Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A time I will never forget! September 22, 2026

By (Political Science, University of Southern California) - abroad from 01/19/2026 to 05/15/2026 with

CYA (College Year in Athens) - Semester/Academic Year Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to be more independent and opened to trying new things.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes were very manageable and informative.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Host country program was very supportive! They made the process of making Greece a home much smoother.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was went above my expectations. Everything was in good conditions and cleaning assistance was provided weekly.

* Food:

Program provided a lunch meal every Monday-Friday. Restaurants area the neighborhood were very affordable and accessible.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very immersed with the local culture. Pangrati is a very walkable neighborhood which allows you to get to know the culture around you.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The program had doctors visit throughout the semester for students who were sick. Additionally, the program provided resources on where to find doctors in the neighborhood.

* Safety:

Athens felt overall safe, but there were some neighborhoods that we were advised not to go to.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

CYA was very supportive, provided all the resources students needed, and gave students to explore different parts of Greece through field study trips.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I felt that it was easy to budget weekly expenses such as groceries. I was able to go to restaurants for dinners and still maintained my budget.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make sure to try to save as much money before going abroad. Also, apply to scholarships! While abroad, try to budget for normal weekly expenses, trips, etc.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

I took a modern Greek class where our professor taught us the basics needed to have conversations with locals and even order in Greek at coffee shops.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? n/a
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? I would suggest using the exercises that the professor provides so that you can practice your Greek daily.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The friendships that I made.
* What could be improved?
  • Teachers can be more clear on their syllabus.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that Athens isn't like other European cities and is very unique in terms of the pacing and city life.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.