How CIEE College Access Helps You Get Into College
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Whether you’ve just returned from a CIEE study abroad program for high school students, you’re in the middle of one, or you’re preparing for your summer program, there’s always one big question on your mind: What about college?
Your time abroad gives you confidence, new friends, and a clearer sense of who you’re becoming — and now CIEE is here to help you carry that momentum forward.
CIEE College Access is a free, year-round support program created specifically for CIEE alumni. It helps you turn your global experiences into real college readiness, offering expert college application support so you can strengthen your story, stand out, and move toward your goals with confidence.
Why College Admissions Officers Value Study Abroad
When you study abroad in high school, you build the kinds of global skills colleges look for in strong applicants. Living and learning in a new environment helps you grow in ways that are hard to teach in a classroom.
College admissions officers value students who can show:
- Independence and self-direction
- Leadership and initiative
- Adaptability and resilience
- Cross-cultural communication skills
- Real-world problem-solving
- Curiosity and global awareness
CIEE alumni feel this impact, too. In fact, 82% say their CIEE experience strengthened their college applications, from shaping personal essays to preparing for interviews. These are the real study abroad benefits that help your application stand out.
Through CIEE College Access, you get support turning your experiences abroad into a compelling story. Mentors and college experts help you reflect on what you learned, highlight your growth, and translate your time abroad into essays and applications that feel authentic and powerful.
Turning High School Abroad Experiences into College Opportunities
After gaining global skills and real-world experience abroad, the next step is knowing how to use those strengths in your college journey. The CIEE College Access program gives you the tools and guidance to do exactly that, offering structured college planning support that helps you connect your experiences to clear, achievable opportunities—from choosing the right schools to navigating financial aid and study abroad scholarships.
As a CIEE alum, you’ll have access to:
- Free college counseling and essay support
- Webinars on scholarships and financial aid
- Guidance on finding and applying for study abroad scholarships
- Alumni mentorship from students who’ve already gone through the process
- Workshops and Q&A sessions led by college experts
- An inclusive, supportive community of peers and advisors
These resources help you make informed choices, express your experiences with confidence, and approach each part of the college application process feeling prepared and supported.
How CIEE Prepares You for College
Getting into college starts long before you begin applying—and your CIEE program plays a big role in that journey. Whether you’re preparing and packing, learning and growing overseas, or thinking about college once you return home, each stage of the study abroad experience gives you new perspectives to draw from.
Here’s how CIEE’s high school programs support your college readiness every step of the way.
Before You Go
CIEE offers two types of high school semester abroad programs, each giving you unique ways to build skills and perspectives that matter for college.
- CIEE Immersion In programs: Spend a high school semester abroad living with a host family, attending a local high school, and improving your foreign language skills while experiencing deep immersion in a local culture.
- CIEE Semester In programs: Spend a high school semester abroad following a U.S.-aligned high school curriculum. Design your own schedule, combining in-person core classes at a CIEE center with a wide variety of online offerings delivered by ASU Prep Global, one of the world’s leading accredited online high school programs.
Both options give you real-life experiences you can use in essays, interviews, and conversations with admissions officers.
During Your Program
Once you’re abroad, everyday experiences become opportunities to grow. Whether you’re working on a group project, navigating a new city, or connecting with your host community, you build core skills that colleges value, including:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
- Cultural awareness
These strengths become part of your college story: authentic, personal examples of who you are and how you learn.
After You Return
When you come home, you’ll have a strong foundation to build on—and continued support through the CIEE College Access program. Alumni receive year-round access to college planning resources, essay guidance, mentorship, and everything needed to turn their study abroad experience into a standout application.
With expert support and your own global perspective, you’ll be ready to take the next step with clarity and confidence.
College Partnerships That Open Doors
CIEE alumni benefit from exclusive connections with universities that value global learning, including Arizona State University and George Washington University. These partnerships give alumni special access to admissions events, guidance from university representatives, and insights that help you approach the college process with confidence.
CIEE’s college partnerships reflect our long-standing commitment to study abroad success. By combining your real-world experiences with support from universities, you’ll be better prepared to choose the right school, tell your story effectively, and take your next step toward college with clarity.
Your Future Begins with CIEE
Your college journey doesn’t start with an application—it begins with the international experiences that shape who you are! CIEE’s high school study abroad programs and year-round college readiness programs give you the skills, confidence, and support to take your next step with purpose.
Your next adventure could be the first step toward your dream college. Go abroad with CIEE!