CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Program Reviews

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Bronwyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study and Internship in Sevilla!

I studied abroad with CEA CAPA in Sevilla, Spain during the Fall 2023 semester and had an incredible experience. I participated in a study and internship program and highly recommend it to other students, especially business students who are interested in working internationally in the future. The CEA CAPA team worked to make sure I found an internship that fit me and checked in throughout my program to see my progress. Their team is dedicated and genuinely cares about their students. I definitely recommend CEA CAPA if you are looking for a great program to study abroad with!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I recommend being open to anything and just going with the flow. Of course it's good to have plans and goals for your program but sometimes the best experiences are the ones that come up unexpectedly. Approach every day with an open mind and you'll have a great time!
Pros
  • International experience
  • Connecting with new people
  • Exploring other cultures
Cons
  • Homesickness
  • Not enough time in the day
  • Finding friends as a solo traveler
Response from CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Hi Bronwyn! Thanks for your incredible review of studying and interning abroad in Sevilla. Your picture also captures how beautiful and iconic landmarks are around this wonderful city!

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Makeegan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Madrid Education Review

I had a great time in Madrid and made countless friends through my experience! I loved my apartment and most things about my school, especially the professors. I always felt super safe and cannot wait until I can go back again. I only had classes with other exchange students though, so it was a bit hard to make friends with locals and other people from Spain, but other than that I have no complaints from my semester abroad!
I really enjoyed all the new experiences I got to have, including trying new food and going to new places and it has given me such a different outlook on life.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I did this all over again I would probably take at least one class that wasn't for my Spanish major, so I could maybe meet some people from Spain instead of only having classes with other Americans and exchange students. All my classes were also separate from the main campus building so I didn't really get a great college experience while I was here because there wasn't a social scene where my classes were.
Pros
  • Exploring a new city and trying new activities and foods
  • Meeting new people
  • Bettering my Spanish
Cons
  • Felt separated from the rest of my friends that had classes at the main campus
  • Didn't connect with my roommates
  • Super strict attendance policy for class (Even if you're sick, you aren't excused)
Response from CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Hi Makeegan! Your semester in Madrid sounds great. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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Abbey
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Once in a lifetime experience

I cannot say enough good things about this experience. I went overseas not knowing anyone, which can be very scary, but CEA CAPA made me feel so supported throughout my entire trip. The class went so well and I brought all of my knowledge back home. But CEA CAPA went above and beyond what I expected. They have excursions, cooking classes, tours, etc all included in your plan which helps immerse yourself into the culture. No matter what I needed, they were always so supporting. They CEA CAPA office was in a perfect location as well, easy access to it! 100/10 recommend this program!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
One of the friends I met on my trip woke up at 5 am to catch a train to Monterosso which is on the coast and had the most epic beach day, spending most of our time in the water and then caught a train at 11:30 pm back to Florence
Pros
  • Personal Growth
  • Adventure
  • Expanding Horizons
Cons
  • Being away from family/friends
Response from CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Hi Abbey! Thanks for sharing your 100/10 once in a lifetime experience in Florence, Italy! It sounds like you had the most perfect experience.

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Erica
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Time of my life interning + studying in Paris

I did a study+internship program in Paris through CEA CAPA and had the adventure of a lifetime! I was drawn to this program in particular because I was hoping to build my resume but didn't want to sacrifice having a study abroad experience, therefore this program was perfect for my goals. While working abroad can feel like a daunting task, the team at CEA CAPA helped us to both anticipate and navigate any challenges that we might have encountered. Using CEA's toolbox to work through problems that arose has exacerbated my professional growth and I continue to use these same tools in my current endeavors. I also felt that the internship did not impede with my other courses, which was very important to me.

The 'study' portion was amazing as well. The faculty was fantastic, and I loved using the city as my classroom (going to museums, speaking to natives, etc.). The trips that the CEA team took us on were also very fun and I would suggest taking advantage of every event the school organizes- we went to so many places I would have never chosen to go to myself, and these were actually some of my favorite places that I visited during my time in France.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
My most nerve-wracking moment was when there was a flair of terrorist activity in France. As a Massachusetts native, I haven't seen many/any terrorist threats really and it really made me anxious- especially being so far from home and not being super familiar with what was happening. I was able to overcome my anxieties by speaking with CEA staff and altering some travel plans I had made. I try not to let fear dictate my life and plans, however, I think it is important to know your personal limits and take a step back when it feels necessary. Although that one moment was alarming it was fleeting and did not take away from my time as a whole.
Pros
  • Professional Growth
  • Travel
  • Meeting New Friends
Cons
  • Scholarships not widely available
  • Internship program costs more
  • Internship could limit travel opportunity
Response from CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Hi Erica! Thanks for the 5 star review! So glad you shared your feedback on your perfect experience in Paris.

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Jake
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

French Riviera

As a student studying abroad in a continent I had never been before, I had such an amazing experience. From start to finish, CEA CAPA helped so much with my adjustment into a new country (and a new continent). From social programs with fellow study abroad students, to cultural immersion events, I had an amazing semester learning so much about French culture and lifestyle. My housing was excellent, and had everything I needed to cook and live, and I felt as if I had such a strong and unique experience, with intensive and interesting academics at SKEMA.

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Jake
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

French Riviera

As a student studying abroad in a continent I had never been before, I had such an amazing experience. From start to finish, CEA CAPA helped so much with my adjustment into a new country (and a new continent). From social programs with fellow study abroad students, to cultural immersion events, I had an amazing semester learning so much about French culture and lifestyle. My housing was excellent, and had everything I needed to cook and live, and I felt as if I had such a strong and unique experience, with intensive and interesting academics at SKEMA.

Response from CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Hi Jake! Thanks for your feedback on your study abroad experience in the French Riviera! So happy to hear you had an amazing semester.

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Ryan William
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CEA CAPA Internship Experience

My internship journey in London was truly one of the most enriching experiences I've ever had. Through the impeccable guidance of the internship team at CEA CAPA, I was seamlessly connected with a remarkable company where I quickly found my stride and became an integral part of the team. Opting to work for a smaller company turned out to be one of the most pivotal decisions of my life. They warmly embraced me, offering mentorship and support, ensuring that my time studying abroad was nothing short of exceptional. The camaraderie fostered within the company made me feel like I was part of a close-knit family. I can’t thank the CEA CAPA team enough for orchestrating such a transformative experience during my time abroad.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Looking back, one aspect I regret not embracing sooner was the opportunity to connect with fellow students within the program. It wasn't until after the first month that I actively sought out interactions with other students, and now, those individuals have become some of my closest friends.
Pros
  • Resume Builder
  • Lifelong Friendships
  • Becoming a world Traveler
Cons
  • Wish it was longer
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cassidy
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

French Riviera Fall 2023

I loved that I chose to study abroad in the French Riviera! I enjoyed meeting so many new people and getting to travel all the time. Being able to study and live in a place for 4 months was definitely a huge learning experience and one that I wouldn't take for granted. Traveling on the weekends and making plans taught me a lot and sometimes was stressful, so it was fun to have the scheduled field trips. Something that I would note was that the school we went to was unorganized and further away.

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Mindy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My CEA experience as a Health Science student

One of the things that my family was really concerned about was safety, health, and what academics are like abroad. As soon as my plane landed, Yeison, one of the on-site representatives was waiting for me when I got there so I felt safe because I didn't have to take transportation by myself in a foreign country to get to my host home. It was nice that there was a security guard in addition to the Veritas university security on the lookout for me when I was walking to and from campus. The CEA representatives were always very helpful whenever I needed any help or assistance especially during the time when I had mesenteric adenitis. I was hesitant to go to the hospital especially because I have never went to the hospital on my own before, but Yeison came and waited in the waiting room until I was done. He helped me communicate with the hospital staff too because there was a language barrier and a misunderstanding with the traveler's insurance. So, in the end he was able to lessen my bill to $100 rather than $800.

I thought it was really helpful that CEA familiarized with getting us a walking and bus tour of San Jose which is the place that we were going to be living in for the 4 months I was there. The CEA staff also familiarized us with the culture and told us a few things to watch out for in the presentation they had for us.

It was also easy to ask for help in planning our own weekend excursions because Yeison has experience in tourism so he was able to recommend us places and how to get there and what activities are recommended for me to do there. They also had CEA excursions which were always nice to go on and planned out thoroughly. I liked the excursion to Panama because of the island hopping tour and we were able to see a lot of Costa Rica's wildlife.

For academics, I really liked the classes that I was taking there, and I think it was very convenient because it was a maximum of 15 minutes walking. I thought the learning style was really helpful since it was more discussions, presentations, projects, and hands-on learning rather than quizzes and exams. I also liked that the teachers who worked at the university were very interactive and passionate, which made me even more compelled and inspired to learn. It was a lot more of a close relationship between the teachers and students due to the small classroom sizes and I liked how participation was very much emphasized and from this I learned a lot more. The university we went to was quite small and locals would go to our school so it was a cool experience to be to talk to them (a lot of them spoke pretty good english).

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
To put yourself out of your comfort zone! I feel like a lot of people like to stick to their routine and talk to the same people, but it doesn't hurt to talk to people that you don't regularly talk to. I am someone who was anxious when talking to new people and I just put myself out there and would try to talk to someone new whether it was another fellow international student or a local tico. Also, I would advise to get to know your mama tica since it can help you with your Spanish but also it is really to get to know them and their culture. Practicing this thing I was uncomfortable doing at first allowed me to get better at it, and in the long run it is a skill that I'm thankful to have since it's made me more adaptable in new environments.
Pros
  • Easy to communicate with staff through email and in person
  • Felt supported and safe
  • Good experiences that expanded outside the classroom
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Anna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study Abroad in Amsterdam

I studied abroad in Amsterdam this past fall and I had an amazing experience! I went into the program knowing no one and I ended up making so many great friendships that have already lasted beyond the program. I loved Amsterdam as a city and was able to explore so many cool neighborhoods and local spots. I felt very supported by CEA CAPA my whole time abroad and I knew they were there at whenever I needed any support. Amsterdam is definitely a newer, smaller program (my year only had 19 students) but I definitely recommend it as the city is amazing and the smaller group allows for deeper connections to be formed.

Response from CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Hi Anna! So glad you loved Amsterdam and got the chance to make friends and explore everything it offered. It's wonderful you felt so supported by CEA CAPA your whole time abroad! Thanks for reviewing.