CEA CAPA Education Abroad Reviews

Florence is the perfect location to see all the beauties of the Renaissance while being in a good location to explore the rest of Europe. CAPA was a great program and the staff could not have been nicer. I learned WAY more than I thought I would and always felt a good work-play balance.

As a CAPA alumnus, I cannot begin to describe how incredible my time was in London. I think that CAPA has a large part in making my experience unforgettable. The students, staff and professors inspired me every day, and I have remained in contact with most of them.

The internship program was an incredible experience. The internship team was there to talk all the time if I felt overwhelmed or that I could not handle my job. They did an incredible job of placing me in an environment in which I could excel and felt safe every single day.

The classes were inspiring and fascinating, and allowed us to explore London and see the hidden parts that some walk by without truly understanding. I highly recommend this program because of the people, the city, and the relationships that you can open yourself too.

My study abroad experience was one of the best semesters of my college life. It helped me mature as a person and learn a lot about myself as well as it nurtured my desire to someday live in London after college. The staff at CAPA International Education were always there for you whether to help you if you're homesick or tell you the best places to explore in London or travel to in Europe. London is such a vibrant and diverse city, that I can safely say you will never get bored in it because there is always something to do and some place to visit any day at any time. Though I wasn't able to intern because I wasn't eligible to meet the Visa requirements, my roommates had great internships that they were placed in. Our living arrangements were great, as we were centrally located and in a very nice and safe neighborhood within walking distance of great spots in London such as Covent Garden or Oxford Street.

WHY CAPA?:

I am so glad I chose to study abroad with CAPA. I did a lot of research on various study abroad programs, but CAPA stood out the most and definitely did not disappoint me! I wanted a program that provided a lot of in country support and activities. I was worried about doing an exchange and being by myself, but was also worried about getting involved with a program that would hand hold too much. CAPA was the perfect balance.

CAPA had lots of options so that I could really make my study abroad experience my own. There are so many choices to customize the semester. You can live in a homestay or flat, do an internship or service learning course, and/or participate in MyEducation and cultural activities.

HOMESTAY:

For me, the cultural immersion came from living in a homestay. Living with British locals was a fantastic experience. I loved getting to form a relationship with my host parents (plus their home cooking was delicious). You really can save a lot of money with the homestay because breakfast and dinner are included every day. I also got my own bedroom, which was important to me. I loved meeting my host parents' friends and family and living life with real Londoners. I'd say don't be scared to try the homestay. If you're thinking about doing it--do it!

CLASSES:

I took 12 credits/4 classes at the CAPA Centre. I really enjoyed them all and would say they were about the same rigor as I was used to at ASU. I really liked all of the incorporated field trips around London. My professors were all British and extremely knowledgable. The classes ended up being one of the best parts of my semester abroad.

Recommendations:
20th & 21st Century Art
Theatricality
Writing the City: London
Understanding Modern Britain

OVERALL:

While in London, I really grew as a person. I overcame a lot of my anxiety, which was huge for me. I gained the courage to step out of my comfort zone and leave home.I have learned that I have a passion for photography and art.I have also become a better listener, an active learner, more independent, more assertive, have learned to trust my instincts, and become more focused on my career goals and what I want to pursue in life. In 10 years, I'll probably be able to look back and find even more areas of growth that have presented themselves because of my time in London. I know that for me, though, this was just the beginning of a lifetime of growing and changing through travel abroad.

I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Barcelona for a semester. It was a unique experience because Barcelona SAE was there every step of the way to help the students transition into the Spanish lifestyle. This included day/weekend trips to surrounding towns, tours of each barrio (neighborhoods), and activities such as flamenco dancing, cooking classes, and intercambios with the locals. Without help from the program, I wouldn't be able to fully make the most of my time in Barcelona.
The highlights of the program were definitely the trips we took outside of Barcelona. We went to Zaragoza, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Guernica, and numerous other towns. It was a great way to experience how other Spaniards lived and know what each town was famous for.
Besides the trips, Barcelona SAE also helped with our transition within Barcelona. This included our homestays/apartments, transportation, and classes.
Overall, it was an amazing experience that I would highly recommend to anyone who is thinking about or planning on studying abroad in Spain.

My experience is Florence was fantastic. I woke up every morning to the sound of people bustling about an open-air produce market. I would walk downstairs and head a whole 200 feet for a cappuccino and pastry. Another three blocks and I was entering CAPA's campus in Florence's historic city center. Classes involved small lectures in the school followed by visits to the museums and churches to experience subjects in-person.

My time in Sydney Australia was truly enhanced by the amount of involvement I took part in. My program offered a student council to coordinate events, and I highly suggest taking part in this. In addition I think it is vastly helpful to get to know everyone in your program and create friendships that will help you deal with culture shock and share adventures with. Once you are settled and feel comfortable in your new home, make sure to explore and see everything you can. While I was there I tried doing something in the city at least every week, and even traveled farther on several occasions. Doing so with other people in your program will make that experience that much better.

I am a semester-long student with this program, and I am so happy with my choice of program. The directors are so helpful and friendly, they're always open to any questions/concerns and even helped me get a package delivered from the US that was stuck in customs. There are so many additional activities and trips included in the program-tours of the neighborhoods, a cooking class, a day trip hiking on Montserrat, a full weekend trip to the Basque country-that I really feel like I'm getting the most out of my experience here and exploring all corners of Barcelona.

I left Dublin with so many skills and friends that I didn't have prior to the experience. Dublin is the perfect city to go out and meet locals because everyone is so friendly, and I met many locals that I plan on keeping in touch with a long time. It was nice to live with Americans though to come home to a sense of understanding of our own culture. I interned at a small social media company and was given a great view of how small companies work in Ireland. I really enjoyed learning about the culture in a work environment instead of just a social setting. My experience was so positive that I am returning to Dublin this year with one of the other American students that was enrolled in the CAPA Fall Dublin program for graduate school. The city has so much to offer and I could not imagine not spending more time there.

CAPA Dublin differs from other CAPA programs in that it is totally immersive; you attend classes with Irish and international students. I found it very affordable and the staff very supportive. The trips offered by CAPA allow you to see more of your host country without breaking the bank and the staff is always available for other travel recommendations or help in general! Dublin is an extremely affordable and well-located city, so it is easy to venture out and see more of Europe.