Program Reviews

I loved that I chose to study abroad in the French Riviera! I enjoyed meeting so many new people and getting to travel all the time. Being able to study and live in a place for 4 months was definitely a huge learning experience and one that I wouldn't take for granted. Traveling on the weekends and making plans taught me a lot and sometimes was stressful, so it was fun to have the scheduled field trips. Something that I would note was that the school we went to was unorganized and further away.

One of the things that my family was really concerned about was safety, health, and what academics are like abroad. As soon as my plane landed, Yeison, one of the on-site representatives was waiting for me when I got there so I felt safe because I didn't have to take transportation by myself in a foreign country to get to my host home. It was nice that there was a security guard in addition to the Veritas university security on the lookout for me when I was walking to and from campus. The CEA representatives were always very helpful whenever I needed any help or assistance especially during the time when I had mesenteric adenitis. I was hesitant to go to the hospital especially because I have never went to the hospital on my own before, but Yeison came and waited in the waiting room until I was done. He helped me communicate with the hospital staff too because there was a language barrier and a misunderstanding with the traveler's insurance. So, in the end he was able to lessen my bill to $100 rather than $800.

I thought it was really helpful that CEA familiarized with getting us a walking and bus tour of San Jose which is the place that we were going to be living in for the 4 months I was there. The CEA staff also familiarized us with the culture and told us a few things to watch out for in the presentation they had for us.

It was also easy to ask for help in planning our own weekend excursions because Yeison has experience in tourism so he was able to recommend us places and how to get there and what activities are recommended for me to do there. They also had CEA excursions which were always nice to go on and planned out thoroughly. I liked the excursion to Panama because of the island hopping tour and we were able to see a lot of Costa Rica's wildlife.

For academics, I really liked the classes that I was taking there, and I think it was very convenient because it was a maximum of 15 minutes walking. I thought the learning style was really helpful since it was more discussions, presentations, projects, and hands-on learning rather than quizzes and exams. I also liked that the teachers who worked at the university were very interactive and passionate, which made me even more compelled and inspired to learn. It was a lot more of a close relationship between the teachers and students due to the small classroom sizes and I liked how participation was very much emphasized and from this I learned a lot more. The university we went to was quite small and locals would go to our school so it was a cool experience to be to talk to them (a lot of them spoke pretty good english).

I studied abroad in Amsterdam this past fall and I had an amazing experience! I went into the program knowing no one and I ended up making so many great friendships that have already lasted beyond the program. I loved Amsterdam as a city and was able to explore so many cool neighborhoods and local spots. I felt very supported by CEA CAPA my whole time abroad and I knew they were there at whenever I needed any support. Amsterdam is definitely a newer, smaller program (my year only had 19 students) but I definitely recommend it as the city is amazing and the smaller group allows for deeper connections to be formed.

Spending a semester in Barcelona with CEA CAPA was an amazing opportunity that checked all of my boxes. Before departure and throughout the semester, staff were incredibly helpful and supportive. My housing was central in Barcelona and had everything I needed. I was also able to take classes that transferred directly to my major. The activities were well-planned and educational. There was a winery tour, tours of museums, and visits to nearby cities. I would highly recommend any student interested in going abroad to do so with CEA CAPA.

My study abroad experience in Madrid, Spain with CEA CAPA exceeded my expectations and is something I cherish and look back on even now just a few months removed, so I think that will be the case forever. Being able to live and learn so far away from my normal life seemed so scary and unrealistic beforehand, but CEA CAPA gave me the resources and boost of confidence to be able to do so, and from the moment I arrived I did my best to make the most of it and say yes to whatever I could. I explored my host country to my heart's content and fell in love with the country, my host city of Madrid, and the people and life there. I would recommend anyone who is thinking about study abroad to just go for it if you are able. Enough said there.

I studied abroad with CEA CAPA Abroad in the French Riviera. It was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I will be forever grateful for that opportunity. Everything about the French Riv is nice, the weather, the people, and just the overall atmosphere. I couldn't not have picked a more perfect destination for my study abroad experience. The school I attended was called SKEMA Business School, and they actually have several campuses across the world, including one in the U.S. The academics heavily varied from what I am used to back in the states but overall, I did learn so much from all of my professors there and I would highly recommend this program to others looking to study abroad. Personally, my workload was very manageable and the way the classes are set up allowed for me to have a lot of free time to spend on the French Riv or travel elsewhere in Europe. Also, by studying abroad with CEA CAPA, there was on-site staff in the city I was living in and they were so helpful and such amazing people. If I had a question or concern about literally anything, they were always there with answers, solutions, and just help in general. There are also so many other incentives through studying abroad with CEA CAPA, for instance, help with the visa process, housing taken care of, airport pickup on arrival, cool excursions around the area, and more. I loved my time studying abroad with CEA CAPA and would do it over and over again.

My first week in Florence was a culture shock. From the open-air city of Los Angeles to a more compact town like Florence, I was initially taken off guard and scared for my new adventure. Quickly, I realized the worlds that sat behind the yellow concrete buildings. The local coffee shop, which looked similar to the ones on most streets, became a home in itself. The barista quickly learned my name and order, and each morning, I was comforted by the familiar face. Between classes, I'd wander off into a random church, only to experience the astonishing sights of Brunelleschi's work. His ability to create illusions of space in otherwise standard construction was incredible. My free time was never boring. I often went with new friends to check out the local markets or thrift shops between classes. Or, we would grab a cappuccino with our professor and hear about her favorite places in Florence. We would sit outside the Duomo just minutes from campus to admire the building and people-watch tourists. The school and city filled my time with learning so much about the city's history and how to experience Italy's culture best. I took quick trains around Italy many weekends to see amazing new places. But, at the end of those trips, I was always excited to return to my new home away from home.

Studying abroad in Buenos Aires was so incredible and I wish I could go back everyday! I lived with a host family and they were so amazing. The CEA onsite staff were so helpful and kind as well as my professors. All my classes were very interesting and helped me gain a stronger understanding of the new culture. Most of our classes were used for field studies which was so much more beneficial than sitting and listening to a lecture. I went on tons of weekend travel trips and made the best friends. Overall amazing trip and program!!

CEA CAPA Barcelona was a fantastic way to experience Europe for the first time. Classes were held Monday-Thursday, so long weekends were great for traveling. Barcelona was a phenomenal city to call home for 3.5 months. CEA CAPA prepared students to go abroad with a step-by-step pre-departure process that made the logistics of going abroad far less daunting. While we were there, CEA CAPA provided us with cultural workshops, optional trips to explore other parts of Spain, and more. CEA CAPA has a great selection of housing options and courses.

When planning to go abroad, I was choosing between doing an internship and studying. CEA luckily had a program that allowed me to do both. I felt like I was able to truly live abroad and become accustomed to the culture because of my unique experience with the workplace. I felt like I was making a real international change because the nature of my internship was legal aid. These internships are so hard to find on your own, and CEA works especially hard to match you with one that aligns with your unique interests. It was an amazing experience and something I will never get over! Do the internship!