CEA CAPA Education Abroad Reviews

CAPA offers a good variety of interesting courses for most majors. The coursework is easily manageable and the program faculty understands you are there to study as well as travel and explore. During my study abroad program, I was also doing an internship for academic credit. This was my primary reason for opting for studying abroad. My internship site was a management consulting firm in central London. I had a great learning experience not only because I was working in an international setting, but also because it gave me a chance to explore my career interests!

The CAPA administration is very organized and accommodating in most matters. They were always willing to answer any queries and were dedicated to ensuring all students had a safe and fun time abroad. Students from Clark University have a unique living arrangement because their housing accommodation is with Acorn Housing. This is a fully-furnished flat in Central London. It is located across Russell Square and Park. It is very convenient and safe.

London is a great place to try different cuisines and desserts. I would highly recommend visiting shops for gelato and crepes. My friends and I would usually cook at home. Surprisingly, groceries were very cheap in London. Whenever we were out we would try new restaurants or go to local food markets where you could get very tasty food at reasonable prices.

This was my first time over seas and I can truly say it has completely changed my perception of the world and has given me a better appreciation and perspective on my life. Studying abroad not only allows you to see the world, it also allows you to see yourself through a new lens. I learned that I love well seasoned food, like Barcelona's Paella for example is to die for! I also learned that I truly feel my best when I am exploring and doing new things. I fell in love with traveling and getting to learn about different cultures. I wish I could have stayed longer... One piece of advice I'll give that I wish I did in the very beginning of my trip was to maintain a open mind about everything. When it comes to doing something new or trying something new as long as it is safe say yes to it! You can only learn and grow from the experience.

Summer of 2017 I interned in Barcelona, Spain. This was one of the best experiences I could have asked for. I really wanted to be immersed into a different culture; I have a Spanish minor so I really wanted to be in a Spanish-speaking environment. My main goals were to be a better Spanish speaker, be more confident in the business world, and gain knowledge of different cultures. After my two-month internship, I truly believe I reached all of my goals through my internship in Spain.

Not only that but I learned to be a better version of my self. This type of experience really pushed me to be a stronger, more independent version of who I am. I think that this experience, interning abroad, really gave me the confidence to believe that I can now conquer anything.

This past summer, I studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France for six weeks. I lived in a homestay with a divorced mother and her 20 year old daughter. Shortly after landing in France, I was welcomed by Alexia and her mom, Karen. They were so warm and welcoming and made me feel at home which is exactly what I needed since I was 4,000 miles away from home and everything I have ever known for the very first time. My first night in Aix was very overwhelming and kind of rough because my host family spoke almost no English and I speak very little French. I felt a million times better just the next morning, when I saw Karen again and met Nancy and fellow students. Throughout the six weeks, I knew there was always someone to talk to in the CEA office, which was conveniently located just around the corner from school. I totally recommend CEA to someone who is interested in studying abroad. In addition to their absolutely exceptional staff, both throughout the application process and onsite in Aix, they also offered several excursions that other study abroad programs did not have. We had an all day excursion at the beautiful village, Les Baux-de-Provence, as well as smaller activities within Aix, like wine tasting and soap making. We even had an amazing farewell dinner a few days before our program ended. Some advice I have for a student who is about to embark on their study abroad experience is to get involved with everything and take total advantage of everything that CEA and their school has to offer. I would also suggest to not be hard on yourself if you are experiencing culture shock. It may take a little bit for you to get adjusted and just because someone is adjusting faster than you, doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with you! Studying abroad with CEA was an amazing and life changing experience that I would recommend to everyone. I cannot imagine having gone abroad any other way!

I loved living in Barcelona and I don't think I would have had the same experience had I not gone through CEA. They provide you with everything you need. And they give you the best housing around the city. My roommates and I were placed a little further from the city center which we thought would be tough but I could not have been more appreciative of this experience. Besides that, CEA also has amazing excursions and field trips that you can take with them that are essentially part of your tuition. I loved being able to take advantage of these little side trips while sometimes not even having to leave Barcelona. I have come to learn so much about myself and about the world through the amazing classes I took abroad.

My internship in London has changed and grown me in so many ways. I now feel comfortable walking into any professional setting, can establish conversations with just about anyone, and was able to make connections abroad that are unique to my experience abroad. While the summer could be rather heat intensive, it was all so worth it! I would, without a doubt, do it again a million times! Cassandra was one of the on-sight coordinators and she made every CEA event a blast! I miss British Pies and English Breakfast as well as living in a flat with my friends, who quickly became like family. I am so thankful for this opportunity that truly changed my life!

My time with CEA started in the Fall of 2016 on their Prague Internship program. Living and interning abroad was the most rewarding, educational and life-changing experience of my life. I forged outstanding bonds that facilitated in my growth as a student, friend, person, and professional in a matter of weeks. I genuinely believe this experience was all that is was because of the above and beyond standards set by all those in the CEA Prague department. One small glimpse into their caring nature as a company was in the days after my program came to close. Upon finishing studies I hugged my internship coordinator goodbye and told her I was thinking of visiting Berlin before flying home for Christmas. As it would turn out I skipped Berlin for an extra day in Prague and missed the day there was a terrorist attack in the city. The first person to reach out to me was a member of the Prague CEA office. Despite no longer being affiliated with their company, they offered everything to ensure my safety all because I mentioned to one staff member that I was considering visiting Berlin. This event alone speaks wonders to the character of this company and I could speak more highly of this program and experience!

I loved my experience with this program. One of the classes I took (Revolution, Religion, and Spirituality in Latin America at Veritas Universidad) changed my life in so many ways. My Tropical Marine Biology class was like nothing else I could have taken in the states; we actually went out and did field work in the ocean a couple of times.
Living in the homestay was also amazing. It helped further my cultural understanding and my language skills, and my mamatica was so helpful when I got sick.
The country is also so beautiful, and there's something for everybody. From beaches to mountains, volcanos to waterfalls, there's no shortage of adventure in Costa Rica.

Studying abroad in France is about more than baguettes. Baguettes do play a large role, but the real goodness of it all lies in the people and places you meet. I went to Aix-en-Provence, France with CEA from January-April 2017, and not a day goes by when I don't think about it. Aix was the perfect city for me -- it's teeming with cafés, shops, and picturesque winding streets, without having the feel of a gridded city with huge looming buildings. I’m so thankful to have been apart of CEA’s Aix program versus going on my own, because every staff person met or talked to genuinely wanted to be as helpful to me as possible. Whether I was freaking out over pre-departure documents, had questions about my classes or anything else, CEA was quick to respond and worked with me so that I didn’t have to figure things out on my own. While in France, my onsite directors Nancy and Vivienne were the best. I can’t imagine two people more perfect for their role. They had local activities planned for us every week, as well as frequent tea times in the CEA office where we could have tea and our favorite madeleine cakes. I can honestly say that studying abroad was the best four months of my life, and CEA made it so that I could most fully enjoy my time. I would go back in a heartbeat!

I jumped into my study abroad program having done little to no research about most things, so I was nervous of course. I was wondering what I had gotten myself into, but it turns out I found that I had gotten myself into the best opportunity and time of my life. I honestly would not change one thing from my experience! Going through CEA was the best decision I could have made, and Costa Rica is now forever a second home to me! I had a wonderful host mom, roommate, and I got to meet amazing people and create friendships that will definitely last a lifetime. All in all, I think that this is the perfect study abroad experience.