Record-Breaking Attendance at the 2025 College First Year Abroad Virtual Fair
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The 2025 CIEE Virtual Fair was a standout event for students exploring a different way to begin their college career. Students from across the country logged in to learn how spending their first year of college abroad can offer the best of both worlds: earning college credit while seeing the world!
Across sessions, students asked thoughtful questions about academics, housing, campus life, and how studying abroad for first-year college students compares to starting college on a U.S. campus. The Fair offered a clear, realistic look at what it’s like to begin college overseas—and why more students are choosing this path.
Want to revisit a session or catch one you missed? All Virtual Fair recordings are available on CIEE’s YouTube channel.
Highlights from This Year’s CIEE College First Year Abroad Virtual Fair
This year’s Fair welcomed a record 1,274 attendees! The sessions averaged more than 50 attendees, and the most-viewed focused on scholarships and programs in Japan—highlighting strong interest in college first-year abroad experiences that blend college courses with cultural immersion.
Most Popular College First Year Abroad Sessions and Programs
At the 2025 Virtual Fair, students didn’t just hear what college first year abroad is—they got a feel for what it can do. From building independence in a new city to earning credits while you explore a different culture, the most popular College First Year Abroad sessions focused on the questions students care about most: what day-to-day life looks like, how CIEE supports you abroad, and how an international first year can shape your college experience from the start.
Where Are They Now? CIEE Alumni 5+ Years Later
Some sessions give you the basics, but this gave students a glimpse into the future. In “Where Are They Now? CIEE Alumni 5+ Years Later,” two alumni joined a Q&A on what happens after you take the leap—how an early international experience can shape your choices in college, your confidence on campus, and even the direction your career takes years down the line.
The speakers shared how studying abroad helped prepare them for college; they built language skills that opened doors, sharpened their ability to connect across cultures, and proved to themselves they could thrive in a new environment. As one alum summed it up: “My study abroad experience was one of those fundamental experiences that helped me get to where I am today.”
Students walked away with a clearer picture of what “standing out” can look like in real life—from finding your academic focus faster to turning global experience into a story that carries through applications, interviews, and the way you show up in new rooms.
Watch the full “Where Are They Now?” alumni session here →
How Long-Term Study Abroad Helps You Stand Out
If you’re leaning toward College First Year Abroad, this session helps you zoom out and see the big picture: what longer-term programs can look like, how they’re structured, and why starting your college experience overseas can be a smart move—academically and personally. CIEE staff walked through the different program options, then our alumni jumped in during the Q&A to share their first-hand experiences of what day-to-day life is really like, what surprised them most, and what they wish they’d known before leaving.
What students learned during the session:
- Your options for going abroad longer-term and how College First Year Abroad fits into the mix (alongside high school semester programs and gap-year options)
- How College First Year Abroad works, showing how you’ll earn college credits while still getting a fully immersive experience abroad, with built-in CIEE support
- What’s typically included, such as housing, academic support, on-site staff, cultural activities, excursions, and safety resources
- Why this path makes you stand out by showing colleges (and future employers) that you can adapt quickly, take initiative, and thrive in a new environment
- Skills you’ll use immediately in college, like navigating new systems, communicating across cultures, managing your time, and building confidence away from home
- The real-life questions students have, including house rules, curfews, what homework can look like, how structure varies by location, and what to ask your counselor before you go
- What returning home can feel like and how many students come back more focused—often with a clearer sense of what they want from college next
Missed a Session — or Want to Explore More?
If you didn’t catch every session live — or want to revisit one that stuck with you — you can watch all of the 2025 Virtual Fair recordings anytime on our YouTube channel. And if College First Year Abroad sparked your curiosity, now’s a great time to dig a little deeper!
Learn more about College First Year Abroad, like how academics work overseas, and what kind of support you’ll have as you settle into life abroad.
You can also reach out to the CIEE team to discuss any questions and determine whether this path is the right fit for you.
Next Steps: Start Planning Your College First Year Abroad
Whether you’re seriously considering starting college overseas or just beginning to explore your options, we designed these sessions to help you picture what’s possible.
If you’re feeling inspired, your next move is simple: explore CIEE College First Year Abroad programs and imagine beginning your college journey in a new country!