Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I loved my time with CYA! June 09, 2024

By (Anthropology, University of Southern California) - abroad from 01/22/2024 to 05/17/2024 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 real deep understanding of Greek culture, which I believe most Americans don't actually know much about. I made strong local friendships. I witnessed political and social issues unfolding around me and really felt like a global citizen. I also learned that I want to live in Europe after I graduate college!

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

I loved my experience with College Year in Athens. I truly fell in love with the city of Athens and the nation of Greece. The school and the student housing are situated in the incredible Pangrati neighborhood, which many Athenians will tell you is one of their favorite areas in the city. It's surrounded by bars (shoutout to Thursdays at Ziggy, and every night at Chelsea Hotel), cafes, amazing restaurants (my favorites being To Mavro Provato and Louvron), and the famous Panathenaic Stadium. The faculty is brilliant, and I have to specifically thank Dr. Aimee Placas and Dr. Athena Hadji, two of the most thoughtful and inclusive instructors I have ever had. Also, CYA offers three mandatory "field study" trips to different parts of Greece, so I got to visit Olympia, Delphi, Nafplio, Kalamata, Thessaloniki, Volos, Mount Pelion, and several small villages and towns across the mainland. It's easy to visit islands (I loved the nearby Poros island) and also to travel across Europe (I visited Berlin, Barcelona, Istanbul, Budapest, Palermo, Sevilla, and Ibiza, all within the semester). The courses are challenging but not too homework-heavy, allowing for weekend travel and for exploring the city of Athens. Lunch is free each day Monday through Friday at CYA, and food is very affordable in Athens (many of my meals were 5-10 euros, sometimes even less). My favorite thing about CYA was definitely how the program treated us as adults, more so than how American universities do. I truly felt independent and respected. And, of course, the people make the experience! I think CYA cultivates a great student body and I made lasting friendships. My only "complaints" about the program are the laundry situation (the washers and dryers at CYA are in poor condition and you will have to hang dry your clothes, but hey, that's the authentic European experience!), the strict attendance policy, and the over-representation of certain big American universities in the student body (including my own) which damages the diversity of the campus life. However, these are minuscule issues in the grand scheme of studying abroad, and I would recommend CYA to almost anyone. I wish I went for two semesters!

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)

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? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0

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?
  • My professors
  • The neighborhood and greater city of Athens
  • The exposure to Greek culture
* What could be improved?
  • Laundry service
  • Course registration process
  • Timing of spring break
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew I would want to stay longer, because I would have done two semesters!

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.