Program Reviews

My experience abroad was something I will remember for the rest of my life. It was an amazing opportunity to grow as an individual, immerse myself in new cultures, and build relationships with others. My advice to anyone going abroad is to try and go outside and explore as much as possible because you'll miss it and wish you did so much more when you leave! Also, try to build friendships with the others that go because it's a special type of bond that will last even when you get back from the trip.

Spending a Spring Semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina was an incredible opportunity! I got to make friends from across the globe, some locals and others experiencing a new life like I was. The environment in Argentina is so diverse, one week I was in humid weather seeing the Iguazu Water Falls while the next I was in the Southern Region of Patagonia seeing penguins and sea lions. The in country staff was amazing! Each and every one of them was so kind and willing to help with any questions/concerns. Finally, taking the Food & Culture class was the best decision ever, I got to try many different foods and snacks iconic to the country.

My semester abroad was one of the best experiences of my life. I studied abroad last Spring in Florence, Italy. The classes I took really immersed me in another culture, with food tasting, walks around the city, and learning the history behind the streets I walked every day. My living situation was ideal; I lived with 2 other girls outside of the roommate I studied abroad with from home. Those 2 random roommates became some of my closest friends. The program provided me with numerous opportunities to meet new people, experience new things, and learn things I would never have encountered at my home university. The program gave me so many resources and information to be successful in a new city and a new country.

From the moment I landed in Madrid, CEA CAPA exceeded every expectation. What makes CEA CAPA truly exceptional is their commitment to authentic cultural immersion. CEA CAPA's success lies in its attention to detail and teamwork. Every staff member works together to create unforgettable experiences for students. They understand that study abroad is about more than academics; it's about personal growth, cultural understanding, and building lifelong connections. Their ability to balance structure with independence, handle challenges professionally, and prioritize student experiences makes CEA CAPA the best choice for studying in Madrid. This program doesn't just offer study abroad; it offers transformation. The biggest thing I can say is to engage in your program because that is where you find immersion!

Coming from someone who has never been to Europe, Madrid was the perfect home base and CEA CAPA was the most amazing program to experience study abroad through. I felt safe and content with all my accommodations while being so far away from my home. I truly got the chance to discover different parts of the world, meet the most amazing people, and immerse myself in the culture of Madrid. At first study abroad can feel scary and uncomfortable and sit with those feelings, it's totally normal. Once you have acclimated, feel free to say yes to everything- take that language course, go to the festival with new friends, go on that free museum tour, study abroad is such a special time- take it all in!

I could ramble on about all the amazing experiences I had during my time with CEA CAPAs program, so I will try to keep this short. Every moment was incredible. The program was a solid mix of guided and free exploration. Educationally speaking the trip was well worth it as I not only learned a ton about local culture and a piece of what life outside the states was like, but also we saw a massive amount of theatre in a wide range of venues. This was very helpful to me as I not only hope to move outside the states post-grad but work in the theatre industry as well. I was only there for two weeks but in such a short time I was able to start to build a network of contacts and job prospects, in majority thanks to CEA CAPAs connections and access to facility tours. The staff and guides were helpful, always on top of things, and a joy to talk to/work with.

As a theater student, this was the perfect trip for me. The coursework itself challenged me to think deeper about the ideologies present in the media we consume. I was able to apply these lessons to every show we saw. We saw so many different kinds of shows, from one that was literally just in a room above a bar to full scale West End productions. I felt very immersed in the theater scene there, and honestly my favorite show wasn't even on the West End. We even traveled out of London to Stratford-Upon-Avon for the obligatory trip to Shakespeare's home. I also think we had the perfect amount of free time to balance scheduled programming with time to explore according to our interests. Our CEA CAPA liaison was so friendly and helpful, I had such a good time getting to know her.

If you want to grow both as a learner and as a person, I would recommend studying abroad in Madrid with CEA CAPA. Starting off with pre-departure they were accomodating and were proactive in answering any inquires that I had. Overall, I had a great experience when it came to housing, as I chose the homestay option of the program. Amelia, my host lady was extremely accomodating and well-experienced regardless of the level of spanish that me and my roommates had. I couldn't have been placed in better location, in the neighborhood of Chamberi, a quiet neighborhood that I grew to love with great restaurants and parks in the area. Academically, it was their first time offering my specific class, and given the constraints and difficulty of the class I thought they did a decent job. It's generally difficult to squeeze a class that is generally difficult in a semester setting, into a 2-month window. So I would just say be prepared to take initiative and put in more work to learn the content yourself outside of class. Besides class, events were well-planned and exciting. Would recommend this experience.

I studied for 4 weeks in Prague taking the class Czech Culture, Food, and Brewing Tradition. This class allowed me to be fully immersed in the Czech culture and deepen my appreciation during my time there. I was able to try many Czech food, snacks, candies, and beverages that I may never have even heard of without this class. Not only was I able to experience this, but I was able to learn the history and the culture of it all surrounded by the most amazing and supportive people in a fairytale city.

While I was abroad in London for 6 weeks over the summer, I had an incredible time! I would truly recommend this program to anyone interested in going abroad, as it doesn't require you to learn a new language and all the staff is absolutely incredible. CAPA is super supportive and will help you with pretty much anything you need and was great about answering questions. Some things to know are:

- There are guided activities for students to get to know one another and see more of the city and surrounding area, and they were all super fun! I loved going to Bath and Stonehenge and Greenwich the most, though. The program usually covers most fees for these outings, as well!

- You get a lot of time and freedom to explore the city on your own terms. I spent my time taking 2 intensive classes, but before/after class I loved wandering through different neighborhoods and checking out different places around the city. Making a bucket list of places and things you want to visit is never a bad idea! I had a coffee shop bucket list, and I tried to visit a new place every day. I had the best time ever, and fell in love with some really cozy places around the city that just made me feel more at home.

- You get an unlimited oyster card to take you around the city (zones 1 and 2, which is almost all of urban london). It is really easy to get around, and after about a week, you have your daily commute figured out by heart. Be prepared for some weird issues every once in a while, though... there are a few days where the tube can be unpredictable.

- Study abroad is what you make of it! SO much of your experience is entirely up to you, and going to a new place is THE time to try new things, meet new people, and take a few risks (be safe and smart though). Nothing is truly set in stone, and there is always time to change or improve your experience.