CYA (College Year in Athens)

I highly recommend this program! I studied abroad with CYA during Spring 2020-and yes, that means I was only abroad from January through the middle of March. But the time that I spent in Greece was a blast, and I'm thankful for every second. Athens is very unique, being a connector between Europe and Eastern countries, meaning that while you can also travel places that everyone studying abroad in Europe travels to- Paris, London, Venice, etc., you can also go really amazing places like Istanbul and Tel Aviv during your free time abroad. CYA is a really well done program, and my favorite part was the one (ideally of two, but cut due to coronavirus) week long trip we took with the entire program around the Peloponnese region of Greece. While CYA, like almost all study abroad programs, has a few optional trips on weekends scheduled that you can sign up and pay extra money for, they also schedule week long field trips around Greece, like this, whose costs are already configured into your tuition. They're lead by professors and, in complete honesty, are very educational, but they're also a blast, as you get to travel with your friends on the program and go places in Greece that would be difficult to access on your own without a car, like Olympia, Sparta, and Nafplio. From someone who has studied abroad on another program, these 2 week-long trips really set CYA apart from any other study abroad company that I know. Additionally, they handled the coronavirus situation very well. They kept us in Greece as long as they could, but were also accommodating of students who chose to leave earlier. The communication on their end was clear: We're a family, and we want you to stay in Athens just as much as you do, but your safety is first and even when you go home, you'll still be part of the family. Being in Greece, a place that has handled the situation incredibly well so far, I was able to stay abroad as long as was physically possible, and all of the professors were kind and understanding upon my return home. I've said it many times, and I'll say it again: CYA was the program to be abroad with during the crisis. Overall, my experience with CYA was wonderful, and I'd encourage anyone else thinking about studying abroad with them to go for it.

I had such an amazing time that I was absolutely crushed to return home due to the COVID19 pandemic. It was clear that the CYA staff truly cared and I still receive daily emails from professors hoping that their students are well. The classes are very hands on and informative. The program also provides 2 weeks of travel throughout Greece with the program which provided me with valuable knowledge regarding Greek culture and history.

The apartments are singles and doubles located conveniently near CYA. I had a very spacious single with my own balcony! Any time there was an issue with the apartment CYA would respond that day.

Greek food is absolutely amazing and Athens also has restaurants with all types of food (and not just Greek food). The pricing is also extremely reasonable in Greece. If I went out for a gyro it would typically lost less than 3 euros.

For those who do not know Athens is a HILLY city and CYA has an urban location. This was my first time living in an urban area, but CYA facilitated a smooth transition and I always felt safe and comfortable.

I highly recommend this program! I learned so much both inside and outside the classroom. The location is perfect and my professors, particularly my archaeology ones, conducted classes on site. I learned so much about Greece through both mandatory and optional field trips that CYA provides, and they helped me locate unique extracurricular opportunities such as a marble-carving class! I lived with a host family which provided me with an immersive cultural experience and delicious home-cooked Greek food. The faculty and staff greatly care about the students and do everything to give us the most fun and educational experience possible. I made plenty of friendships that last even now that I'm back home, and I am grateful to have such an unforgettable experience!

College Year in Athens provided me with the best study abroad experience possible! I made so many incredible friends, saw so many unbelievable places, and learned so many amazing things! I recommend this program to all students, and cannot talk it up enough!

I was academically stimulated the whole time, in an array of subjects that I found interesting. All of the staff and administration are so supportive and I'm still in touch with several people from the program! The entire experience was enriching and accommodating!

CYA's "Anthropology of the City: Exploring Modern Athens" winter term class was one of my favorite classes I have ever taken. Classes rarely took place in the physical classroom - instead CYA took full advantage of its convenient location in the heart of the city and sent us out with our professor to explore it. We analyzed different spaces all over the city from neighborhood farmers markets and shopping malls, to street art in political neighborhoods and even Greek nightlife in one of Athens’ party districts. This class is the perfect blend of academics with fun and adventure, and taught me that there isn’t a single space in the city that can’t be the site of interesting anthropological research. This class would appeal to students with a wide variety of interests, including not only Anthropology but also Urban Studies, Sociology, Political Science, Architecture - or simply anyone interested in learning about what life in Athens is like. As someone who spent winter term and the following semester with CYA, this class was the perfect introduction to my time in Athens and the lessons I learned from it about Greek culture and what it meant to be an Athenian were invaluable to me. The Anthropology of the City class fits a lot of material and adventures into a short period of time, so even if you are not staying for the semester, I guarantee you will still get a lot out of this short but sweet study abroad experience with CYA.