Program Reviews

The experience was awesome. There are so many things to do and see that you never run out and you'll wish you could stay longer. In addition to that, Wales in is a great location to travel to other countries by plane or train (or ferry in the case of Ireland). This makes it affordable and easy to book tickets even on short term notice!

Studying in Vienna was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. It was a life changing experience and since coming back, I've really regretted that I wasn't able to stay longer. I feel like I learned so much when I was there, but it still wasn't even close to enough! The people of the city, though not as outwardly friendly as Americans, are genuinely kind and helpful, and the city itself is absolutely beautiful and clean. There is always something to do, whether you're interested more in action-oriented activities or just a lazy day reading in the park. I am absolutely in LOVE with this city after coming home, not to mention my German improved exponentially (I've even been able to provide my German professor with words that she doesn't know in class!), and am seriously considering heading back to Uni Wien for graduate school in 2013!

During this program, London became my real home. My typical week included Morley Chamber Choir rehearsal, internship at Little Angel Theatre for two days, ULU Fencing Club, and the two required courses. I got to utilize the rest of my time exploring the city, the country, and Europe itself. I only traveled to five countries total, but it was worth every moment. The required courses combine the teaching styles of both the UK and the US. Teachers and directors were always great at answering questions, giving travel ideas, and just being there for us. I loved the location in the city (5 minutes away from every main sight), and I did actually feel quite safe there. As a professional, I developed skills not only through my internship but also from the experience as a whole. It opened up my eyes to the greater world and a new culture. While the differences weren't always drastic, everything I learned will stay with me for the rest of my life. Simply an amazing chance of a lifetime!

The Bangor, Wales program is an amazing experience full of opportunities. Bangor University is a challenging school with many available courses and modules, excellent accomodations and is located in a diverse and interesting little city that feels more like a town. The extra courses offered- Outdoor Pursuits & Welsh History- are really interesting, and the outdoors class will become the most memorable and amazing moments of your entire trip. You'll never regret this experience, all you will learn, see, and get to do!!

I will easily admit that the 3 and 1/2 months I spent in Granada with Central Abroad were the best of my life.

Initially, I was terrified –scared that I wouldn’t be able to handle being away from home; that I would have trouble making new friends or that I wouldn’t get along with my host family. These were fears shared by many of my fellow students but the most prominent feeling, my greatest fear, was disappointment. I feared that somehow I would travel halfway across the world and not get what I wanted out of the experience. Now that the end is here, I can conclude that I didn’t get what I expected –I got so much more.

Looking back on my time in Spain, I find it impossible to put my experience into words. I can honestly say I returned home a different person –a stronger, better person. I can’t see how you wouldn’t be different When you spend such an extensive time abroad, when you’re stripped of everything familiar –everything you thought defined who you were –you find that you’re really stronger than you ever could have imagined. It hasn’t always been easy. There were times when the language barrier was too much to overcome, when the culture clash became too overwhelming –when I wished I had never left home.Those moments were few and far between, and they helped me grow as a person.

During the school week I woke up each morning to a hearty breakfast prepared for me by my host mother, Carmen. My walk to school was about 30 minutes. This might not sound appealing at first, but you'll miss this quiet time when you return to the States! It was nice having exercise built into my daily routine! Made me feel less guilty about all the churros and chocolate!

The professors at the Center of Modern Languages were truly fantastic. They focused on improving our language abilities, while providing thorough lectures about the historical and cultural aspects of Spain. I learned a lot, but I never felt bogged down by coursework. They made sure that we had time to experience the culture of Spain firsthand.

Veronica and the rest of the CCA support staff were amazing. They put so much hard work into organizing orientation week, the Morocco exchange, other group excursions and when the time came Veronica helped us register for classes. Jose's classes were extremely informative and really fun. He has a great sense of humor and makes learning truly enjoyable. Cristina was always there to answer questions or just chat if we stopped by the office. I wouldn't have survived without them.

If I could give potential students one piece of advice, it would be TRY EVERYTHING! Don't cheat yourself out of an experience because you are tired or feeling a little home sick. You will regret it. Push yourself beyond your limits and you'll discover a whole new person. Take advantage of your time in Granada. Travel, enjoy the nightlife, eat out, shop, and most importantly, cherish the friendships you make because they are sure to last a lifetime. I know mine will.

This was one of the greatest experiences I've had in college. I was at a point were my course work was mundane and I felt I hadn't actually started living my college life. I needed a chance to see what else was and is offered out there, this was the best and most rewarding option that I wouldn't change for anything.

I thought this was a great program overall. It was very easy to meet people and get involved with the people from Wales and England. It was really nice being close together, because it was really easy to get together to do things with each other. I really enjoyed that the people in Wales are very friendly and most were were very willing to help if needed. I really felt that this was similar to the everyday life that we have back at Central College since we lived in dorms. The only hard part about studying in Wales is the travel aspect. It is very easy to travel to England and Scotland, but traveling outside that gets very expensive in a hurry. I loved getting to go to the different field trips on the weekends, because if they weren't set up by the director then we wouldn't have been able to see most of those things. Overall it was a great experience, and I have made some many lasting memories.

My day to day experience was exciting. Besides the regularly scheduled events, I was able to travel, explore, visit museums and parks, and spend time with friends. I highly enjoyed my internship at Leiden University. I had a great boss, who was fun to talk to. I also had pretty great directors as well, that were approachable and fun to be around. The best experience was being able to travel and see other countries. I had the chance to visit many different countries and learn more about their culture. Overall, I had a great time in Leiden. If given the chance, I would go back in a heartbeat.

I studied in Merida, Mexico through Central College for my entire senior year. I absolutely loved it! I hope to return to live here after a couple of years of working in the States. My Spanish skills grew leaps and bounds, especially once I started taking classes at a local university. My study abroad experience has been a life changing experience and has shown me the direction in which I would like to take my life and professional career. I highly recommend it!

Studying abroad in London was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The housing was in a great location just down the road from the Queen and next to all the major sites in London. Every day felt like a new experience whether it was the food, the people, or exploring a different area of London. London is so large and diverse that it is impossible to see everything in just one trip.
However, London isn't the only exciting part about studying abroad. The best part is travelling around the UK and Europe. I went to so many places that I never expected to go. The London program provided adequate amounts of time to go and explore other places, and I am so glad they did.
Ultimately, your experience is just that, YOUR experience. My experience resulted in me making life-long friends, becoming a world traveler, and having memories that will be with me forever.
My suggestion? Go to London and have a once in a lifetime experience!