Best study abroad experience ever!! June 13, 2025
By A student (Architecture, Lehigh University) - abroad from 01/20/2025 to 05/17/2025 with
CYA (College Year in Athens) - Semester/Academic Year Program
I learned about a different and vibrant culture, Greece's rich history, and met the kindest people. It changed me in ways I wouldn't have predicted.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
CYA gave me the best study abroad experience I could have asked for. There was a great emphasis on cultural immersion through field trips, local events, workshops etc. The classes were great and the professors phenomenal. Courses are academically stimulating but also not too heavy on the courseload. I took this class on Ancient Greek Architecture and had the rare opportunity to go inside the PARTHENON and many other ancient sites where tourists are not allowed. Athens is a very vibrant and happening place and Greece is absolutely gorgeous. The CYA staff is very supportive, caring and helpful and they genuinely want you to have a good time. Lots of opportunity to travel inside and outside of Greece and also a plethora of activities if you are staying in Athens the whole time. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was very communicative and extremely caring. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was an unparalleled experience. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 60 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | find smaller and family run tavernas- they serve better food and area lot cheaper |
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 |
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| 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 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | To participate in as many things as possible: the worst thing that can happen is that you will have a good time. |
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. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Aegean Art and Archeology |
| Course Department: | Archeology |
| Instructor: | Huseyin Cinar Ozturk |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This was such an awesome course, and I am not even much into archaeology. Huseyin is the coolest person you will ever meet, and he is extremely passionate about what he teaches. I have never had a professor put this much effort into making the content come to life and also make everything as fun and digestible as possible. This course was so much fun for every student, and my study abroad experience would have been incomplete without Huseyin's humor, teaching and music. |
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