CYA - Study in Greece (Semester Program)

I am SO happy I got to spend my abroad semester with CYA. They give you just the right amount of structured activity/trips to get to know one another and to get to know Greece while also giving you ample free time to do what you want. The location of both the apartments and CYA buildings is perfect – you're right in the heart of everything without ever feeling unsafe or overrun by tourists. Plus you get a view of the Acropolis from your classroom building (how cool is that!). The best part of this program is hands down the staff and faculty. I was abroad during the COVID19 outbreak, and I felt completely safe and supported in their care. They truly want the best for the students, and the passion they have for the students and the program is genuine. You will always feel supported by your CYA family, even in times of unprecedented pandemic, and I think that speaks volumes to how involved the staff and faculty are in making your experience everything you want it to be and more.

Studying abroad with CYA was life-changing. This program made Athens feel like home. All of my professors really cared about their students, and worked endlessly to form personal connections and give us the best experiences possible. The field trips were super fun and informative, and the optional trips were well-priced and gave us chances to grow close as a program. Greek culture is warm, welcoming, and community based, and CYA completely embodies that! Program lunches every weekday are healthy and yummy. The school and apartments are in city center and within a 15 minute walk to the Acropolis! Pangrati, the district where the school and apartments are located, is very safe and has a great community scene complete with farmers markets and cool cafés. CYA and Greece in general provide so many opportunities to get outdoors compared to other programs- so if that's your cup of tea you can definitely seize those opportunities! The workload is manageable and there are lots of course offerings for both Classics and non-Classics majors! The administration was also incredibly kind and helpful in finding hair salons, buying concert tickets, or any other small detail to make students feel at home. Between the multiple times I was able to travel to other countries, and the many adventures I had all over Greece- this program increased my worldview and experience tenfold. Best semester ever!

College Year in Athens gave me the best semester of my entire life. From the exciting weekend trips to daily class visits to the Ancient Acropolis, I had a life changing experience at least once a week. Learning about ancient history while standing in the place where it took place was simply awe-inspiring. I had a lot of "pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming" moments during my semester in Athens, especially when one of my classes took us INSIDE the Parthenon. I loved the city of Athens so much and I loved my apartment even more. It truly felt like home by the end. Another thing that made my experience so special was the people who worked at CYA. I felt safe and cared for. The faculty and staff was always willing to help with any problem - anywhere from laundry to home sickness. They truly wanted me to love Greece as much as they did. Lunches were yummy and the main course always varied so it never got old. The CYA dining hall was a great place for socialization when my fellow classmates as well as professors. The culmination of all these things made my semester in Athens truly spectacular. I am so thankful that I chose CYA.

While at CYA I had the opportunity to take classes and do things I would not have gotten elsewhere. I was able to get immersed into the Greek culture quickly. The staff was so helpful and helped me get an amazing volunteer opportunity. CYA gave me an experience that allowed me to grow as a person. I never realized how much I could learn being in a different country. Everyone in Greece are so friendly and wants to help you succeed. I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone who wants to experience a new culture

CYA was an amazing experience and it has truly been life changing for me. The administration was so careful and aware of our needs and the orientation sessions, though tedious, were helpful when it came to navigating but still saying safe in Athens. CYA gave me the opportunity to travel Greece and visit parts of the country I would not have had access to otherwise, both through mandatory and optional trips. The perfect location sealed the deal on CYA being the place for me. Being across the street from the Panathenaic Stadium and within walking distance of major historic sites is something that not many can say.
I wish there had been more on campus activities where people can meet others with similar interests that they go to school with. Regardless, though my biggest worry beforehand was finding people I connected with, it was not as difficult as I believed and there was a friend group for everyone! I found that having friends with similar interests really improves traveling, exploring, and the CYA experience over all. Bonding with my fellow students came easiest on the optional trips that were offered on weekends through CYA. Usually, it was an intimate group of 20 to 30 students that would participate and you got to know everyone else very well.
In Athens, and at study abroad and general, it was so important to go out and explore! During the first few weeks especially, I felt as though I didn't really know the area so making it a point to explore, not just Pangrati, but further out as well, was a great option. In the CYA handbook, there was a list of many places listed that we could visit within walking distance. Beyond that, Nadia was sure to email us upcoming festivals and surrounding popular cafes, promoting interacting with the locals (while also allowing us to practice our Greek!). Overall, this is definitely an experience I wish I could revisit. I have developed a newfound love of Greece (both the culture and the food) and plan to return for sure!

The best part of living in Athens is the accessibility students have to a multitude of activities. Museums are dispersed throughout the city and allow you to better understand the history of Greece and the cultures nearby that have influenced the country.
At night, Ghazi offers a different experience. The night life was always fun and the clubs were welcoming to Americans.
Unique and beautifully decorated restaurants are scattered throughout Athens. Syntagma was my favorite place to shop and find new cafes.
The beach is only a twenty minute cab away!
I was never bored in Athens!

I decided to study abroad in Greece relatively last minute, but in the end I left it all very content with my experience, with a strong desire to return. The CYA program staff are very communicative and helped with every step in the visa application process and other prep coming to the country. While there, they were also pretty accommodating about various arrangements/needs. It was definitely a challenge to take classes while living in a new city and traveling quite frequently on weekends. However, the courses I took were very interesting and more engaging than my home college classes due to the small class sizes and on-site classes. Learning about the Acropolis sitting atop the Acropolis was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The three field trips built into the program (Delphi, Peloponnese, and Thessaloniki) were another great opportunity to site-see and learn on-site. Our neighborhood of Pangrati was an ideal location, with key tourism sites and shopping areas in very close walking distance. The local cafe became a second home and ideal study spot for most CYA students. I greatly enjoyed the endless opportunities to learn more about Greek culture and politics.

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.