CAPA London truly made my study abroad experience one i'll never forget. From the second I was accepted into the program until the second I left London, CAPA went above and beyond to make sure my time abroad was incredible.

Since this was my first time abroad, I was extremely nervous to spend so much time in a foreign country with people who were strangers to me. However, CAPA ensured I was prepared for everything that I would need abroad. They walked me through the entire work visa process, provided me with travel and packing tips, and weekly London itineraries that allowed me to see places only locals know about. They are truly all about making sure each and every student is immersed into the culture they are studying and comfortable enough to enjoy themselves.

CAPA also set me up with an incredible internship in the heart of London in my field of study. I was nervous at first about giving them complete control over my internship placement, but I was more than pleasantly surprised with how spot on they were. The internship and classes were challenging and I was able to learn a lot about my major as well as the history and culture of London. For a six week program, the required hours at the internship site were a little heavy, but I was able to really learn the ins and outs of the work culture and London which I am extremely grateful for. It was a great way to build my resume and give me a competitive edge over others in the public relations field.

London in general is a beautiful city that doesn't allow you to spend one second being bored. I explored the city a lot on the weeks due to the Oyster Card CAPA provided me which allowed me to travel throughout Zones 1 and 2 whenever I pleased. On the weekends I was able to travel to countries such as France, Ireland, Copenhagen, and The Netherlands. I constantly felt like CAPA gave me opportunities to act on and if you take advantage of them you are guaranteed to have the experience of a lifetime.

This experience will be whatever you make it to be; you can either find yourself regretting not doing more, or being satisfied with everything to got to accomplish.

CAPA's London Program makes you hit the ground running, and I'm really thankful that they do. I never thought that almost 2 months would fly by so fast, but I'm glad I took advantage of the time I had while I was there. The program also provides you with a lot of opportunities to see different parts of the city, or even travel a bit further.

One of my favorite things was going to Wimbledon with the group from CAPA. It was the last full day we had for the program, and it was a really good way to end it and spend the last day in London. It can seem hard to become friends with other students on the trip, because you'll find yourself spread out amongst the city. But, if you take advantage of opportunities like this one, you'll find yourself making friends with someone you may not have otherwise met.

Overall, I was really satisfied with CAPA and how their program was structured. They let you practically build your own program (whether you want to do just academics, an internship, etc.) which allows each student to have a unique experience. I would recommend to research as much as you can before you get here, especially when planning for trips / excursions, etc. Prices become much more expensive as the date approaches, but can be found for very cheap with extra time. With that being said, allow yourself some free-time to be able to experience things that you may not be able to plan ahead for.

I found CAPA's London program incredible and life-changing for me: it was my first time living independently (albeit, with roommates), my first extended stay in a foreign country, and the first time I could take complete charge over my own life.

The academics were great, shattering the stereotype that studying abroad would just be a "vacation from studying", and the internship program worked out well for a lot of my friends — I opted against taking an internship in the interest of exploring the city.

The coursework in CAPA courses is unique in that it requires professors to plan MyEducation events — outings that get students engaged with the city of London, and connect it to their studies. This was a fantastic way to plan courses, as it got students out and about, not just sitting in classrooms all day!

However, the downfall of this program for me was in the lack of social immersion we got as students. The London center for CAPA is an independent institution, so the student demographic was nearly all American when I went. Even some of my teachers were American. While we were encouraged to meet and befriend British people, it was difficult to do so when they weren't involved in our studies, or surrounding us during our daily lives.

With the majority of students having internships with organizations in London, this was less of a worry for them; however, my peers in internships who were seeking social immersion did note disappointment, as the friendships built at internships didn't extend far past the office.

For me, this program ended up being great, but in hindsight, I wish I had chosen another of the several locations that CAPA offers. The staff at CAPA, however, is top-notch, and couldn't be nicer. They supported me and my peers when we needed it most, and I couldn't appreciate that more.

So my advice is this: CAPA is great, but don't be afraid to challenge your boundaries more than I did! Many of CAPA's other programs take place outside of the "American Bubble", so check into those before making any decisions.

This semester I had the opportunity to intern at the Royal Free Children’s Hospital School. This is a special school that provides for students whose needs are not met at public schools and is a secure space for children on the ward of the hospital to be engaged during their stay. The goal of the school is to offer a safe, caring space that inspires students to learn in a normalized setting, building skills that will allow for their eventual reintegration back into the public school system. As a teaching and office intern I had a wide range of responsibilities including assistant teaching as needed in the classroom setting, online database coding, and secretarial work.
One of the key learning points that I will take away from this internship is successful communication with staff members. Through this position I have realized that I must be the one to advocate for myself and communicate what I do and do not feel comfortable with in a work environment. During my time at the hospital school I was put in situations where I did not always feel comfortable, and realized that I had to speak up for myself and my needs in order to get what I wanted out of my internship. I now feel stronger and more confident in my ability to understand what I can handle and when to ask for help, which is extremely important in the fields of education and psychology. There were days and moments especially at my internship site that were very difficult. Being exposed to students with mental challenges and a variety of disabilities was overwhelming at times, but I realized that I learned something very important from each and every student that I met and worked with. I have made lasting positive relationships with staff and students at my internship site at the Royal Free, and feel this to be a true accomplishment of my time there.

I am so glad I chose CAPA London; it was my first time in Europe, and it was a great time for me to learn and discover myself independently. With the exception of the nighttime bus routes, (those maps are very confusing) I had no trouble navigating around the city. (Safe community, and no language difficulties). Flexibility in scheduling allows for external travel and discoveries, in a culture rich city. However, one must keep in mind that a study abroad experience is what you personally make of it. I've had friends who have done the same exact thing, and said that it was nothing special.

In the beginning, you are introduced to the city via tourist route; that is, we took a bussed tour around the city, where a tour guide gleefully introduced us to the major land marks, and well known historic areas. We also visited Stone Henge, which, for me was the highlight of the tour- I'm not one for tours, because I find them, well, rather bland, but I'm not sure how I'd have gone to Stone Henge otherwise.

I would say this program is more about personal learning and exploring rather than pure academics. It all depends on your university, but mine did not take our final grades, only the credits as long as we reached a certain grade. This is not to say that I didn't try- as long as you complete the assignments, and listen during lectures, doing well in your courses is not an insurmountable task. Classes simply consist of lectures, assigned reading, a few presentations, and a final exam at the end. If you have any questions, the professors are always more than willing to help, and are very chatty and friendly as well. I will say it is a more American style of learning, as we have assignments throughout the course, and our final mark is not contingent on just one exam.

However, I do wish the program as a whole was a bit more organised- sometimes I felt like all the components of our responsibilities- housing, assignments, travelling, etc. lacked in proper cohesion. Often times, we were confused as to what we needed to do, where we needed to go (such as finding our flat, assignment due dates, etc.) This was more of a problem for my classmates, though I just found that a bit more communication would have solved the issues. Sometimes, for example, a professor would be expected to adhere to the CAPA curriculum instead of their own, and they weren't aware that they were to present certain presentations- and embarrassingly found themselves fumbling with the content. However, the content is what matters- all the other issues are easily solvable by asking questions if you need additional instructions.

Travelling is so easy in London that it would be a crime to take a taxi. CAPA gives each student a prepaid Oyster card that can be utilised on all public transportation for the duration of the program. Take advantage of the free museums and cultural attractions- London is one of the world's most diverse cities, and places like Borough Market and Camden market has food stalls in rows with food from all over the world.

I would also advise to take advantage of the student union at Imperial College, a partnership that is unique to CAPA. There, you can make friends with British University students, join clubs and sports, and utilise facilities. Imperial is one of the top universities in the UK- and you can easily be a part of the community- it is there that I've made some of my best friends, and also discovered London through a local's point of view.

Travelling is also a must- though you are not on the mainland of Europe- any country is within a few hours away. I suggest planning ahead to find the cheapest rates.

Quick tips for making the most of your experience:

1. Don't just do what tourists do- by doing the "typical" things, you don't experience London as a local; just what all foreigners see- anyone can see Big Ben- but going on a street art walk in Shoreditch is something I wouldn't want to miss

2. Get to know the locals- you'll have friends with different view points, who can introduce you to their city- too many of my friends say they didn't know any British people by the end of our program- that's because they just stuck to each other. You're not in a foreign country to get to know more Americans.

3. Utilise your Oyster card as much as you can- it's prepaid- anyone who's stayed after the program knows that those fees really add up.

4. If you're going to travel- plan ahead of time. Airline flights are ALWAYS more expensive the closer you get to your departure date. And hostels are a marvellous alternative to expensive hotels.

5. Document your discoveries with photos and maybe even a journal- you'll look back on it in the future and be glad you could relive those memories.

6. Go out of your comfort zone and try something new- you never know what you're going to discover. You have time to sleep and rest when you get home- these several months should be filled with discoveries and new things. So get out there and enjoy yourself!

As a CAPA alumnus, I cannot begin to describe how incredible my time was in London. I think that CAPA has a large part in making my experience unforgettable. The students, staff and professors inspired me every day, and I have remained in contact with most of them.

The internship program was an incredible experience. The internship team was there to talk all the time if I felt overwhelmed or that I could not handle my job. They did an incredible job of placing me in an environment in which I could excel and felt safe every single day.

The classes were inspiring and fascinating, and allowed us to explore London and see the hidden parts that some walk by without truly understanding. I highly recommend this program because of the people, the city, and the relationships that you can open yourself too.

My study abroad experience was one of the best semesters of my college life. It helped me mature as a person and learn a lot about myself as well as it nurtured my desire to someday live in London after college. The staff at CAPA International Education were always there for you whether to help you if you're homesick or tell you the best places to explore in London or travel to in Europe. London is such a vibrant and diverse city, that I can safely say you will never get bored in it because there is always something to do and some place to visit any day at any time. Though I wasn't able to intern because I wasn't eligible to meet the Visa requirements, my roommates had great internships that they were placed in. Our living arrangements were great, as we were centrally located and in a very nice and safe neighborhood within walking distance of great spots in London such as Covent Garden or Oxford Street.

WHY CAPA?:

I am so glad I chose to study abroad with CAPA. I did a lot of research on various study abroad programs, but CAPA stood out the most and definitely did not disappoint me! I wanted a program that provided a lot of in country support and activities. I was worried about doing an exchange and being by myself, but was also worried about getting involved with a program that would hand hold too much. CAPA was the perfect balance.

CAPA had lots of options so that I could really make my study abroad experience my own. There are so many choices to customize the semester. You can live in a homestay or flat, do an internship or service learning course, and/or participate in MyEducation and cultural activities.

HOMESTAY:

For me, the cultural immersion came from living in a homestay. Living with British locals was a fantastic experience. I loved getting to form a relationship with my host parents (plus their home cooking was delicious). You really can save a lot of money with the homestay because breakfast and dinner are included every day. I also got my own bedroom, which was important to me. I loved meeting my host parents' friends and family and living life with real Londoners. I'd say don't be scared to try the homestay. If you're thinking about doing it--do it!

CLASSES:

I took 12 credits/4 classes at the CAPA Centre. I really enjoyed them all and would say they were about the same rigor as I was used to at ASU. I really liked all of the incorporated field trips around London. My professors were all British and extremely knowledgable. The classes ended up being one of the best parts of my semester abroad.

Recommendations:
20th & 21st Century Art
Theatricality
Writing the City: London
Understanding Modern Britain

OVERALL:

While in London, I really grew as a person. I overcame a lot of my anxiety, which was huge for me. I gained the courage to step out of my comfort zone and leave home.I have learned that I have a passion for photography and art.I have also become a better listener, an active learner, more independent, more assertive, have learned to trust my instincts, and become more focused on my career goals and what I want to pursue in life. In 10 years, I'll probably be able to look back and find even more areas of growth that have presented themselves because of my time in London. I know that for me, though, this was just the beginning of a lifetime of growing and changing through travel abroad.