CYA - Study in Greece (Summer Program)

The program is based in Athens, where we had really nice apartments, super close to the academic center, a grocery store, and lots of restaurants and coffee shops (one is even open 24 hours and is right around the corner). Athens started to feel so much like home that I could see myself living there long term!

The class I took was so interesting and I learned so much more than I could have ever imagined--inside and outside the course material! Our professor was great and every assignment we had challenged us to be creative. Our classes were held in museums, at archaeological sites, and even on volcanoes.

This program gave me the opportunity to travel all around Greece. When we traveled to the islands as a class, the hotels we stayed at were nice. I took the bus to the beaches. The people I met were amazing and I truly felt at home the whole time. I made some best friends for life!

This summer program really pushes you to be a part of the culture around you. The staff are the kindest individuals who offer so much help. There is a diverse selection of classes to choose from. I took in a religion and history class and we visited so many beautiful places and interesting museums. Everything was included, except for food, but that's the best part! You have to freedom to go explore the various dishes and restaurants around Athens and any location your class visits. The housing facilities in Athens are spacious with your own kitchen and living room and a cleaning person once a week. The housing is in a great location only a 10 minute walk from all the great shopping, and across the street from the national Garden, which is really pretty. I have made some new friends and bonded with those I traveled with. You'll have a memorable summer when you travel through CYA!

This was a wonderful and eye-opening program that I would recommend to anyone! The classes were interesting and covered new, diverse topics every day. The professors are so passionate about the subjects they teach, and work hard to make sure that everyone is making the most of their time in Greece. My classes were both around ten students each, and this made for a great classroom environment - one where I individually got to know my professors well, and created close, lasting friendships with my fellow students! CYA is also wonderful about connecting you to local events of your own personal interests, whether it be concerts, marathons, or cooking classes! There was also plenty of traveling through classes, and I feel that I saw so much more of Greece than I expected!

My time in Greece studying abroad with College Year in Athens was more fulfilling and holistic than I expected it to be. My class (ARTH 356, a course on Greek Heritage) was taught by an amazing professor, our class excursions were enjoyable and immersive, and the friendships I built will last a lifetime! I decided to study abroad in Greece to get out of my comfort zone, and really push myself to study a subject outside of my STEM field. A 4-week program was perfect for the time I had and for what my budget would allow. This was my first time in Europe, and with research and preparation beforehand, everything (travel, currency exchange, packing, etc.) went smoothly. I enjoyed traveling to other Greek islands, visiting historical sites, trying new foods, and meeting the locals. Everyone was so welcoming and excited to have us there. I highly recommend CYA for anyone interested in a summer study abroad, you won't regret it!

My time with CYA was the best academic and personally formative experience of my life. I took two summer courses, and both the professors were outstanding. Between engaging lectures and meaningful site visits, I felt like I was growing academically without missing any of the social opportunities of study abroad. As a student from the University of Virginia, I was pleased that my CYA professors lectured at a level that still interested and challenged me, even in a different country than my home institution. The work-play balance was perfect, and I was able to explore the entire country (and seven islands!) all while making deep friendships with classmates. CYA gave us the cultural tools and skills to thrive in Greece, and I ended up staying for a few weeks after my program ended. I felt perfectly equipped to explore and enjoy the country with the information I got from the administration, professors, and the experiences of being a student with CYA. Overall, this was the best decision I made in college.

CYA was one of the best experiences of my life. It was the first time I had solo travelled and even though I was scared at first I also felt so welcomed by the staff and other students. The course was so interesting and the workload was just right. The people I met were absolutely incredible, I made lifelong friends. My professor was the nicest lady and she became a friend to me as well. I would recommend anyone to take a course at college year at Athens because it is such an amazing experience.

This was my first time traveling so I had some difficulties at first with this program. Because there are multiple colleges involved you don't travel there as a class. This meant that I had to fly to Greece and get from the airport to the academic building alone. This was a challenging and nerve-racking experience for me because I had never traveled before. However, I made it and once I was at the academic building it was smooth sailing from there. I had great roommates, ate a lot of good food, both in and outside of class, and really got to learn a lot. This best part about this program is that we lived in a local neighborhood which allowed interaction with locals and the opportunity to enjoy daily life as a local would. Class was very hands on and we learned a lot. As a class we did lots of different food tastings, but we also had the free time to explore and see what we wanted as well. Since the program has ended I've learned to appreciate olive oil more and even took to trying to grow some of my own food.

I was very on the fence about studying abroad. I knew I wanted to travel at some point in college, but I wasn't sure if I chose the right time, the right location, or if I was prepared. I had never flown by myself, I had never traveled outside of North America, and I had worried parents who did not like the idea of a college aged woman traveling alone for the first time. To any parents reading this: please let your daughter travel! She will come back with so much joy and excitement and will be so grateful for the opportunity. To any girls reading this: take the risk! Going to Greece was the best decision I have ever made. Not only was my teacher fantastic, but I met some wonderful and adventurous people in my class. I felt completely comfortable maintaining an open conversation with my professor when I needed help. My favorite part of the class was the walking tours where the students researched which monuments we were looking at. This trip made me feel so confident in my ability to take care of myself and have fun in completely new and foreign surroundings. The most refreshing part was that my professor encouraged my class to explore. I have never heard an authority figure encourage trying new things and learning about a place for myself as much as I did in this class (usually these figures tell me: "be careful, don't try anything dangerous, stay close"). This was so beneficial to my education about Greece and my confidence in myself. If you are on the fence about going, you should go! Live your Mama Mia dream :)