Program Reviews

Although this was not my first time abroad, it was my first time studying abroad and it couldn't have went any better! I enjoyed the classes, the weather, the culture, and all of the activities that were available during my free time. The ACT staff was more than helpful, and they even helped me organize a winery tour for the group that hadn't been pre-planned. For my first experience, I am extremely satisfied and it is not something I will ever forget!

I loved my study abroad experience at ACT and am so happy I chose to study in the beautiful city of Thessaloniki, Greece! The staff and the classes have helped me grow as an individual, and through the structure of the program I got to become a more independent and well-rounded person. I also got to gain a new perspective on my home culture from a global context, and have developed a greater understanding of my family's heritage.

Having this been my first time abroad, I did not know what to think. But choosing Greece was definitely the right decision. I made a ton of friends, got to visit some of the islands, and most importantly, took classes that would help me understand, reflect, and appreciate the time I spent here! All of the staff is extremely helpful, most of them go out of their way for just about anything. Thank you ACT, you made Greece truly an amazing experience for me! <3

I loved studying abroad in Thessaloniki. The local people are so nice and welcoming. Living in the middle of Thessaloniki forces you to get out of your comfort zone and learn more about the culture. The ACT program was well organized and extremely helpful! The classes and campus were great as well. All of the people in my program were nice and became some of my really good friends. Greece is amazing and I would definitely recommend going.

I took ACT's Sailing Course with Skipper George Podaras and had an amazing time. From what I learned in George's pressured sailing course, I have been inspired to further my sailing education and continue to become certified in several areas of the nautical world. I 100% recommend this class to EVERYONE! Keep in mind, there are some intense moments in this class because when learning how to operate an expensive and potentially dangerous boat, you must be prepared for the most intense situations.

I loved my experience at the American College of Thessaloniki! I had never even heard of the city of Thessaloniki before I decided to study here, but I couldn't have picked a better place to study. The city is full of students and young people, meaning that there is always something fun to do. It's the second-largest in Greece, but doesn't feel too crowded or touristy, which is important in order to feel fully immersed in the culture. I made some amazing friends and had the opportunity to participate in activities such as canyoning on Mt. Olympus, scuba diving in Halkidiki, touring Athens and Delphi, and visiting Meteora (due to the programs offered at ACT). While I did not believe that the academics were as rigorous as they might be back home, experiencing classes with students from all over the Balkans taught me more about life and culture than any class could. I highly recommend studying abroad in Thessaloniki through ACT.

My semester abroad at ACT was an amazing opportunity to experience Greek culture and travel around Europe. The classes were pretty easy, honestly, but I was fine with that because it meant I got to travel on the weekends without stressing out, and really take advantage of all the things the city had to offer (including its amazing night life!). The school also offers trips almost every weekend to places such as Athens and Delphi, and activities such as canyoning and scuba diving. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to experience Greek culture and history and also have the opportunity to travel around the rest of Europe.

When I found this program at Ole Miss, I knew it was meant to be, but I could have never imagined how truly rewarding the experience would turn out.

Daily, I'm introduced and shown things that could never just be described with words. I have fallen in love with Greece and her people, I can't imagine leaving! This has shaped me into a more independent person and has increased my self confidence a huge amount. I am finally really proud of myself for something.

The hardest part is obvious, there are times when I want nothing more than to be back home with familiar faces (and be able to read the street signs). But whenever I feel the homesickness creeping in, I take a walk through the beautiful city and stop by one of the HUNDREDS of delicious and cheap sweet shops. Your tastebuds will quickly get spoiled to all the fresh food here; nothing holds a candle to the bread!

All in all, this is the best experience I have ever had and can foresee having for a long time. You aren't just on vacation, you are LIVING in a paradise. Explore it, make friends from around the country, and, above all else, have the adventure of a lifetime!