CEA CAPA Education Abroad Reviews

The CAPA program in London offered me an amazing platform on which to not only explore the many wonders of London and Europe, but also to build my professional skill set in a meaningful way through an internship.

As such, my weeks were absolutely packed with classes and work, so spring break was a great opportunity for several of friends and I to break away on our own adventure. We planned and executed our excursion to Italy - free of any program structures or help - in the varied time in between classes during the weeks leading up to break. This was a feat in and of itself, coordinating schedules, tickets, and logistics for four people without anyone knowing Italian or having been to Italy before.

However, it all worked out and I'm proud to say our plans went, more or less, off without a hitch. The number of stories and shared memories from that trip - from Venice in the North, through Florence, and then on to Rome - are far too many to retell here but they will not soon be forgotten by me or my traveling companions.

Living and studying in Alicante, Spain was nothing short of the best four months of my life. The people are beyond friendly and the city thrives on the tourist season as summer approaches. Beautiful sites of the ocean, castles, and architecture are everywhere you go. The city is large enough that there is plenty to do but small enough that you start to recognize familiar faces around and bump into friends around the city. Alicante was the perfect mix of a culture of compassionate and energetic people, making this place feel like a second home in no time.

I quite literally had the best time of my life down in Australia. The best time ever was celebrating my birthday. Many people gathered, from within the program, to help me celebrate. The people I also worked with in my internship also brought cake and wished me a happy birthday. It was honestly the sweetest thing anyone has done for me, especially since the majority of the people that helped plan my birthday party I literally had only met a few weeks prior. Another thing to top off that weekend, was the fact that I was also able to go to a nature preserve in which I saw a several different kinds of animals including kangaroos, dingoes, bats, etc. Which has been a huge dream of mine ever since I was a kid.

One really cool week I remember perfectly is my "Week of Celebs." There was a movie premier going on right in Russell Square (Entourage Movie) and I had never been to anything like it! I swore I was dreaming. I kept thinking this is only for famous people, right? Well it was surreal. Though no selfies nor autographs were received, we were up close and personal with a lot of the stars. We were in the middle of packs of crazy people who wanted to get autographs to sell and would shove anyone aside if they got in their way. Of course we just thought it was hilarious and loved being smack dab in the middle of this wild scene. That same week, Bradley Cooper (eek!!) was doing a show, The Elephant Man, in Covent Garden. Afterwards he comes out and does autographs and selfies with nearly everyone who shows up!! This time, a selfie was successfully captured and I have never been more starstruck in my entire life!! It was so cool, we were so close (photo below).

We were shocked at how casual the Londoners reacted to both of these events. The work commuters would walk by like this was an every day scene! Plays, musicals and premiers happen all the time there that bring a lot of celebrities to the city. For us tourists, we couldn't get enough.

Going into my study abroad experience I knew that I wanted to force myself out of my comfort zone in order to have a maximized experience in a foreign country. I was determined to make Florence my home away from home that I could always go back to. Instead of rooming with my best friends from Boulder, I lived in a homestay with locals. Instead of spending all of my time with English speakers, I spent quality time with Italian children as I volunteered teaching English at a local Elementary school. Through my time teaching English, as well as time devoted to my host family, such as going on walks through the gardens with my host mom, I managed to accomplish leaving Florence feeling like it truly is my home away from home. I can only hope that one day I will have the amazing opportunity to return.

I abosutely loved studying abroad through the CAPA program. I spent 7.5 weeks in Sydney, Australia, and I learned so much. CAPA helped me prepare for the trip, helped me find an amazing internship, and the staff was always there in Sydney if we needed anything. As a group, CAPA took us on a trip to the Blue Mountains and a wildlife park where we got to pet and feed so many kangaroos. Interning abroad really introduced me to the Australian culture. I got to apply the skills I have learned in the classroom to real life situations for a company that was really happy I was there.

CAPA London truly made my study abroad experience one i'll never forget. From the second I was accepted into the program until the second I left London, CAPA went above and beyond to make sure my time abroad was incredible.

Since this was my first time abroad, I was extremely nervous to spend so much time in a foreign country with people who were strangers to me. However, CAPA ensured I was prepared for everything that I would need abroad. They walked me through the entire work visa process, provided me with travel and packing tips, and weekly London itineraries that allowed me to see places only locals know about. They are truly all about making sure each and every student is immersed into the culture they are studying and comfortable enough to enjoy themselves.

CAPA also set me up with an incredible internship in the heart of London in my field of study. I was nervous at first about giving them complete control over my internship placement, but I was more than pleasantly surprised with how spot on they were. The internship and classes were challenging and I was able to learn a lot about my major as well as the history and culture of London. For a six week program, the required hours at the internship site were a little heavy, but I was able to really learn the ins and outs of the work culture and London which I am extremely grateful for. It was a great way to build my resume and give me a competitive edge over others in the public relations field.

London in general is a beautiful city that doesn't allow you to spend one second being bored. I explored the city a lot on the weeks due to the Oyster Card CAPA provided me which allowed me to travel throughout Zones 1 and 2 whenever I pleased. On the weekends I was able to travel to countries such as France, Ireland, Copenhagen, and The Netherlands. I constantly felt like CAPA gave me opportunities to act on and if you take advantage of them you are guaranteed to have the experience of a lifetime.

This experience will be whatever you make it to be; you can either find yourself regretting not doing more, or being satisfied with everything to got to accomplish.

CAPA's London Program makes you hit the ground running, and I'm really thankful that they do. I never thought that almost 2 months would fly by so fast, but I'm glad I took advantage of the time I had while I was there. The program also provides you with a lot of opportunities to see different parts of the city, or even travel a bit further.

One of my favorite things was going to Wimbledon with the group from CAPA. It was the last full day we had for the program, and it was a really good way to end it and spend the last day in London. It can seem hard to become friends with other students on the trip, because you'll find yourself spread out amongst the city. But, if you take advantage of opportunities like this one, you'll find yourself making friends with someone you may not have otherwise met.

Overall, I was really satisfied with CAPA and how their program was structured. They let you practically build your own program (whether you want to do just academics, an internship, etc.) which allows each student to have a unique experience. I would recommend to research as much as you can before you get here, especially when planning for trips / excursions, etc. Prices become much more expensive as the date approaches, but can be found for very cheap with extra time. With that being said, allow yourself some free-time to be able to experience things that you may not be able to plan ahead for.

I found CAPA's London program incredible and life-changing for me: it was my first time living independently (albeit, with roommates), my first extended stay in a foreign country, and the first time I could take complete charge over my own life.

The academics were great, shattering the stereotype that studying abroad would just be a "vacation from studying", and the internship program worked out well for a lot of my friends — I opted against taking an internship in the interest of exploring the city.

The coursework in CAPA courses is unique in that it requires professors to plan MyEducation events — outings that get students engaged with the city of London, and connect it to their studies. This was a fantastic way to plan courses, as it got students out and about, not just sitting in classrooms all day!

However, the downfall of this program for me was in the lack of social immersion we got as students. The London center for CAPA is an independent institution, so the student demographic was nearly all American when I went. Even some of my teachers were American. While we were encouraged to meet and befriend British people, it was difficult to do so when they weren't involved in our studies, or surrounding us during our daily lives.

With the majority of students having internships with organizations in London, this was less of a worry for them; however, my peers in internships who were seeking social immersion did note disappointment, as the friendships built at internships didn't extend far past the office.

For me, this program ended up being great, but in hindsight, I wish I had chosen another of the several locations that CAPA offers. The staff at CAPA, however, is top-notch, and couldn't be nicer. They supported me and my peers when we needed it most, and I couldn't appreciate that more.

So my advice is this: CAPA is great, but don't be afraid to challenge your boundaries more than I did! Many of CAPA's other programs take place outside of the "American Bubble", so check into those before making any decisions.

I owe all who I am today to CAPA. Without them, I wouldn't have had two other incredible internships after. Dress for Success Dublin was more than welcoming to me. They are the sweetest people. I never felt afraid or homesick while I was away, but I'm certainly homesick for Dublin now that I'm back.