Program Reviews

My study abroad experience with CEA CAPA in Barcelona was incredible. The program does a really good job of meshing academics with cultural immersion. My housing situation was rather sticky as I was in an apartment with 4 other ladies, but I was surrounded by convenience stores and shops — only 6 minutes away from the metro station and 8 away from the beautiful Sagrada Familia! CEA CAPA offers excellent excursions and smaller activities (my favorites were walking taste tours and yoga), that make it easy to connect with fellow students. I got homesick a few times, and the staff was very kind in assisting me in getting situated better. I’m thankful to have had them.

I couldn't have better things to say about the CEA CAPA staff and my experience thanks to them. I loved my time abroad and miss it already. I wouldn't choose to go with any other program other than CEA CAPA. From the second I signed up with CEA CAPA to the moment I left I felt supported by the staff off and on campus. I always knew there was someone I could turn to if I needed anything at all. The staff, being everyone from those working at the front desk to your professors, really want you to have an amazing time and care about your well being which makes such a difference.

CEA CAPA is altogether an amazing company. My experience in Madrid was so awesome, I got to do cooking classes, go to a flamenco show, go to Segovia and Sevilla, and more through CEA CAPA. My only complaint was the housing situation was a little interesting as many people had super modern and big apartments while others were left without even a common living space. Even with this small downside, my experience abroad was the most amazing semester of college by far! Madrid is the most amazing city in the world!

I signed up for the CEA CAPA's Barcelona program solo and had no idea what to expect. CEA CAPA was so supportive and helpful throughout every step of the process and once I got there, I was extremely impressed with the program itself. The classes were structured really well and the events that they hosted were amazing as well. I went to a Barcelona game and a weekend trip to Madrid that were both run by CEA CAPA and had an incredible time. I would very highly recommend CEA CAPA to any student thinking about going abroad.

I absolutely loved my semester abroad in Sevilla. CEA CAPA had such a positive impact on my experience. My program group was small compared to others. This helped our group connect on a more personal level and plan fun events outside of school where everyone would attend. These events wouldn't have been possible without the initial bonding activities that CEA provided. They did a great job at connecting us all. Upon our arrival, orientation was intense, especially with jet lag, but it helped to adjust us quickly to the time zone and I immediately got to meet everyone in the program. CEA does a great job at organizing events and trips. We went on three trips, Granada, Lisbon, and Cadiz. All of them were very well organized and the accommodation was awesome. CEA gives you the option to participate in activities that they plan, but you don't have to. I liked that CEA treated all of the students like adults, once you get to the city and you have free time on your own for essentially the entire time until your bus arrives to take you back to Sevilla. As for our classes in Spain, I loved all of the classes I took. All of the staff at CEA CAPA were very helpful and welcoming. I had 2 professors that I loved and one that was okay. The classes aren't hard and the program understands that you need free time to travel. There is hardly any homework and they encourage you to get most of your work done in class. I did struggle during finals week a little, because I was thrown into a bunch of class projects at the end of the year when we hadn't done anything similar previously. Sevilla is a wonderful city and by the end of your program you will feel like you know it very well. I like that it was small enough to explore almost all of it, while never running out of things to do. A lot of the activities in Sevilla are centered around food and tapas. It is in a great location and easy and cheap to travel in and out of. I would suggest living near the center, I know many of my friends living across the river found it harder to arrive to class on time and felt out of the loop at some points. CEA organizes activities weekly, such as cooking classes and flamenco dance lessons. I suggest attending them all. A lot of people turn up and they are very well organized. Overall CEA CAPA made my experience so much better and I am so grateful that I had such a supportive and welcoming group around me.

I traveled to Madrid alone, not knowing anyone, and while I was nervous, I couldn’t help but feel excited for the month ahead. When I finally met the other students in my residence, I was immediately struck by how warm and welcoming everyone was. We all shared the same excitement about making new friends and having people to hang out with during our time there. My residence was just a 15-minute walk from campus, and I loved starting each day with a stroll to school.

Madrid quickly became my favorite city in all of Spain. It’s incredibly affordable, the people are genuinely kind, and I always felt safe, no matter the hour. The city truly comes alive at night—everyone stays out late, and the energy is contagious. I had the chance to practice my Spanish, visit a few clubs (Kapital is a must-visit!), and overall, my experience was unforgettable. It was a month I wouldn’t change for the world.

I had the opportunity to study in Barcelona during the fall. While I was here, I was able to attend cultural events, try new foods, explore the rest of Europe, and make friends that I will have for the rest of my life. Specifically at CEA, I was able to create relationships with my professors, where the class would regularly share what they were doing the prior weekend, and even talk about what they would be doing the next weekend. Also, being close with the teachers allowed for local recommendations at the best spots to avoid any tourist traps. Finally, CEA did a great job at putting an emphasis on our safety and sharing resources such as the emergency hotline should anything happen.

I studied in Prague for a semester and loved it! The city is beautiful and perfect for someone who has never been out of the country. It is my favorite city I have ever traveled to, and I recommend it to anyone considering studying there. I studied there with CEA CAPA and they were fantastic in making my experience one to remember. The city is filled with so many things to do for everyone. It is incredibly cheap compared to other cities in Europe and I felt safe everywhere that I went. Everyone there is extremely friendly and the culture is amazing. I have nothing but great things to say about my time there and I would recommend everyone travel there!

I really enjoyed my time in Granada, Spain and CEA definitely had a lot to so with it. I enjoyed it from the second we got picked up at the airport to when I had tears streaming down my face on my flight home. The excursions, the people and the city were everything I would have ever dreamed of and more. Granada felt like home after I left and every time we would leave the city to travel around it felt like a breath of fresh air to see Granada again. From the people to the mix of cultures and the people in the program, this study abroad experience was unbeatable.

This past summer, I had an amazing opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy for 4 weeks. I took a class called Women, Art, and Culture in Italy where I had the chance to learn more about women during the Italian Renaissance and be able to go and see art in museums and churches with my class. I am studying Art Education and so I wanted to do something that would help me with my career later on! This trip was definitely an eye opening experience for me since I had never traveled alone before or even out of the country. Traveling without the comfort of another person or my parents was nerve wracking, but I did it even if my travels didn't always go as planned. When I arrived in Rome, I discovered that my luggage was delayed and that was surely an obstacle I had to navigate that I had never been through before. I also experienced countless mishaps with the train while in Italy, but here I am and everything was fine! Something I learned was to never be afraid to ask for help. There were a couple times that I ran into a language barrier, but it always was fine in the end! Overall, this trip was amazing and I dream about going back everyday.