This CIEE organization does not have a clear policy for their applicants . Unfortunately my fourteen year old son applied for this program and they rejected him because he was not a freshman in HS and they did mention anything about their unclear policy by the enrollment coordinator. In fact they were rush to collect funds and for my family to make a commitment to the program.
For example, the CIEE website or their terms and conditions does not indicate 8th graders or rising freshman don't qualify. One of their enrollment coordinator twisted the CIEE terms and conditions - page 27 indicating the following statement"
"Rising freshman are not eligible to participate. You need to complete 9th grade prior to traveling on a CIEE program". When I confronted about the misleading the CIEE never reply to my email.
Now it has been a month already and they have not refund payment after they agreed to send payment in two weeks. Please do your due diligence before making a commitment to this program - big red flags! If they have issues internally I don't want how is overseas.
As a former staff, I strongly condemn the current practices of this organization and particularly its CEO. What was once a mission oriented non profit environment has been changed to a mercenary, profits over people culture. This has been driven by the new CEO who has driven the experienced and principled leaders out of the company. Countless individuals have left in protest or been forced to leave. The board of directors either has its collective head in the sand or simply does not care how the fabric of the organization once known for quality and staff support and development is being shredded by the CEO. To those considering joining CIEE, beware. Talk to those within the organization and get the real story.
Review from Guidestar
Instead of donating to this horrible company called ciee I would like to encourage everyone interested in international studies and international relationships and world peace to donate to CSFES Danielle Grijalva!!!! She has been working ten years to get some sense to this horrible high school exchange student-business! She is working hard to fix the damages these exchange organizations are doing to the reputation of the USA.
Mother2014 from Finland, robbed by ciee, had my son abused and humiliated by ciee
Review from Guidestar
Previous Stories
I had a horrible, terrifying, extremely bad experience with ciee this year. Our teen was on ciee:s so called " high school plus"- program. From the first day we had serious problems with ciee not providing what was agreed on. Ciee:s way of operating is unbeliavably unprofessional and incompetent throughout.
Family #1 had undocumented people living with them. One undocumented person over 18 in the same room with our teen. Family #2 host father ,Arnel Sison, had anger control problems. When we asked to get another family, local coordinator Peter Porciuncula told me:" I think your son is telling you a string of lies" and ciee issues him a " warning letter for " not adjusting" !!!
Ciee's ." Support director Laragh Kavanaugh" orders some totally unnecessary vaccinations to my son just because of her total incompetence!!!!
Family #3 no problems, but Laragh kept harassing our teen with threats of being sent back home if this family is not satisfied.... There was absolutely no support available. Only accusations and threats.
After our teen had attended this school for about a month, ciee dismissed him for not doing well enough in school. The school start had been delayed because of ciees problems with families and vaccinations!!
And the dismissal procedure by ciee: the" director/ vice president of participant services Keith Stone sent Support manager Aaron Schuit from Portland(Maine) to take my son out of the family (who had kept him until the and of the " program" ,if ciee let them to) to a LOCAL hotel, which is very strange and scary and leaves these disturbed people too good of an opportunity for God knows what!! Support manager Aaron Schuit had thanked our teen for being dismissed, because that is why he got to travel to California!!!! The next day our teen was threatened to be taken to jail if he did not go to the LAX airport with Aaron.
All I want to do is to warn and inform other parents and students about ciee's ways of " promoting world peace and undertsanding between the nations". All they are after is your money. After they get your money they will not care about the agreements but break their own rules and blame it ALL on the student. It is unbeliavable that this kind of organization is allowed to operate with young students!!!
Ciee's strategy seems to collect the money, but not to offer reasonable families and the support is a joke. But I am not laughing. Ciee seems to have a pattern of dismissing students early/ make the students to want to leave early without refunds of course.
Do not trust this company. They will steal your money and lie to your face.
Csiet and state department are NOT supervising these organizations well enough. They let this go on. Check the background of the biggest boss of ciee also.
Terrified, shocked mother
Review from Guidestar
My husband and I had a horrible experience as a host family. We've had other students before, and even one through CIEE which was great - but when a teen acted up and made a complaint, the organization did NOTHING to get our side of the story - they were fine with illegal pictures being taken from our home, and cared nothing of our own children who's lives they effected. It was so atrocious - and when we companied to the main organization, they didn't care in the slightest. I would highly recommend anyone wanting a foreign program to look for another one then this one.
Review from Guidestar
Hosting students have changed my family's life! We love it and look forward to the new kids coming in every year. It is an amazing experience to learn about the different cultures. Plus having "family" all over the world makes it a little more exciting to pick a family vacation spot. If you are considering it you should jump in with both feet! You won't regret it.
CIEE works to bring culture and diversity to communities all over the country through international student exchange. We have students from over 40 countries who come to learn about America through staying with a host family. I know my own children and family has grown through hosting students. We love our 'daughter' in Prague, and our experience has helped us understand the world a bit differently. If you have ever considered hosting a student, do it. CIEE is wonderful, and you get to choose the student that best fits your family!