Semester in Rome - American University of Rome

My study abroad experience at the American University of Rome through CIS Abroad was one of the best experiences of my entire life! The school, program, and all the people I met were incredible. I met some of the best people I have ever known, thanks to studying abroad, and got to experience a life that I would have otherwise never known. Rome is such a beautiful city, and I am so glad I was able to explore it every day. From the food to the art to the architecture to the culture, my slice of life was heaven for the four months I lived there. There was never a dull moment in the city, whether I was going to Vatican City for their first-ever concert or just running around and learning about the hidden historical sites all around the city. I truly felt like a local and was so sad that I had to head home after a semester, but I cannot wait for the day that I can return to this wonderful city again! When applying to the program, I was super nervous and hesitant to go through with my plans. Now, I cannot imagine my life without it! I would rather be sad missing it than be sad and dreaming about the "what-if" possibilities. I highly recommend and encourage the same to anyone considering the possibility, and pick Rome! It truly is the best city!

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When I decided to study abroad in Rome with CIS Abroad, I had no idea just how much it would change me. I signed up on my own, far from family, but from the moment I arrived, I knew I was stepping into something extraordinary. What I found was not just a semester abroad, but the most amazing experience ever. I attended The American University of Rome, where I took courses for my film degree. The school that CIS provided for us was very high quality, but a lot of the learning during study abroad also came from being in the city of Rome. Every cobblestone street carried history, every piazza became a stage of daily life, and every plate of pasta was a lesson in Italian culture. CIS Abroad made this journey feel both adventurous and safe. Their staff was encouraging, supportive, and always there when we needed guidance. The group trips, cultural activities, and check-ins reminded me that even though I signed up for this study abroad alone, I was never truly on my own. The most educational and important lessons in my life have come from moving abroad, and having done so several times in the past, my theory has proven to be true time and time again. Moving to Rome taught me Italian cultural norms, Italian political standpoints, religion, history, and I learned so much from the people there. I made friends in unexpected places, and my friends at CIS Abroad have become family. What I carry most from this experience is growth. I discovered courage I didn’t know I had, independence I never thought I could embrace, and a confidence that will follow me everywhere. Rome taught me not to be afraid of new beginnings, but to celebrate them. To anyone considering studying abroad: do it. Say yes, even if you’re nervous. The world has so much to teach you, and you’ll come back with stories, friendships, and memories that will stay with you forever.

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I spent the best 4 months of my life studying abroad in Rome, Italy. It truly felt like I was living in a fairytale. I met the most incredible people and made the most special memories. It truly is hard to put into words how much the experience has changed my life. That city will always hold a special place in my heart.

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Studying Abroad was a transformative experience. As I left for Rome, I had no idea what to expect and I did not know anyone else going. Throughout the semester, I was able to build incredible friendships while exploring the best city in the world. Rome has so much to offer and has endless sights to see. Cis Abroad also made my experience so much better. Because of them, I was able to make so many more friends, and learn about the Italian culture way more. In Rome, it can be hard to dive right into the Italian culture as there are a lot of tourists. Cis helps with this by taking many cultural immersion trips inside and outside of Rome. This allows you to explore Italy and widen your perspective.

My experience studying abroad in Rome was unforgettable. Rome is a city rich in history; with breathtaking views of the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, and Roman Forum along cobblestone streets. Apart from the famous and well-known artwork and architecture painting the city, finding the hidden gems of the city was the best part. I can tell you where to find the best coffee, pizza, and gelato away from the tourist hot spots. I can tell you how to connect with the local community despite a language barrier. The best part of studying abroad is immersing yourself in all that the city has to offer; for me, that was stepping outside the comfortable and familiar destinations, and allowing myself to assimilate into the community as more than just another tourist. I said some of the hardest goodbyes to the friends and memories I made along the way, but they will never be forgotten. It truly was a sweet life!

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Studying abroad with CIS in Rome was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Going into it, I knew no one and had no idea what to expect. You hear from people who have gone abroad all the time about how it is the best decision they ever made or how it was a life-changing experience, and I was a bit skeptical about just how good it could be. After my 3.5-month experience, it is safe to say they were not exaggerating. At the very beginning, my trip took a tumultuous turn before I had even set foot in Rome. My connection flight was delayed three times, causing my flight to Rome to be pushed back an entire day, meaning I would be missing my pick-up from the airport in Rome. I was stressing out quite heavily. Thankfully, my onsite director Elizabeth Tyrie had set up a WhatsApp group chat and I was able to get in touch and inform her of my situation. This took a major weight off my shoulders and I was now able to just focus on getting to Rome. While I was in Rome, I had a fantastic time. This was due in part to the group excursions set up by CIS Abroad and my onsite director. My CIS Group went on trips to places like Orvieto and Ostia Antica, participated in Italian culture with activities like the Roman baths or Food and Wine pairing, and by the end of the experience, we all knew the city as a second home. Even simple daily life, like grocery shopping or ordering a coffee, I still think about today. The city's rich history pulls you in, with historical sites everywhere; even when walking to class you will see things that could be hundreds of years old. Another great thing about CIS Abroad: A Semester in Rome was the location of the American University of Rome (AUR). Located in Trastevere, our apartment was located right down the street from the train station. From this station, we could take a train to the airport for less than 8 euros and be at the airport in 30 minutes. We could fly almost anywhere in the EU and truly explore Europe. There were also so many great places within Trastevere. The apartment was a 5-minute walk from the grocery store, and further downtown were plenty of great restaurants (It's hard to pick a favorite but PizzaRe was always good). Lastly, the academics at AUR were quite broad despite the school's small size. I was able to complete 3 required classes for my major and take an archaeology class to further my knowledge of the city's history. The grades I received were fair, and many of the professors were happy to share their spots and insights about the city. There was also a rich on-campus life, including club sports. The small school vibe was a major benefit, as not only did I become friends with many of the CIS groupmates, but also my classmates. Overall, I did have a truly life-changing experience. I will never forget my time in Rome, the friends I made, and the places I visited will all have a special place in my heart. If you have the opportunity to participate in this program, I cannot recommend it enough.

I had the most eye-opening time of my life studying in Rome for the semester. The cultural and historical immersion allowed me to open my eyes to really cool and interesting things I didn't even know existed. I learned how to travel independently and successfully and how to navigate life in a different country. It is an experience I will forever cherish!

Most amazing experience of my life! This program offered extensive opportunities and support for becoming immersed into Italian culture. The professors at the university were passionate and knowledgable about their course matter. I'd highly recommend everyone to study abroad and CIS is an amazing program to share the experience with!

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Not knowing what to expect and being nervous about living abroad for 4 months, I could not have fallen into a better program than the CIS semester in Rome. From the time we were picked up at the airport and taken to our apartments situated in authentic heart of Rome, I knew I was in for something special. The program with CIS was especially great because of all of the excursions that were included–– Gelato walks through the eternal city, food tours in the Jewish Quarter, a trip to Naples, Sorrento, Pompeii and Capri–– gave me a real feel of the beauty of Italy. School was surprisingly enjoyable, and I learned things that I could never have learned at my home University because of the international vibe that was always present. Meeting new friends, exploring different places, restaurants, and monuments every single day left me constantly having reality checks to make sure I wasn't dreaming. The experience left me more independent, culturally aware, and overall in a better mindset of the world.

Rome was the most amazing city to live in all of Europe. It has everything a city should offer for a study abroad student. It is also very international and you'll meet people from all over the world. Everything from the food to the culture was amazing. CISabroad is a good program to facilitate my experience abroad and I think having an amazing advisor, Romina, while I was there was rewarding because I came to her with any of the problems I faced. Aside from that I learned a lot in my major and networked with a lot of people who are going into the same field as me. I definitely recommend studying abroad in Rome!

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I studied in Rome, Italy for the Fall 2014 semester and loved every single minute of it. I applied back in February and did so in order to find out my admission decision and get the ball rolling quickly. I heard nothing back for a month before I contacted them myself to figure out what was going on. I was told that the transcript I sent them was no good since it was faxed. I was getting really concerned with my decision to study through CISabroad since I heard nothing about the transcript problem in the month between the time I sent it and when I asked what was going on. All communication on the US side was through my doing and politeness was a bit of a problem but I clung to the fact that my school had a partnership with them and therefore, they HAD to have redeeming factors. There were a few more hiccups in the preparation process (added housing deposits that weren't mentioned before, missed discounts in my billing, paperwork that was said to be missing but was never requested, etc) but I am IMMENSELY thankful that I studied through CISabroad! A few headaches while preparing were proved to be worth it when I spent 3 and a half magical months in the Eternal City! The site director, Romina, was a dream! I had a bit of culture shock, roommate issues (due to lack of personality screening done by Student Life at the university) and overall homesickness that Romina helped me with step-by-step. I had a health issue halfway through the semester that the included health insurance covered; Jade (an associate with Rome SAE - the CIS partner in Rome) went to the hospital with me and helped me through that situation. The American University of Rome is an AMAZING little university in a great part of Rome - the top patio of the school provides a beautiful view of the city. I was challenged academically and personally more than I ever had been before and I grew exponentially during my semester abroad. Romina and others on-site were more help than I can explain and provided a great support system while I was there - they were concerned for my safety while I was both in Rome and while I was traveling during the weekend (I had the opportunity to travel all throughout Italy and visit 9 other countries!). They wanted my travel itineraries and checked up to see if I made it back to Italy safely - Jade was like a really close friend. I became really close friends with full-time students at AUR and after talking about the price with them, I came to the realization that I really DID make the right choice by going abroad with CIS. What I paid covered health insurance, housing, advising and support both in America and abroad, and study at a truly great school (AUR will not give you a "blow off" semester - it's academically rigorous but you will still have the time of your life). Overall, I would 100% study or intern abroad with CISabroad again!

I had the time of my life in Rome with CISAbroad! The site director, Romina, was so nice, knowledgeable and extremely helpful through every step of my experience. The American University of Rome is academically intensive but I learned more about myself and my studies there than I ever did at my home university. The professors are well-experienced and have impressive resumes in all of their academic facets (my Principles of Marketing professor was the marketing director of Sports Illustrated and my International Trade professor was the Economic Advisor for the U.S Embassy in Rome) and explain the material thoroughly. Rome is a central travel city so travel to most of Europe (Paris, Barcelona, Prague, London, etc) is affordable and very easy! In my time abroad, I was able to travel to 10 countries at low prices while staying on top of my studies and learn about Rome as well. This program was INCREDIBLE. The only downside to my time abroad was my awful roommates: there were 6 people in my apartment and 3 were already best friends from their home university who had no interest in being friendly with their other roommates. That was the ONLY downside. My semester in Rome was amazing with CISAbroad!

I would most definitely recommend to study abroad in Rome. It was truly the most amazing experience of my life! I met great people, and was able to learn so much about the culture. The staff of CIS abroad were extremely helpful, and also took us to so many amazing spots in Rome. Studying abroad in Rome was the best decision I've ever made!

A great experience with a great program. CisAbroad made a difficult process easy and provided helpful advice in adjusting to a new culture. Rome was definitely a great place to study abroad with a mix of old and new world feel. A city with always something new to discover and an adventure around every corner Academics: A wide variety of classes available. Living Situation: The apartment set up was great. Shared a room with one other roommate with a main dining/ common area. The bathrooms had limited hot water and the kitchen was relatively small. The location was great and close to tram transportation. Cultural Immersion: Location provided a living situation outside of major tourist areas Program Administration: Helpful and knowledgable of study abroad locations. Administration is helpful and always willing to offer assistance. Health and Safety: Felt very safe in apartment and while traveling around the city Social Life: Surrounding area had lots of bars and eateries to interact with locals . Housing situation also made it possible to interact with other students like myself

As an architect student I learned a lot packed into this semester. With walks to famous churches and baths, cooking and speaking Italian, and learning about the design system on an urban scale. Academics: One of the best semesters I'v had so far Living Situation: Had the basics I had at the dorm Cultural Immersion: Teachers introduced me to the Italian life style. Program Administration: Some of the best classes I'v taken in my course of studies. Health and Safety: Never felt unsafe Social Life: Student life was unforgetable

AUR was a great little school In Rome that had many activities in clubs but was very small. Attendance is strict but I was still able to travel almost every weekend and the nightlife throughout Rome, trastevere, and testaccio was perfect.

I had the best four months of my life traveling and living throughout europe.

I loved the experience at the Pantheon institute

Living in Rome has been one of the best experiences of my life! I would recommend studying here for anyone!

For the amount of money we paid for the program I would have to say it was not worth it. Other students who were studying in Rome had better apartments with better locations and were paying comparable prices for their programs. I feel that the program did the bare minimum for housing the students and overpaid the mediocre professors. Living Situation: The "apartment" if you could call it that was so run down. There was black mold in all of the bathrooms. The apartments were like an orphanage set up. Having to share a room that small with three other girls was dreadful. There was no personal space, there was just one desk per bedroom which made doing homework a struggle. Cultural Immersion: There were some attempts like mixers with italian students but other than that I had no real reason to learn italian. Program Administration: Romolo the head of the department could care less about his students. He was never present and when he was his attitude was very poor. You can tell he is getting to the age where his tolerance for students is very low.