Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great for Classicists, not sure why anyone else would go Past Review

By (Classical Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/21/2013 to 05/19/2013 with

CYA (College Year in Athens) - Semester/Academic Year Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was a blast and a half

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 20-50 euro
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? No trains leave Greece, so flight is the only means of travel, which can be expensive.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Teachers
  • Field Trips
* What could be improved?
  • Administration
  • Food
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I should've requested a single.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Ancient Macedon to the Death of Alexander
Course Department: Classics
Instructor: Karavas
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Albeit not that challenging academically, Karavas is the man, knows literally everything, and felt like a friend and a professor. Also we took a trip to Macedonia, which was awesome.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Greek Mythology and Relgion
Course Department: Classics
Instructor: Stewart
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Stewart, an expat who went to Berkeley in the 60's, is great, if not a little kooky, and really knew her stuff.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Homeric Greek
Course Department: Classics
Instructor: Raish
Instruction Language: English
Comments: John Raish is the greatest man ever to live and teach Ancient Greek. He is an experience.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Attic Tragedy (In Translation)
Course Department: Classics/Theatre
Instructor: Stevens
Instruction Language: English
Comments: We got to read a lot of ancient tragedies, which is great if you haven't yet and want to get a bunch under your belt, but we also spent the second half of the semester practicing for a play, which we put on at the end of the semester.
Credit Transfer Issues: