CYA - Study in Greece (Semester Program)

CYA provided me with the best abroad experience I could have asked for. Throughout this program, I felt supported academically, emotionally, and culturally every step of the way. Any question I had about life in Greece, whether it be where to find the best souvlaki or what I should do if I need to see a doctor, were answered. As someone who had never lived in a city before, let alone one where I don't know the language or even the alphabet, I was very nervous about spending my time abroad in Athens. However, once I became familiar with College Year in Athens, I immediately felt more at ease. I'll never forget our first orientation meeting when the president of the program told us that if we need any help, they have it covered, and if we need someone to argue for us in Greek, they have that covered too. The respect that this program has for their students is unbeatable. The lengths that the administration goes to in order to assure that you have a safe, comfortable, educational, and fun time abroad is demonstrated every day. By studying through a smaller program made for American students, I was able to meet people my age going through a similar once in a lifetime opportunity, while also taking classes in English. CYA fosters a close-knit community that cultivates connections that will last far beyond the months you'll spend in Athens.

I had such a blast and met the greatest people thanks to this program. We were heavily supported by the program' administrators and thoroughly fell in love in Greece. The classes were interesting and very relevant to the atmosphere and history of Greece and Athens but weren't overwhelming. The program trips also made the information we were learning that more approachable. Athens itself is one of the most amazing cities I've ever been to. It was lively and fun, even in the winter because the weather was so warm. Highly highly recommend

I truly cannot put into words how amazing my experience abroad was with College Year in Athens. First off, the city of Athens and the country of Greece are truly so welcoming and home to the most beautiful culture. I came to Athens for the weather and history, which are truly as amazing as anticipated, but what surprised me even more was the kindness of the Greek people. Greece is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, both people and landscape wise, and I already miss it so dearly. I promise if you study abroad here you will fall in love with the city and country!

Athens has everything a study abroad student could ask for! The city has such an abundant history, populated by countless amazing museums and so many ruins you will lose count! The food is so delicious and extremely affordable. The nightlife is amazing and the Greeks certainly know how to have a good time! The city is so walkable, has amazing green spaces, and feels extremely safe. I went on runs alone during the evening occasionally and never felt unsafe because even on weekdays, people will be out well into the night at a taverna with their loved ones.

However, what made CYA stand out to me from other study abroad programs is the level of care that CYA staff have for the students in their program. Most US students who study abroad are students at a local university, which has its pros, but CYA being a program made FOR study abroad students provided a level of assistance and support that made this experience as amazing as possible. Moving across the world, especially as someone who hasn't traveled much outside the US, was extremely scary. CYA's staff made me feel safe and cared for right away, providing assistance at all times, even when I was sick during my spring break trip. Through mandatory field study trips across Greece and weekly optional activities hosted to expose students to Greek and Athenian culture, CYA makes clear its passion for making students as immersed in Greek culture as possible. These field study trips and activities were some of my best experiences from abroad and I truly cannot imagine being in any other study abroad program.

CYA was such a wonderful experience! The staff was really supportive and made my time in Greece really comfortable. The classes were super interesting, the location within Athens was perfect (right in the middle of the city, close to the airport and the port), and the food was delicious (both the dining hall food and the restaurants around our campus)! I wish that there would have been more opportunities within the program to connect with students from Greece, but other than that, I think the program was super awesome.

CYA had a couple orientations at the beginning of the semester to get students adjusted which covered a variety of topics and were very helpful. The field study trips were a lot of fun and carefully planned out and at the first one there were activities for students to get to know each other better. I think one of my favorite parts of CYA were the professors. They were so intelligent on the topics they were teaching and made learning very engaging. Highly recommend taking any course with Professor Ritsa, she is excellent!!

I loved my experience with College Year in Athens. I truly fell in love with the city of Athens and the nation of Greece. The school and the student housing are situated in the incredible Pangrati neighborhood, which many Athenians will tell you is one of their favorite areas in the city. It's surrounded by bars (shoutout to Thursdays at Ziggy, and every night at Chelsea Hotel), cafes, amazing restaurants (my favorites being To Mavro Provato and Louvron), and the famous Panathenaic Stadium. The faculty is brilliant, and I have to specifically thank Dr. Aimee Placas and Dr. Athena Hadji, two of the most thoughtful and inclusive instructors I have ever had. Also, CYA offers three mandatory "field study" trips to different parts of Greece, so I got to visit Olympia, Delphi, Nafplio, Kalamata, Thessaloniki, Volos, Mount Pelion, and several small villages and towns across the mainland. It's easy to visit islands (I loved the nearby Poros island) and also to travel across Europe (I visited Berlin, Barcelona, Istanbul, Budapest, Palermo, Sevilla, and Ibiza, all within the semester). The courses are challenging but not too homework-heavy, allowing for weekend travel and for exploring the city of Athens. Lunch is free each day Monday through Friday at CYA, and food is very affordable in Athens (many of my meals were 5-10 euros, sometimes even less). My favorite thing about CYA was definitely how the program treated us as adults, more so than how American universities do. I truly felt independent and respected. And, of course, the people make the experience! I think CYA cultivates a great student body and I made lasting friendships. My only "complaints" about the program are the laundry situation (the washers and dryers at CYA are in poor condition and you will have to hang dry your clothes, but hey, that's the authentic European experience!), the strict attendance policy, and the over-representation of certain big American universities in the student body (including my own) which damages the diversity of the campus life. However, these are minuscule issues in the grand scheme of studying abroad, and I would recommend CYA to almost anyone. I wish I went for two semesters!

My semester abroad has been such an enriching and transformative experience. As a business and STEM major, the opportunity to delve into liberal arts courses at CYA not only deepened my appreciation for humanity's diverse expressions but also inspired me to think about bigger questions. Exploring Athens, Greece, and other parts of Europe with like-minded peers helped me forge lifelong friendships and exposed me to new ways of thinking. As an international student in the U.S., this was my second time studying abroad, which allowed me to immerse myself in another completely different culture, interact with local communities, and gain a deeper understanding of global perspectives. With that, I come away with a heightened sense of curiosity and an expanded understanding of my own personal perspectives and actions in a global context.

I had the chance to make long-lasting friendships in a program that was communicative, attentive to students' needs, and helpful in recommending different spots in Athens to visit. The program also gave us the freedom to explore and didn't bog us down with too much work, projects, or tests. I found the time in Athens to be culturally informative as well, and I learned to be more appreciative of diverse opinion and perspectives. I had amazing food and found a new love of life that I had been missing, making the experience all the better for my personal growth.