Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Go Greek! Past Review

By (Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 08/27/2017 to 12/22/2017 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a whole new perspective!

Review Photos

College Year in Athens: Athens - CYA Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I professors were brilliant! They all felt passionate about the subject. We also had small class sizes.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They knew how to solve my scheduling problems and communicated with my home university.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in an apartment with three other girls from my program. We lived less than a block from the academic center. The apartment was professionally cleaned once a week.

* Food:

The cafeteria staff prepared us lunch Monday-Friday.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt like a local at the neighborhood cafes, tavernas, and grocery. I did not meet many Greeks my own age.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The staff helped my friends who went to the hospital. They also directed us to the local pharmacies for minor health problems.

* Safety:

I needed three different keys to access my apartment. Very safe!

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

What a wonderful program! I loved living in the city center of Athens! The professors and staff helped me learn about the Greek culture- past and present! I traveled to Delphi, Crete, and the Peloponnese (Olympia and Sparta) on the included field trips guided by the professors- experts in their fields. I ate the local food at the many tavernas and drank coffee at local cafes. My classes went on field trips to museums, sites, and cafes around Athens. I miss Greece already!

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)

Depends on how much you independently travel/eat out/ buy souvenirs. I worked and saved money before coming, but I felt my cost of living was less overall.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $90
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Take advantage of your ICOMOS card. Plan expensive activities ahead of time. I prioritized going to the islands/ visiting a friend in England before spending money on drinks and souvenirs.

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

My Greek class went to a cafe to practice.

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 for Greek
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Use Greek when ordering food/coffee and at stores. Practice greetings and politeness.

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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The Education (academic and reality)
  • The People (professors, staff, and peers)
  • The Food!
* What could be improved?
  • The field trips were geared towards History/Classic/Archaeology majors, so other students got bored.
  • More interactions with Greeks our own age.
  • The Orientation Week (too many speakers)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You don't have to see EVERYTHING in the first few days.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.