Program Reviews

CYA is a great choice if you want something more exciting and active than the usual classroom environment, while still learning from incredible professors and getting to travel.

Athens is a fun, safe city with so much to do and CYA has a perfect location in the city. The people in Athens are so nice and love talking to students. All the people I met in Greece, were so welcoming, which makes studying abroad there an easy shift coming from so far away. Athens is also in a great location for travel, which there is plenty of time for because classes are only Monday-Thursday. CYA also takes you on several week long field trips to places in Greece that would be hard to reach on your own. Getting to climb old fortresses, explore caves, or discover beautiful beaches always made learning about the places exciting.

The classes are taught by interesting, engaging, and easy to talk to professors who are very experienced and accomplished in their areas. The professors want students to succeed not only in their classes, but also in their careers. Most classes have field trips to see what you’re learning about in person and many professors to take students to conferences or introduce them to other professionals in their field. As an economics major with a focus on political science, I was able to attend several conferences and learn from/speak with incredible politicians, economists, and leaders from around the world, all because of CYA.

My time with CYA was fantastic. I learned so much in my course about Greek heritage and was able to travel all over Greece, including Crete, Rhodes, and Paros. Housing in Athens was centrally located, and the Acropolis was in walking distance. My professor was wonderful and supported me both in the classroom and outside of it. Upon arrival, I was given a detailed packet containing information about activities in the area. My favorite part of the program by far was the travel. The island of Crete was amazing, and Knossos was one of the coolest archeological sites that I have ever seen. I also had plenty of free time to go to the beaches on the islands during my time there. I was able to try a wide variety of Greek cuisine and went to several excellent tavernas that CYA staff recommended to me.

The program is based in Athens, where we had really nice apartments, super close to the academic center, a grocery store, and lots of restaurants and coffee shops (one is even open 24 hours and is right around the corner). Athens started to feel so much like home that I could see myself living there long term!

The class I took was so interesting and I learned so much more than I could have ever imagined--inside and outside the course material! Our professor was great and every assignment we had challenged us to be creative. Our classes were held in museums, at archaeological sites, and even on volcanoes.

This program gave me the opportunity to travel all around Greece. When we traveled to the islands as a class, the hotels we stayed at were nice. I took the bus to the beaches. The people I met were amazing and I truly felt at home the whole time. I made some best friends for life!

This summer program really pushes you to be a part of the culture around you. The staff are the kindest individuals who offer so much help. There is a diverse selection of classes to choose from. I took in a religion and history class and we visited so many beautiful places and interesting museums. Everything was included, except for food, but that's the best part! You have to freedom to go explore the various dishes and restaurants around Athens and any location your class visits. The housing facilities in Athens are spacious with your own kitchen and living room and a cleaning person once a week. The housing is in a great location only a 10 minute walk from all the great shopping, and across the street from the national Garden, which is really pretty. I have made some new friends and bonded with those I traveled with. You'll have a memorable summer when you travel through CYA!

This was a wonderful and eye-opening program that I would recommend to anyone! The classes were interesting and covered new, diverse topics every day. The professors are so passionate about the subjects they teach, and work hard to make sure that everyone is making the most of their time in Greece. My classes were both around ten students each, and this made for a great classroom environment - one where I individually got to know my professors well, and created close, lasting friendships with my fellow students! CYA is also wonderful about connecting you to local events of your own personal interests, whether it be concerts, marathons, or cooking classes! There was also plenty of traveling through classes, and I feel that I saw so much more of Greece than I expected!

My time in Greece studying abroad with College Year in Athens was more fulfilling and holistic than I expected it to be. My class (ARTH 356, a course on Greek Heritage) was taught by an amazing professor, our class excursions were enjoyable and immersive, and the friendships I built will last a lifetime! I decided to study abroad in Greece to get out of my comfort zone, and really push myself to study a subject outside of my STEM field. A 4-week program was perfect for the time I had and for what my budget would allow. This was my first time in Europe, and with research and preparation beforehand, everything (travel, currency exchange, packing, etc.) went smoothly. I enjoyed traveling to other Greek islands, visiting historical sites, trying new foods, and meeting the locals. Everyone was so welcoming and excited to have us there. I highly recommend CYA for anyone interested in a summer study abroad, you won't regret it!

CYA helped me grow in so many ways. I learned how to quickly adapt to new cultures and communicate with language barriers. The teachers were always there to help and gave us constant advice. They were also brilliant in their fields, to the point that it was almost scary how smart they were. The staff of the program was quick in responding if we needed help, and made sure we were fed and had a nice roof over our heads. I learned far more than i ever thought I would have, and am so grateful that CYA gave me this opportunity. I made friends from universities I had never heard of, and definitely would not have met, and am able because of them to have a network around the country. Greece became one of my favorite places very quickly, and I cannot wait to go back. I do not feel comfortable in new situations quickly, but orientation week and the helpful sessions we did there allowed this place to feel like a second home. All the friends and business owners I met here made this experience one of a kind.

My semester in Athens was invaluable. I feel as though I grew as a person by creating an intimate and irreplaceable connection with Athens and the Pangrati neighborhood. Pangrati is the perfect mixture of historically fascinating, socially invigorating, and culturally welcoming. I will always cherish the connections that I made with locals, coffee shop baristas and store owners (many of whom became some of my most loyal study partners!). Athens, to me, is one of the best cities for study abroad; the food options were numerous (while Greek tavernas always rank as my #1), the nightlife was plentiful but not overwhelming and historical ruins and museums seemingly mark every street corner. Academically, CYA boasts a diverse faculty that bring international knowledge and experience. I found that much of my learning came from the one-on-one conversations and relationships that I developed with my professors. I learned experientially through attending football (soccer) matches, observing the famous May Day parades, and even just listening to my professors talk about their lives over coffee and dinner. I would recommend CYA to anyone who is truly interested in experiencing a culture that is politically active and socially vibrant.

Spending my semester abroad studying in Athens with CYA is one of the best decisions I've ever made as it helped me to grow as a student and as a person. My courses exposed me to aspects of life in Athens that I would not have seen otherwise, and the program was wonderful with the trips they took us on that allowed us to view different areas of Greece as well as many historical sites. Through CYA, I was able to get hands on experience aiding the immigrant community in the city, which is incredibly beneficial to my prospective future career as an immigration lawyer. My time spent in Athens with CYA was incredible, as I could not imagine having a well-rounded college experience without challenging myself in this way, by living in a foreign city and truly experiencing the culture there. CYA worked to expose us to different foods and experiences, helping to show us all that Greece has to offer, and for that I am eternally grateful.

CYA was an amazing way to experience Athens and Greek culture. It had excellent academics with enough work so you actually learn throughout the semester, but not so much that you feel unable to go out and explore Athens (it does get more work-heavy at the end). The housing was in local apartments with other students, and was a great way to have a bit of independence and immersion you wouldn't get living in a dorm. The city has so much to offer, with so many archaeological sites, museums, galleries, parks, and of course, the Acropolis. You also receive a card that lets you into every museum and archaeological site for free! Getting around Athens is not to difficult, as most things are within walking distance of your apartment, and if not, taxis, buses, and the metro are all pretty cheap. The culture and way of life in Greece is very relaxed welcoming, so it's easy to get adjusted in the city. I had such an amazing time in Athens, and would repeat the semester again in a heartbeat.