CEA CAPA Education Abroad Reviews

The program was great! When I first signed up, I had some apprehensions but after landed in Rome I was greeted by the friendly staff of the CEA and all my fears were assuaged. I made friends from all different schools and states while over here and the memories we have made I'll cherish for a lifetime. The school itself does a good job teaching content to the students without overburdening them with coursework. Studying is only one half of studying abroad.

I was only 15 years old when my Dad sat both my brother and I down and broke the news that as a family, we would all be moving to China. I had lived in the same house in the same town my whole entire life, and I did not know what to think. Two years later, I was on a plane back to America with an invaluable experience and an itch to venture out into the unknown. Once I became a sophomore at the Virginia Military Institute, I became eligible to study abroad. I decided that since I had already been to Asia, I would try to conquer Europe. CEA was enormously helpful at every step of the application process. When I arrived in Spain I didn't not know to expect; I knew Asia, but not Europe. I had elected to be put into a house with eight other college students. I got along very well with my housemates (probably due to the personality tests that matched us up) and ended up travelling all over Europe with them. I studied at the Universidad de Nebrija, which was a small private school located inside the city. Classes were about 80 minutes long and they alternated between Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday. There was no class on Fridays so that you could get an extra start to the weekend and have more time to explore all of Europe. I took international business classes (in English) along with a Spanish class and really enjoyed the teachers and the curricula. Here at the school, you were able to meet people from other programs and continue to build your network of abroad friendships.

The culture of Madrid is very slow paced. It is a great option for someone to break away from the stress of their regular college life and relax for a semester. It is fairly easy to get around Madrid, with the metro, cheap ubers, and reliable bus systems. The food options inside Madrid are relatively diverse, so you always have an option for something different to eat. Produce at the local grocery store is significantly cheaper than it is in the states, allowing you to have some freedom with your budget elsewhere. The local people are friendly and will do their best to communicate with you and help you on your language skills if you put in the effort. the Madrid airport is a major airport in Europe, making flights both in and out of Spain relatively cheap and travel around Europe fairly easy. The Spanish railway is a cheap and great option to visit places

CEA offered many opportunities to immerse yourself into the Spanish and Madrid culture. From meal excursions, to museum trips, to paid weekend excursions to Barcelona and Sevilla, I felt like I was provided with the best opportunities to see Spain and Madrid. The CEA staff were very friendly and would always responded to emails concerning recommendations or other questions.

I left this program feeling more confident in myself and my language capabilities. I am a more capable traveler, and I made some lifelong friends that I have made plans to visit over this past year. My favorite memory was riding a camel in Morocco one weekend, and then snowboarding down the Swiss Alps the next weekend. If you are looking for a semester to step back and take a breath while simultaneously becoming immersed in a whole new culture and lifestyle, look no further.

Studying abroad is the best choice I have ever made. Studying abroad in Rome is the second best choice I have ever made. Rome is a central location filled with so much culture and history- you could live here for years and still not seeing everything!
Applying was simple and CEA was always there throughout the process to answer any questions I (or my mother..) had.
The CEA Rome Center definitely encouraged us to see as much as we could. They were always available for an in-person meeting (however, e-mail isn't as reliable). Everyone there really wanted to make sure we felt at home and learned the Roman way. They were all so enthusiastic to show us Rome and learn more about their students. They always asked to make sure they were doing everything they could to help us.
My classes were interesting- perhaps not as rigorous as my home university but definitely more interesting. Three out of my five courses (New Testament, Stoic Philosophy, and Art History) had amazing on-site classes on a weekly basis. My Italian class had monthly culture immersions. This was definitely a highlight of the program. Being able to be on-site almost every day of our Monday-Thursday class week enhanced the experience ten times.
I have no regrets choosing Rome and CEA!!!

CEA has been wonderful every step of the way during my study abroad experience. I've been in Barcelona for almost 3 months now and I'm very happy with all CEA has done to make my stay here amazing. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I especially love the activities and trips that are planned for students, whether it is a weekend trip to the Pyrenees mountains or a tapas cooking workshop. CEA really wants to help immerse you into the culture of your host city and I think they do a great job with it. I love what I am learning in class and especially love when the education extends beyond the classroom during field studies. Overall, I've had a fantastic time studying abroad so far!

I have traveled a lot. I was a professional skier traveling the world before going to college in Salt Lake City, Utah. I wanted to study abroad because I missed the exposures to the different cultures, the unique experiences that no one else will ever understand, and overcoming struggles with things you had taken for granted in the U.S. or learning new practices you like better.

Having some experience traveling my biggest worry was renting. Finding a spot to rent that would let me rent for just four months, and how would I find a roommate? Well, CEA fixed that problem for me by booking me an apartment with two roommates!

The added benefit for me was getting to go on many of the excursions CEA offered.

I didn't really think this trip would be life-changing for me, I have been to Europe a lot before, but this experience WAS life changing and I would recommend a study abroad with CEA to ANYONE.

While studying abroad in a country so far away from my own, I gained a new sense of independence and confidence from going abroad and by going outside of my comfort zone. I met so many people that are now amazing friends! The opportunities for travel and adventure are limitless! CAPA was by my side providing support and resources whenever needed. I gained so many experiences from my time abroad, from the amazing places I was able to travel to, as well as being able to live in and experience a different country was all incredible and I have memories that I will cherish forever!

I have nothing but great things to say about CEA! I have been studying abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica for the past three months. The staff at the CEA office are so helpful and really want all of the students to have the best experience possible. Each month we have a cultural immersion activity with allows the students to connect with their host country. I feel so lucky to have been apart of this study abroad organization and am so grateful for all they have done for me!

This program helped me grow so much. I gained confidence both personally and professionally. The internship has helped me land other internships since being back and has made me confident in what I would like to do in the future. I am also now much more confident in speaking to people from all over!

I loved the educational experience I had here! I was able to complete required classes for my Supply Chain Management major, such as economics and supply chain, but they had a global twist to them! Apart from that my internship counted for credit and I was able to take a fun class: pop-culture in the UK! All of my classes included 1 or more field trips in the surrounding London area!

The administration was super helpful! There was always someone at the desk when I arrived at CAPA to help me with places to eat, things to do, doctors appointments and many other things! The administrative team planned outings for all of CAPA students to attend. They were extremely helpful and supportive throughout the entire process.

The living was overall very satisfactory. I loved my roomates and the flat itself was super cute! The only reason I am not giving it a 5 star review is because it was very small, but what can you expect when living in nearly the center of a huge city! The proximity to the Tube and grocery stores were a definite plus. I'd live in my flat again in a heartbeat

For the most part I felt very safe. My specific flat location would recieve a 5 star review on safety, however, London is a large city and like most large cities it does have its sketchy areas. Be aware of this and make sure you know where you are going to end up!

London is an expensive city. Be prepared for that when you come. There are definitely ways to save though, such as not eating out constantly or enjoying free activities like walks through Hyde Park!

I would absolutely study here again!!

I spent a wonderful Fall semester in Granada Spain with CEA. I had dreamed of studying in Spain for many years and, after hearing stories about Granada from a friend, I fell in love with the city from a distance. My heart was set on Granada. While researching programs I decided on CEA due to the course offerings and the attentive admissions staff. And I am so glad that I did!

As a first time international traveller, I was nervous about everything before I took off. Luckily, CEA made sure that I had all the details before I stepped onto the plane. Jorge (the amazing Granada student life staff member) was there to pick me up from the Airport in his bright orange CEA shirt. Orientation over the first few days was thorough but still allowed us enough time to explore and find out own way around the city.

Granada is small enough that you can walk everywhere you need to go but large enough that you never run out of new places to explore. Not to mention it is a university city so you will meet students from all over the world. You'll agree that it's the best city in Spain by the end of your time there, I guarantee it!

I stayed with a host family and a roommate from my program. My host mom was hilarious, attentive and only spoke Spanish which improved my skills greatly over my four months with her! All CEA housing is located within walking distance from the Centro de Lenguas Modernas where international students take their classes.

CEA's support was consistent throughout the semester. Their office was open every weekday and students were encouraged to drop in and chat with Begonia (the Granada program director) and Jorge. Students could even schedule tutoring sessions to help them with their Spanish coursework, which was a lifesaver in my grammar course!

The excursions, be it the weekend trips or the afternoon activities in Granada, were well planned and informative. I appreciated that our guides would always strive to speak to us in Spanish.

If you are looking for a program that will give you a great balance of support and independence, I would highly recommend going with CEA. But be warned, you might just leave your heart in Granada.

CEA is an amazing company. I don't think that my time abroad would have been nearly as amazing without CEA. They handled all of the logistics for us. First, they provided housing and showed us around the town so we could get our bearings. My coordinator, Krisitin, was amazing. She taught us everything from how the buses work, where the best day trips are, where to buy groceries and how to fit in with locals. She is truly amazing!
We did so many excursions with CEA. They took us to places in southern France that are difficult to get to by public transportation. They provided us with a bus, food and a tour guide.
Seriously the best experience that I've ever had. I am SO thankful that I chose to study abroad with CEA.