The best semester! January 21, 2025
By A student (Data Science, Political Science, Africana Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/17/2025 to 05/16/2025 with
CYA (College Year in Athens) - Semester/Academic Year Program
I gained so many amazing friendships and connections, I was able to immerse myself in the culture and I learned to navigate the world on my own! It was definitely worthwhile, I loved it so much I did another semester abroad right after because of how much I loved the experience and how much it prepared me to go out into the world!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
The lunch food was delicious and it was so nice to have traditional Greek food every day! I have absolutely no complaints about the food, though I would have loved to have both lunch and dinner from the program. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We got to go to many different parts of Greece and experience many different cultural events, though because the program was only for Americans it felt like a bubble friends-wise. Not many people from the program had actual Greek friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go to the weekly markets for groceries when you can!!! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
We had an introductory Greek lesson at the beginning that was quite helpful. |
| 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 |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Go to the markets when you can rather than grocery stores! Travel around Greece and especially to the islands (other than Santorini and Mykonos) |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
