CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Paris, France

I cannot express enough how fantastic this experience was! Living with two other roomates from different parts of America in a cozy European apartment in the 5th arrondissement of Paris was a dream! And right next to Ernest Hemmingway's old apartment! Experiencing the daily life, in's and out's of French language and culture on top of the renowned food, historic sights, metro/subway system, unforgettable markets and events was like no other experience and I am ecstatic at the thought of going back ASAP!

I did a study+internship program in Paris through CEA CAPA and had the adventure of a lifetime! I was drawn to this program in particular because I was hoping to build my resume but didn't want to sacrifice having a study abroad experience, therefore this program was perfect for my goals. While working abroad can feel like a daunting task, the team at CEA CAPA helped us to both anticipate and navigate any challenges that we might have encountered. Using CEA's toolbox to work through problems that arose has exacerbated my professional growth and I continue to use these same tools in my current endeavors. I also felt that the internship did not impede with my other courses, which was very important to me.

The 'study' portion was amazing as well. The faculty was fantastic, and I loved using the city as my classroom (going to museums, speaking to natives, etc.). The trips that the CEA team took us on were also very fun and I would suggest taking advantage of every event the school organizes- we went to so many places I would have never chosen to go to myself, and these were actually some of my favorite places that I visited during my time in France.

Paris is such an amazing city, and CEA CAPA provided an excellent experience. The staff was so kind and happy to help with any questions. The program provided a lot of opportunities to get to know Paris better, taking part in relevant cultural moments. There were also excursions included in the program cost to travel around France, bringing us to the beach when the weather was nice, into wine country, and even to Belgium in the snow! The classes were engaging, and allowed students to maintain a very reasonable work-life balance and have a great study abroad experience!

Going into my sophomore year of university as a Mechanical Engineer I knew that I wanted to study abroad if possible. With most programs, I know that it can be hard to stay on track with courses to graduate on time. However, the program with the Paris Center worked out perfectly for me. I was able to take the engineering courses I needed as well as French courses and another core class. For my core class, I took the History of Paris Through Architecture. This was by far my favorite course as most of the classes are out exploring the city. We would have walking lectures going from sight to sight and learning about the why and how each building was constructed. Overall the academics were good but I didn't find them all that challenging. As for the staff they are amazing and extremely helpful. I found the housing to be adequate but can be smaller than your normal US dorm-style rooms. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the program and got a lot from studying abroad.

Engineering in Paris is an incredible opportunity for undergraduate students around the world to complete several of their engineering requirements while being able to experience an amazingly rich and diverse culture. Academically CEA CAPA provided great teachers who were passionate about their subjects and understanding of the unique circumstances that students were placed in. They taught the course material well, formed connections with us, and encouraged us to explore and travel while we had this opportunity. The CEA CAPA staff were very helpful as we started to gain our bearings in Paris and organized many activities and excursions to immerse us into the culture. Paris itself is an absolutely beautiful city that has a plethora of options for nightlife, food, drink, shopping, museums, historical sites, and natural beauty. The public transportation system in Paris is very accessible and serves as an easy way to travel around the city, however, I encourage walking as much as possible because it is the only way to truly embrace all of the natural beauty and sites of the city. Furthermore, Paris is a very centrally located city in Europe and allows easy and relatively inexpensive travel opportunities to most other countries in Europe.

I studied abroad with CEA CAPA in the Summer of 2023 in Paris, France. In my 6 weeks spent abroad, I was very pleased with what CEA CAPA had to offer. In terms of housing, the apartment was about what you would expect to receive at any university, and the kitchen was very small, though that was okay because I was able to spend most of my meals out, really getting the full French cuisine experience. The engineering class that I took was difficult, as is any, but the small class size made it easy to collaborate with others and to really delve into the knowledge. The sports & culture class that I took was fun and engaging, and really offered exploration of parts of the city I never would've ventured to on my own. CEA CAPA offered many opportunities to see parts of the city, starting with the initial boat ride along the River Seine, where I had my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, and ending with a ticket to a football match at the Stade du France, where we got to see a very exciting win! These are some things I never would have thought to do, but CEA CAPA made it all possible.

I tremendously enjoyed my experience with CEA CAPA in Paris. The school itself is located in a great location in one of the city's most historic neighborhoods. The academics were more strenuous than I expected after hearing so much about how 'easy' study abroad classes are. I was able to partake in relevant courses that always managed to tie into the culture and heritage of Paris itself, which I appreciated. The staff was also friendly and supportive. Excursions included in the program were also enjoyable - I got to experience a few things such as a football game and broadway show that I otherwise would not have been able to attend.

I had a lot of fun in this program. I met incredible people during this six weeks and made amazing memories that I hope I'll never forget. The academic part was challenging and I learned a lot but it also allowed for time to explore Paris and other places in France and nearby. There was a great balance of adventure while still getting credit for my university. Also, CEA provided all the information you need to feel safe in Paris and learn how to get around. 100% recommend it if you have the opportunity.