College Year in Athens: My Second Home July 20, 2024
By A student (Chemistry, Fairfield University) - abroad from 05/20/2024 to 06/15/2024 with
CYA (College Year in Athens) - Summer Program
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
From my experience abroad, I formed connections with students from other universities who I would not have been able to meet had I stayed at my home university. Additionally, I got to learn about the culture and life in a country other than America. Studying abroad provided me with a completely different experience than I would have got from just traveling to the country of Greece as I had to learn to adjust and live there. Everything I learned and took away from my time in Greece was what made my experience so worthwhile!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
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: |
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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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| * 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100-150/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Utilize the kitchen if you have one, cooking and buying groceries from time to time helps save rather than going out to eat every meal |
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 |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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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? | I wish I had known how important it was to branch out and meet people from other universities. I made very great connections with people I hadn't met until doing the program and I wish I had been able to step out of my comfort zone sooner. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
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