Welcome to the

Studying abroad influences you in a multitude of ways—you build confidence and independence, explore a world beyond your comfort zone, and learn new things about yourself. Use the information on this page to give yourself a better idea of what life could be like for you or your future peers. As always, if you have any questions, give us a call!

Your Daily Life Abroad

Weekly Structure

Classes are typically held in the mornings, Monday through Friday (except in Jordan, where weekends are Fridays and Saturdays). In the afternoons, faculty/staff accompany you and your classmates on site visits and excursions around the city. During weekends, you can expect activities and excursions, and occasionally some regional travel.

Accommodating needs

We make every effort possible to offer accommodations comparable to what you might find at your home school. Disclosing early helps us to make proper preparations and work with you to determine if a program will be a good fit.

Experiencing a new culture

Going abroad means diving into a new culture. The streets are unfamiliar, the food is different, and the people you interact with might not speak English. But these are exactly the things the kinds of things that help you learn and grow as a person if you’re open and thoughtful to the experience.

Program Group

As a pre-college student, most of your days are spent alongside your program cohort. You live alongside your group (excluding programs with homestay options), attend classes and excursions together, and share many meals as one. It’s important to not only prepare for culture shock, but also the differing dynamics of your own program group. You may meet students of different upbringings, political views, etc.—but these intragroup dynamics can create long-lasting friendships and contribute to your own growth if you remain flexible and understanding.

Your Home Abroad

Housing looks different on every program but includes apartments, dormitories, sharehouses, and homestays. For non-homestay programs, you live in close proximity with your group and residential staff. For example, you share an apartment with peers and a residential staff member in Florence, but in Shanghai, you share a dormitory with one other classmate and on-site staff live on the same floor. For homestay programs, you live with a local family selected by CET and/or our on-site host institution. Regardless of your housing setup, on-site staff are always around to supervise, plan activities, and provide support whenever you may need it.

Meals

Your meals are included with your program fees, and are either directly paid for by on-site staff or by a meal stipend. Many of your meals are taken together as a group, but some will be had individually at home or in campus cafeterias (breakfasts) or in small groups within a designated perimeter. For homestay students, your breakfasts, dinners, and all weekend meals are taken with your host family—with the exception of scheduled meals with the program group. Your dietary restrictions and allergies are collected at the start of the term, and your group leader accommodates these needs in all group meals to the best of their ability.

Resources from Alumni

Perspective Pieces

These are alumni-written essays that reflect upon how their own identity affected their time abroad (both good and bad) and what it was like to navigate another culture in their position. We encourage you to read these to better understand what studying abroad could be like for you or your future peers.

Are you a Pre-College at CET alumnus? Consider telling us about your time abroad.

Living and Studying in Havana, Cuba for a Month
by Angeles V. | Summer 2019
Pre-College at CET Cuba: Global Perspectives

Blog Posts

This is a curated list of blog posts chosen specifically to provide context for life abroad. Posts here may cover culture shock, diversity, daily life and workload, etc. To see all posts from pre-college students abroad, head to the Student Voices blog.

The Process of Assimilating
By Megan | Summer 2019
Pre-College at CET Beijing: Global Perspectives

Alumni Insight

Sometimes it’s best to hear it from students who have been there. The following are a few select quotes from recent program evaluations, reviews, and blogs to help you understand different facets of the study abroad experience.

"Make sure you know that this isn't an easy program, and that you need to be prepared to be challenged mentally and socially, but that it's a great experience and totally worth it."

"However, one of the nice things about being Chinese is that I blend in. I don’t deal with people randomly taking my picture or automatically speaking English or slow Chinese to me. I can walk around without getting stared at and enjoy the anonymity of being surrounded by people who look like me. I enjoy it, in fact!"

"There was a lot of work involved, and just as much homework, so don't go into this program expecting an easy ride. It took effort, but it was extremely rewarding. Keep in mind that these classes give college credit, and expect as much."

"Being both in a new social group and a completely different environment was certainly a challenge—but it allowed me to learn that even people who seem like complete opposites to you can share something in common."

"Independent living in a space loosely overseen by adults without my parents physically in my daily life had greatly simulated college life as my work schedule was largely self monitored. Learning to know others and make meaningful relationships outside the comfort of country, culture, and home I think had challenged my character to prepare myself for higher education."

Questions? Get in touch!

Brian Wiehr

Marketing & Outreach Manager,
High School & Pre-College Programs
202.650.7521
[email protected]

Diversity & Inclusion