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ISSOS Reviews

4.8 Rating 153 Reviews
95 %
of reviewers recommend ISSOS
4.8
Based on 153 reviews
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About ISSOS:

The exclusive ISSOS summer school program offers high school students from over 70 nationalities (aged 13-18) the opportunity to combine learning, creative enrichment and action-packed adventure in one of three amazing, historic and picturesque university towns of St Andrews, Cambridge and Yale. Our three week program welcomes students from all over the world, mixing native and non-native English speakers and limits the number of students from one nationality to 10% in order to guarantee a truly international experience.

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Phone:

03300777247

Email:

info@issos.com

Location:

74 High St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA,
New Haven
Connecticut
06511

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Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
Courses are well structured. Instructors are very good. Trips to Glasgow and Edinburgh very good: they give students independence, chance to explore. The 4 o’clock activities and the Sunday workshops should have been optional from the very beginning; there is not enough free time for students to rest, chat or wander around town. It was extremely tiring. Clan activities were mostly athletic and very repetitive, they could have included nonathletic activities. Facilities (dorm rooms and bathrooms) not great.
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Posted 1 year ago
I had the time of my life at ISSOS this summer. It really grew my confidence and my helped me build my character. I met some of the most amazing people who taught me to become a better version of myself. The classes were enlightening and productive, helping me learn about different subjects. The diversity was spectacular with people from all over the world coming together and sharing different stories. I would do it all over again. ISSOS is also very well structured with day trips planned and evening activities organised. The counsellor’s are very supportive and always there for you. Huge thank you to ISSOS!
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Posted 1 week ago
A very BIG Thank-you to the great St Andrews ISSOS team We (the parents and our 14 ½ years old son) opted for ISSOS’s St Andrews camp because (a) of our previous positive experience with ISSOS Yale and (b) of St Andrews’s reputation as one of the most famous places worldwide. Being curious about the claims of St Andrews’s fame, I traveled to St Andrews and visited ISSOS’s camp. I must admit that my trip beat my initial, high expectations. In fact, I was amazed by the reputation surrounding St Andrews: the unique beach scenery, the university buildings, the historic stone architecture, the cohort of international students. The students spent 3 weeks in this iconic and absolutely safe village of St Andrews. They were daily “one with nature”, among others by doing activities on “West Sands”, which -- in all honesty -- is one of the most exquisite beaches in the world (and featured in the Oscar awarded film “Chariots of Fire”). And, equally important, they got a true taste of university campus life, as their academic activities were taking place in the centuries-old university buildings. I was privileged to meet ISSOS’s team at the parent reception on Sa, 19 July, one day before the students’ departure. The day after, I was again at the University premises for my son’s check-out. As the students were departing, I witnessed the wonderful, rare, emotional bond that the staff had established with the students, which made the separation “difficult” and heart-breaking. These counselors and teachers were offering the students their friendship in abundance, and were making sure that the students enjoy every day, every activity and every single moment. Their mission is to make sure that the students have a hilarious stay, an “unforgettable experience”. They can handle difficult and “delicate” issues, if needed. These guys are bringing tons of academic knowledge and professional skills from different fields and environments. Above all, they have an unparalleled enthusiasm to embrace the students and work with them. In one sentence: It was a genuine, great pleasure and a privilege to meet you, guys, in St Andrews. I wish you all the best in your personal and professional endeavors. The least I can do for all these wonderful young ladies and gentlemen is to send a “very BIG “Thank-you to the great St Andrews Team”. Alexander
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Posted 1 month ago
Our daughter attended the second session at St Andrews this summer, and she couldn't have had a better experience. It's no exaggeration to say that she was happy from the moment she arrived until the moment she tearfully left! This was especially reassuring for us, as she was visiting all the way from Canada and felt quite anxious before going. As parents, we highly recommend this program.
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Posted 3 months ago
It’s my son first ISSOS and the program gave him much more than we anticipated. The teachers and counselors were very supportive through the program. He learned a lot and also met a lot of great friend from around the world. And best of all, he finally figured out what he really wants to major in college. Thank you for making a memorable summer for him and his friends.
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Posted 3 months ago
The confidence which ISSOS brings in their student, their approach towards academics, sports, bringing students together from all parts of the world is amazing, highly recommended to parents who are looking for a summer program which is for sure a life time experience 👍 The campus at Yale was awesome and the staff were very co operative right from the first day when they were registered till the day they were flying back home.
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Posted 3 months ago
Truly the experience of a lifetime!! I went to St. Andrews S2 and it was just so much fun! Academics were really interesting as I took Leadership and same goes for electives! The teachers are really professional and so are the counselors. They know what they are doing but most importantly they know how to make you feel at home. Excursions and activities were so much fun!! I truly hope that the friends and acquaintances I made there last a lifetime as they are all so fun and interesting to hang out with as they come from all over the world. Thank you so much ISSOS for everything. I'm never going to forget this summer.
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Posted 3 months ago
I sent my son to ISSOS Yale program for business and entrepreneurship. He told me it went quite well. The activities were packed in and they didn't get almost any free time for the last activities they had many different like for example he did it. I thought it was totally unprofessional not connected to the real world of business, I would recommend you to send your child to school
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Posted 4 months ago
Both of our kids, so very different, came home with so much growth, development, and truly having had a wonderful adventure (Cambridge & St. Andrews campuses). They had a true taste of university campus life and received solid instruction in their areas of study. A beautiful balance of structure and independence. The academic classes, the excursions, their counselors, the wonderful people from all over the world that they have met and befriended - a superior and enriching experience for them both.
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Posted 4 months ago
The debate classes are organised and interactive however, many other students complain that their academic and elective classes were really bad and unproductive. The dorms aren't accommodating. I feel that what we paid, which is a significant amount, isn't really worth the experience I got at ISSOS. I also hoped to meet ambitious students from around the world during these 3 weeks although, even with the impressive diversity, most students I interacted with had an unsettling behaviour.
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Posted 4 months ago
NO AC, dirty plates, dirty utensils, no free time , dirty floors, spiders in my room, no door lock, false advertisement on the website about the classes and activities, the professors are not from yale. DO NOT DELETE THIS. Only fun time is when I am asleep. Had my birthday here the most miserable day ever, had to be in my room by 10pm.
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Posted 4 months ago
We had a really bad experience at ISSOS Yale, it was not at all what we expected. I took the Outdoor Leadership elective and our teacher was treating us, as if we were 5 years old. We spent the classes playing childish games such as getting a hoola hoop around us and making shapes by holding hands. We also had very shallow discussions about obvious traits a leader holds. On the website we were told that there was going to be raft building and sailing yet we haven’t done either. The website holds very little information about both the outdoor leadership elective and the whole camp program itself. The quality of our accommodations is very bad and is definitely not worth the money our parents have spent. The camp is very strict but over the wrong reasons and the only part that I’ve enjoyed is spending the very limited free time with my friends. I am very dissapointed and the only thing I’ve learned is that I will never be coming back.
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Posted 4 months ago
We are very happy for what you have done for our son Kajus. We are recommending ISSOS here in Vilnius😃 fantastic work by ISSOS team 🙏🏻🌻
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Posted 1 year ago
Bravo to the commited team members who have worked tirelessly to support the students
ISSOS 5 star review on 30th September 2022 ISSOS 5 star review on 30th September 2022
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Posted 2 years ago
ISSOS, St. Andrews has deeply impressed our daughter in many ways: the atmosphere at the campus, the clans and the teacher were all a big and thoroughly positive experience for her. It helped her to grow both socially and mentally. And now she is more than eager to come back...
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Posted 2 years ago
Dear Emma and Louise and all the staff at ISSOS, I had to write you a letter of thank all the staff for their hard work and effort, Noah thoroughly enjoyed learning and participating in activities, and his only regret is that he could have spent more time on campus. It’s an experience of a lifetime that he will never forget. The organisation and management of so many students were very professional, and I would highly recommend them to all my friends. Noah cannot wait for next year to go back to ISSOS, I am sure he will want to try Cambridge Campus out. Posting on social platforms was a great way to participate with the children even though we were not present. I thank you one more time and I hope that you will keep up the good work. You have been great!!! Many Thanks Jean Paul Barakat
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Posted 2 years ago
We sent two of our sons to ISSOS and for them it was, indeed, "the experience of a lifetime". Absolutely fantastic, in all respects
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Posted 2 years ago
Hi Roberto! We're so happy to hear that both of your boys enjoyed their time at ISSOS so much. It means so much to us to hear this. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! Best Wishes, Team ISSOS
Posted 2 years ago
My son was very happy at this camp. Got his IB EE research done and started writing the first draft. Still keeps in touch with all the close friends he made there.
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Posted 2 years ago
Hi Tracy, We're so happy to hear that Preston enjoyed his time at ISSOS so much, and thank you very much for taking the time to leave us a review! Best Wishes, Team ISSOS
Posted 2 years ago
Hallo please can you send me here David Pistek report? Thanks. Jana Sisolakova mother
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Posted 2 years ago
Hello Jana! You should be able to access and download it through your parent portal, but I will send you a direct email to confirm.
Posted 2 years ago
No question that our teenager previously had a great time at an ISSOS summer camp, that part is not in question. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, understandably ISSOS canceled the 2020 summer sessions. Given that these were circumstances beyond everyone's control and certainly the control of the parents, we would have expected a full refund of our money. Regrettably, we were short changed on the refund by about $1000, between apparently non-refundable registration fees and currency exchange losses. How companies and other organizations treat their customers during a difficult time like this, tells you a lot about how the company is run and this has been a very disappointing experience for us. Despite ISSOS attempts to point back to contract terms and the fine print, companies should do the right thing and create some goodwill. Lesson learned...sharing with other parents who might be considering ISSOS for their children and young adults.
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Posted 4 years ago
As you have chosen to post anonymously we, unfortunately, can’t respond to your comment with specifics, but we would like to strongly refute some of the points that you have made. 
 We have been very sympathetic to families in this crisis. We have students from every corner of the world and their health and wellbeing is incredibly important to us. As you correctly stated this is the reason that we chose not to run this summer, because it simply would not be safe.  
 Everyone who had booked and paid for this summer was offered a full credit note and a guaranteed place at ISSOS for summer 2021. Where attending in 2021 was not possible, despite the fact that our T&Cs state that our full fees are non-refundable in the event of force majeure events, we chose to overlook that and do the right thing by our customers and so we fully refunded all tuition fees, which is the overwhelming bulk of what makes up the price that each parent pays for their child to attend ISSOS. 
 Currency conversion loses on returning money are unfortunately totally out-with our control if you paid in your own currency instead of our currency as the service provider. This is dictated by international exchange rates that our payment provider has sole discretion to determine and we do not make or get any money at all from this transaction. 
 We’re really disappointed that this has affected your view of our company, having said that your son/daughter had a great time with us in previous years. However, we strongly disagree that we have acted in a way that is dishonest and are saddened that you have chosen to use this to try to discourage others from giving their children the same great experience that you openly agree your child had with us. Team ISSOS
Posted 4 years ago
ISSOS is rated 4.8 based on 153 reviews