Program Reviews

Studying abroad had a significant impact on my academic growth. It provided a chance to deepen my understanding and appreciation of politics and foreign affairs. I greatly admire Prague's political atmosphere, with its rich history and diverse viewpoints, and I learned so much. This experience gave me a unique opportunity to bring innovative ideas back to Marist. It is exciting to be in an environment where curiosity sparks ideas, innovation, and creativity. Because of this I engaged in meaningful intellectual exchanges with my peers in Prague, which will be a valuable learning experience for all of us. Additionally, I'm eager to gain a different academic perspective by interacting with professors from around the world, further broadening my concept of what it means to be a well-rounded student.

Blatantly put, I presumed it would be a quick adjustment for me. I had traveled to London previously and have traveled prior, so why wouldn't I have adjusted quickly? Well, anyone who has studied abroad knows that reality will hit you like a tube. Beyond all the change within my life, CEA CAPA was a place where I could almost forget about it all. I met individuals, whether peers or faculty, that were all extremely supportive and genuine people. Everyone is not just passionate about their role within education, but about London itself. I built a routine, even if it was just waving to reception when I walked through the door, and found a home away from home. It is a daunting adjustment at times, but I regret absolutely nothing. CEA CAPA played such a prominent role in my time abroad, and I look back so fondly at the connections I made with professors, mentors, and peers, along with the memories.

My experience studying and interning abroad in Barcelona was fun and inspiring. Having the program help and pick out an internship that best suited me was the best part. I got to take part in a team that looked at all my different passions and skills I wanted to develop and learn. It was a great opportunity to gain internship experience and cross cultural networking.

Alongside my internship, I took a class to better understand the experience of working abroad. It covered everything from crafting resumes and cover letters to interview prep and LinkedIn strategies, skills I know will be valuable in the future

I had so much fun in my semester abroad and I am so grateful that I had this opportunity! The free excursions were fun, and Christmas in Paris was magical. Studying with CEA CAPA really helped me to be able to branch out and improve my French. I was in a program that helped me to improve my French, more than my French major ever did. I also met so many people who I never would have met otherwise. I'm extremely proud that I got this opportunity and would recommend it to anyone who has the chance.

Studying abroad with CEA CAPA in Florence was honestly one of the best experiences of my college life. The program was super organized, and the staff was always there to help with anything—from classes to travel tips. The courses were interesting and really connected to what was happening around us in the city, which made learning feel way more real.

Living in Florence was amazing. The city is full of history, great food, and so much to do. CEA CAPA set up fun excursions and cultural activities that helped us experience Italy beyond just being tourists. The housing was in a great location, making it easy to get around and feel at home.

Overall, I’d 100% recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad in Italy. It’s the perfect mix of academics, culture, and adventure!

I absolutely loved my time spent in Barcelona with CEA CAPA. The courses I took were engaging, the various trips were fun and informational, and the memories I made will last a lifetime. The best part for me was my host family. CEA CAPA connected me with the best family ever: they looked out for me, provided support, gave recommendations, and had me try various Spanish and Catalan dishes I wouldn't have tried without them. The staff were also amazing. When I had my passport stolen (do not recommend) the staff were up and ready to help me file police reports, going to the embassy, and making sure I had what I needed to get a new one. There was not a moment where I felt alone or stranded when I was abroad. I genuinely recommend studying abroad with them!

My experience at Cea Capa's Florence study abroad program was unforgettable. I had the most amazing experience immersing myself in the Italian culture, from exploring the art, to eating all of the traditional Tuscan food, my time in Florence was truly amazing. I have the best memories of traveling to all of the nearby cities and learning about the rich history found in each one. I also made friendships that I am sure will last a lifetime, as well as all the memories I have from my study abroad time!

I highly recommend this program with CEA CAPA to study abroad in Costa Rica. This program was perfect for me and definitely life changing. I am an environmental science major and they offered a plethora of classes at the university we studied at, Universidad Vertías. My host mom was amazing, so kind and clean and made the best food! And we lived two blocks away from school. All of my other CEA friends loved their host families too, and we were all in a close radius to the school, so walking never took more than 15 minutes; Veritas offered a shuttle too though! The classes I took were so amazing and interesting, and all of my professors were super knowledgeable about their topics, with the classes I also went on amazing field trips that are included in the cost!! I went whale watching, snorkeling in the 2nd biggest reef in the Pacific and on a relaxing off the grid bird watching retreat; all included in my program cost!! CEA also took us on three amazing excursions, also included in program cost, which is where I met my closest friends abroad. The CEA onsite staff were also super helpful when planning our own weekends away, they had recommendations of hostels, places to visit, they even helped us get bus tickets. They were also super helpful and professional when people had medical problems, and personally went to the doctor with them to make sure the student felt safe. There were also many CEA events during the quarter where we really got to bond as a CEA group, as well as meet eachother’s host families!! I made some of my closest friends while abroad thanks to these experiences and I am so grateful. I couldn’t recommend this program more; super interesting and engaging classes, easy to travel around the country and Costa Rica is just a magical place. The beaches are magical, the rainforests are whimsical and the mountains and waterfalls too!! You will never get bored!!

I never could have imagined how profound an impact studying abroad in Costa Rican would have on my life. I met people from Costa Rica such as my host family, people at the gym and local students that I still talk to frequently. I also met people from the United States that I will likely maintain life-long friendships with. I was able to travel within the country and experience new foods and cultures that changed the way I see the world and interact with the people around me. Overall it was an amazing, life-changing experience and highly recommend that anyone looking to study abroad chooses Costa Rica.

I studied abroad in Paris, France in Fall 2024. It was a bit of an adjustment but I was fine with the transition. One thing I think helped with this is that I kept my expectations reasonable. I had the beautiful, timeless, and dream-like image of Paris I think a lot of people have when they think of it, but I did not forget that it is still a big city, and therefore has the problems that come with that. Something that I wish I had more information about before leaving is how to get around/out of the city. Learning how to use public transportation is extremely helpful. The Paris metro system is truly amazing, and better than any of the other places I traveled to. You may have to make a transfer or two, but the lines are so interconnected, and run very frequently, that you can go anywhere easily. Plus, right after arriving CEA CAPA provided us with Navigo passes, a monthly pass that allowed us to travel on the metro and bus, and taught us how to use them. While abroad I did a lot of traveling too, and Paris, being a major city in the world, made trips really accessible. From the train station Gare du Nord, which is connected to the metro, you can take international trains. The Eurostar, a major high-speed train company, runs out of it. Also, there are two airports close by, Orly and Charles de Gaulle. I never went to Orly, but from Gare du Nord it is only about a 30 minute direct train on the RER B to get to CDG airport.

One aspect about studying abroad that I found especially challenging was going to a country that spoke a different language. I had taken beginner level classes before arriving, but even if I had a little more proficiency, it still would not have prepared me enough for being immediately immersed in it. I took Intermediate French I there, but it was taught completely in French, and I found it really hard to learn it in that way. Even so, going around I really did not have any problems communicating with people. Almost every person I talked to switched to English after hearing me speak and realizing how bad I was. Then whenever I encountered someone who did not know English, as well as for reading and traveling, the translation app DeepL really came in handy.