CIS Abroad - Semester in Greece - The American College of Greece

I was fortunate to spend my spring semester at the American College of Greece in Athens. I am a Psychology major, so I took all psychology courses. I really enjoyed the psychology department and felt they pushed me to grow academically. Additionally, I enjoyed several campus-run organizations, from the archery club to Better Days for Strays, which is a club that assists local animal shelters. There are so many different things to get involved in, but there's also the opportunity to spend your time in the city and get to explore. Greek food is wonderful; I miss it every day. The program also provides a nice balance because it gives you a relatively small group of people and other students you know and can spend time with throughout the semester. We usually have an excursion about once a month. The individuals who lead the excursions are a couple and genuinely some of the sweetest people. One of my favorite trips was when we visited Metara and climbed up to the monasteries On Top of the Rock faces, but there is normally a wide variety of activities. We learn traditional Greek dance, visit the Acropolis, and often include a meal with the general group. I recommend this program!

My time studying abroad in Greece was an experience that I will always remember. Overall, I had an amazing time, and I am very happy that I chose Greece as my study abroad destination. My favorite parts of the experience were the people, the beautiful sights, and, of course, the food. Being able to experience a different culture while also exploring Greece and other countries made the semester feel like a true adventure.

One of the things I enjoyed most about Greece was the people. I found many of the people I interacted with to be welcoming and friendly, and I really enjoyed experiencing the more relaxed pace of life. I also loved being surrounded by beautiful sights and having the opportunity to explore different parts of Greece. The food was another highlight. Greek food was delicious, although one thing that surprised me was how often I found myself eating similar meals. While the food was great, there was not always as much variety as I was used to having in the United States. This was definitely a small culture shock for me.

Academically, my experience was a little more challenging than I expected. I chose to take higher-level courses related to my major rather than the more general elective courses that many study abroad students take. While I appreciated being able to take courses that were directly related to my Psychology major and were not offered at my home institution, the workload and difficulty made the semester more demanding. Looking back, I would recommend that students think carefully about which courses they take abroad. Study abroad can be an amazing opportunity to explore new subjects, and it may not always be the best time to take some of the most important or difficult courses required for your major.

Another major part of my experience was traveling. I was able to visit several places during my time abroad, and two of my favorite destinations were Malta and Portugal. Traveling outside of Greece gave me even more opportunities to experience different cultures and made my semester even more memorable. However, one thing I wish I had known beforehand was how expensive traveling could be. Even traveling to places outside of Athens within Greece could become expensive, especially when transportation and other travel costs were added together. I would definitely recommend that future students create a realistic travel budget before going abroad.

I would absolutely recommend studying abroad in Greece, and I would especially recommend the program I chose. Out of the students I met from different study abroad programs, I felt that my program was one of the best. Our accommodations were comfortable and, in my opinion, some of the best I saw during my time abroad. Our onsite leaders were also extremely supportive and made me feel like I had people I could rely on whenever I needed help.

Overall, studying abroad in Greece allowed me to grow academically, personally, and culturally. Even though there were challenges and things I wish I had known beforehand, the positive experiences far outweighed them. I made memories, traveled to places I had never been, experienced a new culture, and learned more about myself. If you are considering studying abroad in Greece, I would encourage you to do it; you just need to plan ahead, budget realistically, and be open to stepping outside of your comfort zone.

My semester at Deree was more than I could've ever imagined and better than I could have asked for. The professors and site directors were extremely friendly and welcoming. The campus is beautiful along with the neighborhood I lived in, and I've never felt safer than in Aghia Paraskevi. The dorms are a 10 min walk to the metro so students can hangout in Athens whenever. There are many opportunities to see different parts of Greece provided by the program and the school. I was completely immersed in Greek culture and was able to learn a lot. The school is also highly diverse so you will meet people from all over the US and other countries. I highly recommend especially if you're a history nerd and I'm very excited to go back!

My semester at the American College of Greece was truly life changing. The campus was beautiful and there were many opportunities to be involved. CIS provided many opportunities to explore Greece further and provided instructions on how to stay safe and travel within the country. I was able to see much of Greece as well as visiting other countries. I got emerged in the culture, tried a lot of yummy food, and learned to speak some Greek words. Greece became a second home to me and I would go back in a heartbeat :)

I had the most fun during CIS Abroad's Summer in Greece program! It included both excursions from CIS and from the university, the American College of Greece. Greece is beautiful and the area surrounding the college is safe and takes less than one hour to get to downtown Athens by metro or bus. There is so much to do in Greece - outside of the included excursions, I would recommend going to an island or doing a guided tour, and there are so many options for these! The program's staff were always extremely helpful and supportive. Overall, I would recommend this program, especially if you love islands/beaches and history.

My study abroad experience could not have been better. I met the best friends and left with the best memories. I never doubted my safety. The housing is amazing. We had the most beautiful campus. The workload was manageable. I was able to travel often. There is very good public transportation, but it is also very walkable. We were able to attend festivals and learn all about the rich Greek history. I was immersed in the Greek culture. I grew so much personally and gained a global mindset, which I will be able to relate to the classroom and my future career.

My 5 weeks in Athens, Greece were nothing short of magical. I met the most amazing people, tried the most delicious food, and took classes that challenged not only my academics, but my ways of thinking. I came in to the program having known no one, but quickly met friends who I am still in touch with and love dearly. I got to get to know the people of our little suburb in Athens so much that we even got to call the owner of our favorite gelato spot "Ελληνίδα μαμά" (greek mom). Our CIS representative, Kostas was a highlight of the trip himself. He taught us all about modern culture, the best beaches, spots for snacks, and took us on trips to historic sites and museums through CIS. It was a wonderful time. 10/10 would reccommend to anyone.

I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to study abroad in Athens, Greece in the fall semester of 2024. It was the perfect time of the year to travel there because it was beautiful weather and many of the islands around the main land were still open and many people were still actively traveling around and going on vacations. I loved getting to see all of the incredible sights in Athens as well, like the Parthenon, but I also loved seeing places like the Meteora in Kalabaka and Kastraki. CIS provided excursions were very well coordinated and exciting, and I was so happy to see the places that I maybe would not have been able to see without their help. I loved being able to experience the Greek culture, especially the food, which had to have been one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to have an amazing adventure and to explore some of the richest, oldest history in the world.