it was very difficult to communicate with them. Only through FACEBOOK could we find those who we already knew, nonetheless meet others. Also, there were not many circumstances that students are put together with locals for activities.

To say the least I have had the time of my life this past summer. When my friends and family from the states ask me about my experience all I really can do is smile. For two months this past summer I lived in Quito,Ecuador. I was able to work in a daycare and a health clinic that was on site. The daycare was absolutely amazing, filled with hardworking teachers and children that make your heart melt. Everyday I helped the teachers with anything that required extra work; which could be anything from teaching the children to making signs for the classroom. In the health clinic on site I was able to assist the nurse with basic skills such as blood pressure, height, weight, and first aid. While also assisting the doctor in various manners, and getting the opportunity to observe and learn about the basic and major health problems affecting the people of Quito. While living with my host family I truly felt that I was getting the most out of the culture. They brought me into their home, and made me feel as if I was part of their family. My weeks were filled with volunteering at the daycare and clinic, while my weekends were free to travel the country and explore all that Ecuador has to offer. Living Situation: I was blessed with the best host family ever. They were some of the warmest and friendliest people I have ever come into contact with. I truly felt like I was part of the family while I was living there. Cultural Immersion: By living with a host family I felt as though I was instantly immersed into the culture. I got the opportunity to live in a neighborhood north of Quito, so right outside the busyness of the center of the city. Few people knew the language so you are instantly forced to learn the language, which adds to the cultural aspect. Health and Safety: I never felt unsafe; however, I never felt at ease while walking around the city. You always have to be aware of what you bring with you and to not make yourself stand out. Social Life: There is so much to do and see in Ecuador, all you really have to do is make the initiative to get out and explore. There really is never a reason to be bored in Ecuador with so much going on in the city, and everything else the country has to offer.

This program was an excellent way for me to travel around Europe and see so many interesting and important parts of the world. Living Situation: I have no problem staying in hostels during this trip. I definitely feel it is part of the experience of traveling through Europe. The only problem was that the one we stayed in in Belfast, Ireland seemed really dirty. Everything else was great. Program Administration: The professors, supervisors, and your guides were all very helpful and informative.

My summer in London was amazing! My internship, although not what I expected, was amazing. I was able to participate in an opportunity that I would have never gotten to in the US. Who can say they helped plan an award show?! My host family was amazing! Getting to experience London in a Summer full of many events such as the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee was amazing. Definately a once in a life time experience, and I wouldn't have changed a single thing about it! Living Situation: The family was amazing, they really made me feel like a member of their family and were very helpful with getting around London. Cultural Immersion: My family was multi-cultural as well as working in a office full of native londoners who were from different cultures. Program Administration: Very helpful when needed and were able to handle any issues with the program Health and Safety: I felt very safe where I lived although I perferred to not travel late at night by myself. Social Life: My family really kept me involved in events and I was still able to spend time with people from the program. The group of friends I made spent a lot of time together going out and sight seeing together. The only problem was my house was away from many in the group.

The language and cultural immersion was very important end eye opening. Living Situation: Very comfortable host family was hospitable and engaging

My 4 week submersion into the Italian culture was unreal and I enjoyed every moment of it. I fell in love with Florence and made some amazing friends along the way.

I thought that the program itself needed alot of work, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone Cultural Immersion: no programs to help this

I really liked the program and the classes, but I felt like we weren't really in London. I wish we had been closer to the city so that we could have experienced more things. Getting into the city took time, and I feel like I didn't have enough time to do everything I wanted to do. Academics: Very good classes. Living Situation: Loved Roehampton Cultural Immersion: Didn't feel like we got to meet with many British people and were slightly secluded. Health and Safety: Safe neighborhood and area. Social Life: Very fun.

I loved my semester on the South Island. I really liked my living situation. I found the academics more challenging than I had expected. I thought CIS was very helpful in filling out all the paperwork and getting everything organized before I went there. Once there though I never really spoke with them. They did email us to see how we were doing, but it was different asking people back home for help. I definitely thought they were helpful, but just wish there was a way that I could have met the other CIS abroad students because most of the other programs had organized events for their group. I know there weren't many of us, so we could have done it, but it is hard to be the first person to step up. Overall though I thought the living situation and overall experience was a good one. Academics: I thought the academics were challenging. I would definitely suggest all study abroad students to definitely take 100 and 200 level courses because it is a lot different than universities over here. With this challenge of getting used to a different style of teaching plus being abroad and making friends and traveling is very time consuming, so it is definitely best to take 100 and 200 level courses. Even though most of us are juniors, it is as if we are first years at the abroad school. Living Situation: Great! Very well set up. It was nice having a New Zealand student living with us so we got to meet some people of the culture, but it was nice having other students from you country and to meet some from other countries. Cultural Immersion: Since we were living with so many international students, it was harder to meet students of the country, but I don't think there is any other way that we can get immersed in the culture. I would suggest people to join the International Mentor Programme because then you can meet more New Zealand Students. Program Administration: I thought it was very helpful to have all my paperwork done for me, but I wish there was a way I could have met everyone from my program. The majority of the other programs provided trips for their students, such as pre orientation or little dinners while there. It would have been nice to have a pre orientation so that you could meet other people rather than just the people you are living with. I had a hard time at the beginning because many other people were from programs and knew a lot more people than me. Health and Safety: I felt very safe at all times. New Zealand is a very safe place and I felt safe all the time there. Social Life: Dunedin, New Zealand has a great social life for students. It is pretty much a college town, so the social life was always there when you wanted it.

I think this program overall is awesome but we could tell some of the staff were fairly new. There needs to be better communication between staff as well as students.

My semester was amazing. I meet friends who I will keep in touch with for life.

Springbok steak with pap and chakalaka.

My experience this summer has been the most memorable of my life. I have gotten to experience so many different things and cultures. I spent a month in London but while I was there I travelled to Ireland and France, which was amazing to think that I could just go to another country for a weekend! The people I have met have been amazing as well, everybody is so nice and I have made lifelong friends after only meeting and being with them for 1 month. The whole experience seemed like a dream, everyday I would wake up thinking, "this can't be my life right now" and that is the beauty of it, it is such an amazing and memorable experience that you have to enjoy every minute of it! CIS was very helpful with anything that you might need but they seemed a bit unorganized on excursion days but that is bound to happen when trying to keep track of 40 students. Overall, I enjoyed my summer abroad and I can't wait for my next trip back to Europe. Academics: Too much work outside of class. We were not able to enjoy London as much because we had to sit and do homework. Living Situation: Shower overflowed Cultural Immersion: We didn't really interact with british students, only people we met in central london on our own. Program Administration: Mostly organized. Health and Safety: Never felt fear or worry. Social Life: Everybody was always together so there was always something to do.

Overall, the program was good. I got to meet some amazing people and see some amazing things. However, I felt like this program was very poorly planned. On the way to Scotland, no one knew what we would be doing because she was calling places the day we arrived in Scotland. It just felt ridiculous. I felt way too rushed at every place we visited. The only time I felt like a considerable amount of planning had gone into our time was in Ireland with our guide there. She planned better and pretty much taught us during that time. The only thing out teacher told us was that we had journals to do everyday. Ireland was the only place that I felt that I earned any type of academic credits and it was because of our guide and bus driver. They were amazing and very easy to talk to if I had any questions. I have loved everything I have seen, however, I felt like it was just thrown together at the last minute. I also thought it was ridiculous that I had to pay $12,000 for this trip and I couldn't even keep my Oyster card. You would think that somewhere in all that money they would budget to let me keep that as a souvenir. Also, there was really no help in the budget ing department. I was very unprepared to pay for every single meal for the first 2 weeks. I lost a good chunk of my money all on food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Academics: I felt as though the teachers we had were really only wanting to be there on vacation, not for a study abroad trip. One of them was a good teacher. However, I felt like one of our teachers didn't really know anything and that she didn't really want to be there teaching us. She would have rather been out exploring London. I loved the guide we had in Ireland though. She was amazing! I learned so much from her, but she wasn't really our teacher. I learned WAY more from the guides on this trip than the teachers. Living Situation: Snoozles was a nice hostel and so was the hostel in Dublin. However, Backpackers in Belfast was awful! There were 8 people in a room that probably was only meant for 4. I also ended up getting bedbugs from this hostel. It was terrible! I also paid 4 euros for my laundry to be done and they didn't even do it. The hostel in Edinburgh was nice. It was a little cramped here and the shower was always either boiling hot or freezing cold. It was, however, one of the favorite places we stayed at. Roehampton was a nice living situation as well. Cultural Immersion: We went to some amazing places. However, we would only get to spend at most an hour at places that you should spend a lot more time at. When we were in Northern Ireland, we only got to spend 20 minutes at Dunluce Castle after we had been on the bus for about 3 hours. The worst was when we were in Scotland. We drove 6 hours to get to Loch Ness and then spent 30 minutes there. We then got back on the bus and drove the 6 hour back to Edinburgh. I felt way too rushed at everyplace we went. I would have loved to have more time at these places because I might never get the chance to go back.

Overall, my program was very unorganized and too expensive for what I received. Our site director was never around and was very unorganized. We would wait for what seemed like ever for any of our excursions and none of the leaders would know where we should be. The classes were a joke. The living situation was nice except we were over an hour away from Central London. Most of the other students seemed to only be there for an extended vacation so if you want a challenging program with other students really wanting to learn and immerse into another culture, consider one other than this. Academics: The classes were a joke. The most we did while in class was watch movies. There were never any discussions and the lectures rarely went along with what we were actually supposed to talk about. We had only one project and it was just to summarize a story. Overall because of the classes I felt defrauded Living Situation: The only thing I disliked about my living situation were some of my loud, disrespectful roommates. Cultural Immersion: It would have been easier and more convenient to be immersed in the culture if we had been living closer to Central London. It took more than an hour to get to Central, so there were many times I just didn't go anywhere because I didn't want to spend two to three total hours on transportation. Program Administration: We only saw our site director once or twice. I felt like she didn't really care about our program because she was never there on excursions or anything. We had one really great assistant, and the program director who came over from the US was great also, but neither of them were there more than one week. We found out that our teachers and assistants would plan excursions or meals (like welcome and farewell) but our site director would strike them out because they would be "too expensive". With the amount of money I payed for this trip, it seems that we could afford more than pizza for a "welcome dinner" and "farewell dinner". Our site director was also very unorganized. Social Life: There wasn't anything very close to the campus where we stayed, so going out seemed like a drag to me because of all the time spent on transportation.

Best time of my life, I would do it again in a heatbeat! Social Life: Best friends ive ever made!

The European experience is absolutely the best way to experience multiple countries during the summer. You meet new people when you arrive and you can stay friends and most of them throughout the whole experience along with meeting new people along the way. There're so many excursions that you get to go on and a lot of free time to to explore at your own leisure. It is truly amazing to explore all the cultures of these countries, llearning and taking your classroom outside byhaving hands-on learning. It is a great opportunity to have. There are so many historic monuments, museums and famous sights to see and you can pretty much visit it all.

This experience has been a crazy adventure. I have experienced so many different cultures, seen so many historical sights, and grew as a person. I am the type of person who gets nervous and scared easily. At first, the trip was hard to adjust to. However, I eventually learned to let go and enjoy the ride. Getting nervous did not help anything. It is very hard to describe this experience. I learned so much in such a short amount of time. There were some difficult parts but they did not ruin my experiences. It is amazing to dream about a landmark or country for most of your life and then one day you get to see it in person. Sometimes this journey felt like a dream. I would recommend people to study abroad. It changes your life. Academics: I felt academics was good. It was not overbearing. I was able to learn in class and go out and enjoy the city. Sometimes the homework for literature classes was time consuming but other than that I liked the classes. Living Situation: In the beginning of the trip the living situation was difficult. We would be in hostels with several girls. One of the hostels however was a total dump. This hostel was in Belfast. I did not feel very safe in the area or in the city in general. The housing at the University was nice. I liked having my own room after living with several girls in a tiny room. Cultural Immersion: I believe the program does a really good job of culture immersion. The only thing I would have liked is to live and go to school with students from London while at the University. I would have liked to make friends with local people. . Program Administration: I don't know if this includes the people who were in charge at sites but while at London I felt that the person in charge of us was making shortcuts in order to cut cost. I did not like this feeling because I had no idea where my money was going to. If the money was able to cover the more expensive event; I would have rather had my money spent where it was meant to go. An example is that at one point we discovered by another CIS staff that our site director was to be providing lunches for us on excursion days. We only received one lunch for one excursion. Health and Safety: I felt safe for the most part but in Belfast I was afraid of the problems with terrorism and and dump of a hostel. Social Life: I have met so many new friends on this journey. It is hard to be put in a situation with new people and living together after a couple of hours. I have grown as a person and learned to be nice to people and deal with different personalities.

New Zealand, hands down is the most scenic place on earth. If you want to explore your outdoorsy side then the south island is the place to be!

My experience abroad was probably the best experience of my 21 years so far. I cannot even describe the relationships, stories and all around fun I had in my trip. I studied abroad in New Zealand and fell completely head over heels in love. I only returned to The States three days ago, but I can't help but feel that I wish I would have stayed. Academics: Not my personal favorite. Not a fan of grade's based solely on one test. Living Situation: Was able to meet the MOST incredible people. Lived in an extremely diverse flat with people I will be friends with forever. Cultural Immersion: Found myself interacting most with those of my abroad country. Program Administration: Didn't hear much from my program throughout my stay but not much contact was needed.

It's all about what you give... Yeah, yeah - that's what you always here with programs like this, but seriously... it could be a breeze to just coast on through with english... hang with your friends from the institute, go to the bars you know are stocked with other english speaking students, take advantage of your host families ability to speak english, etc... but if you really dive into the real culture of Aix, take the time to get to know some locals, hang with the French students, merge your two worlds, the amount you can learn as a person as well as a student is through the roof. Aix is not a large city, which means it's not gonna leap out at you with unlimited things to do... but there's an entire underbelly just dying to be torn into - you just gotta stick with it and get outside of the American bubble. I had an incredible time in Aix. The food is incredible. My host family was wonderful (living with a host brother my age was the best thing that could have happened). The music scene is pretty happening. The dance / theater / art scene is quite large. There's nature... Aix really does have just about all of the things you could want to do - it's just a matter of finding it. Definitely take the time to explore France. You could spend every weekend and every break traversing the south of France and you'd still leave without having hit every place you could. At the bare minimum, take the time to really get to know Aix - it's a one of a kind kinda place! Have the patience to stick with French and it will stick with you when you leave. The people in the south are so lovely and really don't mind helping you find the words and take the time to get it right. Make the most of that aspect of life :). I would go to Aix over Paris any day! Definitely hit up Paris, but Aix is the place to be ;). Overall - phenomenal location, phenomenal trip, friends I won't ever forget, places I will definitely be coming back to. Study abroad win. <3. Living Situation: Incredible host family. Cultural Immersion: Incredible host family. (Living with a host brother is the greatest). Health and Safety: Never once felt unsafe. Social Life: Host brother and his friends were the best!

Dublin was such an amazing experience! I met amazing people, had amazing adventures, and made memories that I'm going to have with me forever. Everyone is so welcoming and instantly make you feel at home. I'm not looking forward to leaving, but I know that one day I'll be back! Academics: I really enjoyed most of my classes, but it was rough getting accustomed to the grading style. Some classes only had one grade for the semester, so it was an adjustment. Living Situation: I really liked my apartment, especially having my own room and bathroom. The housing development was close to campus, and made it easy to meet new friends. Cultural Immersion: I loved everything about experiencing new cultures! From the culture of Dublin, to visiting other countries, I could not have asked for anything more. Program Administration: Program staff were very friendly and accommodating. Health and Safety: I feel like Dublin is a really safe city, and I've never felt afraid being out at night. The housing complex requires a code at the front gate, a code for your building, and a key for your front door/bedroom, so I feel very safe where I live. Social Life: If you're looking for something to do, there is literally something EVERY NIGHT. MY friends and I generally go out 1-3 nights a week, and always have an amazing time.

Ireland is an incredible place to study abroad, you get a whole new cultural experience without being too overwhelmed. Also, you meet many people from all over the world who have traveled to Ireland to also study. I've learned more about my self, my country of origin, and people form other parts of the world in 4 months than I have in my entire life. Not to mention, that once in Europe, you can travel anywhere for a very reasonable price; on top of exploring Ireland, I went to France, Spain, and Belgium. To say goodbye to this country will be hard, but it only makes me more curious to leave and travel to other places.

I would suggest studying to every college student!

My CIS Abroad trip was legendary. Academics: There was an issue with textbooks. Living Situation: The apartment I resided in was awesome. Cultural Immersion: I met some really great locals. Program Administration: The staff were always happy to help when they could. Health and Safety: Did not get pick-pocketed. Social Life: Met some great people.

One tries to avoid setting expectations, however, any expectations I had before coming to this country and continent were incredibly exceeded in every way imaginable. Academics: Classes are definitely different. I understood the professors fine. I just felt limited to what I could take because of the classes that I had my home university approve. I strongly recommend getting up to 8 classes approved, I only had 5 and chose 4. The first week of classes is strange, they did not stick to the schedules given and changed the venue and times around to fit the majority of the class. If I had more classes approved I could have had more flexibility to decide. Anyway, my courses were great wound up great, I will never forget those about those courses. Mainstream classes have mostly domestic students where as IPSU is entirely international exchange.students to keep in mind. Living Situation: Incredible. Cultural Immersion: Perfect. Health and Safety: Being a male, I felt safe most of the time. Of course, there are some sketchy places and theft is a BIG issue and at night it is strongly emphasized to be with somebody if you are walking. The country gets a bad rep for crime and you really do hear about some messed up stuff happening in the news, but no students EVER need to worry about that happening and it should not discourage ANYONE from visiting this beautiful country. Social Life: I found absolutely no problem.

Cusco is the best place to study abroad. There is everything you could want here from night life to outdoor adventures. Academics: Good Living Situation: I live with a host family and it should be ofered to everyone doing CIS in Cusco. Cultural Immersion: Cusco is such a fasinating and beautiful place to live and study. Health and Safety: I was worried about my saftey at first being a woman in South America. I feel really safe here as long as your city street you should be fine in Cusco.

Aix-en-Provence is a great place to study, the town is small and it becomes very comfortable quite fast. The school is excellent and the classes are challenging in a good way. Meeting locals is not too difficult as long as you sign up for a french mentor at the school from the neighboring french university. Overall, I will be sad to leave Aix.

Perugia, Italy is the best place to study. Living in Perugia forced me to practice my awful Italian and helped me find the "real" Italian culture. I had my days when I did not want to be in Perugia but I remembered the beauty, history, and the people who make Perugia and I felt okay again. I do not know when it happened, but Perugia became my home.

This is an amazing program if you want to do a ton in a short time. Scotland was the highlight but the London segment was incredible as well.