Why I Chose CIEE Study Abroad

By Trynity Scott

Ever since I was young I knew I wanted to travel. As I grew older and started pursuing a college education, I knew studying abroad was an amazing chance for me to start my travels. When it comes to studying abroad there are thousands of different programs that all offer you the same overarching idea. You will embark on a journey that will take you to new places you’ve never been and bring you new experiences you could only dream of.

Out of the thousands of different study abroad programs, how is it possible to choose? I started my search for a program far in advance and still found it to be overwhelming and quite frankly frightening. However, when I came across CIEE, the program felt like a great fit. The part that drew me to CIEE the most was the Open Campus Program.

I knew from the start my main reason for wanting to study abroad was that I wanted to travel and see the world. CIEE was perfect for me because it allowed me to do so by offering multiple different locations to study in. The Open Campus Program splits the semester up into three six-week increments or “blocks.” This enabled me to study and live in three different countries throughout the semester!

During my semester abroad I studied and lived in Madrid, Spain, Rome, Italy, and London, England. It was so hard to pick which locations to study in as CIEE offers so many. However, wherever you pick, I can promise you that you will not regret it.

Through CIEE I had the opportunity to meet new friends who will stay lifelong friends. I was exposed to so many different perspectives, traditions, and lifestyles that fostered a more profound understanding of the world. I grew as a person in a way I never expected I would. It sounds cheesy and I know that is “what they all say” after studying abroad. However, after CIEE I am coming back to the States with a newly found sense of self and I couldn’t be more proud.