I had traveled with my high school to Ireland in 2023 and since then I knew that I wanted to study abroad in college. Stepping foot into another country and learning about its rich history from the location firsthand is an experience I wish everyone could have. My experience at CYA greatly exceeded my expectations. We received a great education while being able to travel the globe, had hands-on experiences all over Greece, and were fully immersed in the culture of Athens. It is easy to feel like you don't belong when you are a foreigner, but the citizens of Athens and everyone at CYA showed only love and support. I will forever hold this experience close to my heart and highly recommend to anyone who is thinking about studying abroad.

When I went to Greece, I knew I was going to enjoy myself. However, I did not realize how different my time in Greece would be from the learning environment I am used to in the United States. This was my first time living in an apartment of my own, not in a university dorm, and I really feel it prepared me for life after university. One of the best things about it was the teaching environment. Oftentimes, some of my teachers would take our class to historically significant locations in Athens for lessons, and it made the lessons incredibly memorable. Overall, all the teachers I had clearly wanted me to succeed, and offered plenty of assistance in my learning process. The program also offered many opportunities to travel elsewhere in Europe, and I feel I benefited from that a lot.

Studying abroad with CYA in Athens, Greece was one of the most transformative experiences of my college career. As a Psychology major, I was excited to explore how culture influences human behavior, but I gained much more than academic knowledge during my semester abroad. Through courses in psychology, Greek history, and Modern Greek language, I developed a deeper understanding of both Greek society and the broader cultural factors that shape people's lives.
Living in an apartment with three other students from my program created a strong sense of community and led to friendships that became one of the most meaningful parts of my experience. Together, we explored Athens, traveled throughout Greece, and supported one another as we adapted to life in a new country. One of my favorite memories was sitting at the top of the Panathenaic Stadium with my friends, reflecting on everything we had experienced and accomplished during our time abroad.
Having previously moved to Los Angeles without knowing anyone helped prepare me for the challenges of studying abroad. The experience strengthened my independence, adaptability, and confidence while encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone. Thanks to support from USC, CYA, and the Gilman Scholarship, I was able to pursue an opportunity that broadened my academic, personal, and professional horizons in ways I will carry with me for years to come.

I loved living in Greece and doing a Spring Semester with CYA; I wish I could be there still! As an Ancient World Studies major, getting to experience the sites in person that I have read about/seen pictures of was so amazing. One of the classes I took was completely on-site, meaning we visited different parts of ancient Athens every class, which was great! I loved exploring Athens and connecting with Greek culture. I even took a marble carving class set up by CYA which was very cool. I recommend taking advantage of the activities, like marble carving, that CYA offers.

CYA also took us on many trips across Greece, so I got to see other parts of the country as well. There were optional field studies offered (I went on all three) that I totally recommend because you are led through many sites by professors and get to explore on your own. I learned a lot and visited many cool places!

There are so many great things to say about my stay in Greece, but I highly recommend studying there with CYA!

CYA Professors and staff are some of the kindest people you will ever meet. Part of the reason I fell in love with Greece was the care and guidance my professors gave when teaching us around the city, including on the acropolis, and recommending places to go and things to see. Athens itself was a very welcoming city and that helped the transition for the semester as well. CYA has four mandatory trips with the program and two optional for an extra fee. I only took the mandatory field studies and they were the highlights of the semester. The professors I traveled with were very knowledgable on each place we went and gave us the insight we needed to feel like a local.

I absolutely loved my study abroad experience in Greece with the CYA program. They offer such a wide variety of interesting classes that was so hard to choose from. The staff from teachers to the cafeteria workers are all so nice and welcoming. I enjoyed the travels that were included within the overall program itinerary and the individual classes, I learned something new every time. I most of all loved the pace because you could get so much done and still have time to relax or go exploring on your own.

Studying abroad in Athens was such an incredible experience. I grew so much as an individual personally, socially, and academically. I loved living in locally-owned apartment complexes within walking distance to CYA's campus because it really allowed students to participate in everyday experiences of Greek life. Athens has something new to discover on every street, and I wish for everyone to experience that.

CYA offers incredible opportunities to travel within Greece through the various field studies they offer. In addition to traveling with CYA, I highly recommend traveling Greece and Europe on your own time. Once you get the hang of budgeting, there's so much out there to see!

Lastly, the faculty at CYA does a great job at making hands-on learning experiences on the streets of Athens, at museums, and archeological sites their top priority. I felt so privileged to be learning of Ancient Greece while standing amongst its ruins.

There is an endless amount of good to say about the College Year in Athens program, but what I could highlight is how the experience defied all of my expectations of what studying abroad looks like. I would not change a single moment in Athens especially because the entire time I felt as if I was a part of a completely different world in the best way. Learning so much from CYA professors, going on organized trips with packed itineraries, and engaging with Greek culture through a variety of means, all felt like pieces to the puzzle of my own abroad experience. It may not be exactly what everyone else is doing, but the point of the program - and CYA made this adamant - was to form your own unique relationship with Greece and all it has to offer; in other words, what you took out of the experience was completely dependent on what you wanted. I am just so thankful that CYA gave me so many chances to create my own unforgettable memories.