A comfortable, but not necessarily challenging bubble

I found CAPA's London program incredible and life-changing for me: it was my first time living independently (albeit, with roommates), my first extended stay in a foreign country, and the first time I could take complete charge over my own life.

The academics were great, shattering the stereotype that studying abroad would just be a "vacation from studying", and the internship program worked out well for a lot of my friends — I opted against taking an internship in the interest of exploring the city.

The coursework in CAPA courses is unique in that it requires professors to plan MyEducation events — outings that get students engaged with the city of London, and connect it to their studies. This was a fantastic way to plan courses, as it got students out and about, not just sitting in classrooms all day!

However, the downfall of this program for me was in the lack of social immersion we got as students. The London center for CAPA is an independent institution, so the student demographic was nearly all American when I went. Even some of my teachers were American. While we were encouraged to meet and befriend British people, it was difficult to do so when they weren't involved in our studies, or surrounding us during our daily lives.

With the majority of students having internships with organizations in London, this was less of a worry for them; however, my peers in internships who were seeking social immersion did note disappointment, as the friendships built at internships didn't extend far past the office.

For me, this program ended up being great, but in hindsight, I wish I had chosen another of the several locations that CAPA offers. The staff at CAPA, however, is top-notch, and couldn't be nicer. They supported me and my peers when we needed it most, and I couldn't appreciate that more.

So my advice is this: CAPA is great, but don't be afraid to challenge your boundaries more than I did! Many of CAPA's other programs take place outside of the "American Bubble", so check into those before making any decisions.