Anatolia American University

Alexa and Adria were amazing all semester they were the best RAs. Although it was a little annoying not having any curtains upon arriving I had no shower curtain no toilet paper and no curtain on my balcony so I had to go out and buy all of that after a extremely long travel day

I studied abroad in Spring 2019, and had an eye opening experience. As a Greek, being in Thessaloniki, the city my dad grew up in, gave me a unique opportunity to connect with my roots. I also have many family members there, whom I was able to spend more quality time with. The city itself is full of life. Wonderful restaurants, bars, cafes, and night clubs made for an action packed night life. ACT itself is a gorgeous campus, up in the mountains, away from the city. The free shuttle bus ride that ACT provides to campus from student housing is convenient and WAY better than the public transportation. ACT also would also order study abroad students a taxi if a small number of students had later classes and couldn't make the shuttle. The admins and other study abroad facilitators really take care of their study abroad students.

I was lucky enough to be able to study abroad at ACT for 5 weeks in the summer of 2018. The group from my school consisted of 10 people who really didn't know each other at all when we left but felt like best friends when we returned. We took the same classes, did the same service-learning activities (Service-learning was an amazing opportunity in and of itself!) and went on the same excursions together. We quickly bonded due to the little things like playing cards in a hotel room in Ioannina or taking the 45-minute boat ride to the beach after class. I not only bonded with the 9 other kids from my school but also so many other kids from schools all around the US and Canada. On one hand, this trip was a little taste of the relaxing laid-back culture of Greece, while at the same time it was a non-stop adventure that pushed us to be greater students, workers, and friends. If I could go back and do it again, but this time for a whole semester, I would.

Going into my sophomore year I had no intention of going abroad. As the semester progressed more and more of my peers were deciding that going abroad is a once and a life time opportunity and although they were going for a semester I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I did not necessarily want to miss a whole semester so I went searching; narrowing down the potential places I wanted to go. I finally made a decision that would change my life for ever: Going to Greece. Everything about this program was perfect, the staff, the classes (sea sailing being one), the program trips, and of course the people I met. I made the decision to go knowing absolutely no one and at first I was contemplating whether or not that was the right decision but I soon was reminded that it was perfect for me. Meeting people from around the country was an amazing experience and ACT did a great job connecting everyone and assimilating you into the Thessaloniki culture. If you have any doubt about going, don’t hesitate! Make the decision I made and have the best time of your life!

I had the most amazing experience studying abroad at ACT. I felt welcomed from the day I arrived to the day I left. I am glad that I chose ACT because it is a unique experience and different than most study abroad programs. Thessaloniki is a big enough city to always have something to do, but small enough to make it less touristy and allow students to immerse themselves into the culture. The more time I spent in Thessaloniki, the more relaxed and laid back I become. It was nice to take a break from the hustle-bustle of America. ACT provides an awesome opportunity for you to take classes with both fellow study abroad students and degree-seeking students whether they are locals from Greece or other neighboring countries. I found it super interesting to learn in a new environment and get perspectives from my peers who were from all across the world. You cannot get that same experience in the United States. I especially recommend the field trips/excursions ACT offers. These trips are much cheaper than if you tried to do them on your own! They are planned by locals/experts and you get to do them with your fellow classmates! My favorite was canyoning at Mt. Olympus. We did a 25 minute hike straight up the mountain in wet suits, then we got to abseil, swim, jump, slide through the water! It was one of the coolest experiences of my life! At first, I was super afraid to go across the country not knowing a single person, but I discovered it was the best possible thing I ever could have done! I made lifelong best friends (one even visited me this fall) and made countless memories that I will never forget.

I find myself often reminiscing on my trip to Greece and experience studying abroad at the American College of Thessaloniki; I miss it so much! Studying abroad in Greece this previous summer was the best experience I have ever had, and probably the best one I ever will have. The program itself was so well-run, and I felt safe and comfortable no matter where I was or what I was doing. The staff at ACT were all very reliable and kind and I never felt home-sick or afraid of being in a different country for such a long period of time. I loved the school, ACT so much and the program as a whole that I became a Student Ambassador so I can continue to stay connected to the college and program and share how awesome it was with the people at my home institution!

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When it came to choosing a place to study abroad, I knew from the beginning I wanted to visit a place full of history, great food and even better people and that I also needed an institution that could fulfill my business requirements; that's when I found The American College of Thessaloniki in Greece! The staff at ACT, in collaboration with the study abroad office at my home institution, made it easy to get information and do the things that stress out students the most when going abroad, such as getting a visa and signing up for courses that actually count! For example, when September came around, I wanted to get to Thessaloniki a few days early, before the official housing opened and even that was arranged for me since some great hotels in the area have a "friends and family of ACT" discount so I felt stress- free from the start. After arriving at the official study abroad housing, the RA's did a great job of making us feel welcomed and arranged small city tours with students after getting settled in so we became familiar with the area. This helps you get close with everyone from the beginning which is great because for example, I was the only one from my school in the states so I was pretty nervous about making friends in the beginning. The city tour also allows you to see that Thessaloniki has a bit of everything for everyone, there's all sorts of restaurants, vegetarian- friendly spots, museums, bars, live music, and if you're ever feeling homesick, there's a Starbucks and plenty of Italian food places! Orientation week following move-in had some of my most memorable times! We toured the school, did some team- building activities, got to meet our school mascot and learned about all the clubs and activities we could join in on. During the week, we also went on a larger city tour lead by a professor, followed by a group lunch with traditional greek foods and desserts that still make my mouth water to this day. additionally, we also got to see all the markets and local street vendors. That week also included the most amazing museum I have ever been to: the Museum of the Royal Tombs at Aegae, trust me even if you're not a museum person you'll be completely amazed! Transportation is another aspect made easy. ACT provided two shuttle buses at different times in the morning to take us to the school and at three different times in the afternoon/ evening to take us to back to housing. If the times weren't favorable for you, the public transportation is really simple and if you don't want to do that, it's also cheap to get a taxi and they're even cheaper if you split them with fellow students. When going to classes came around I was definitely scared because since all the study abroad students were coming from different schools, a lot of people were taking electives and I was not. After going to class the first few days, the worries went away. Professors made it really easy for me to interact and get to know the Greek students in class and it made it really interesting being the only one from the US. As the semester went on, I kept learning more and more about Greek culture and customs even though that wasn't the course's main objective. Outside of the class setting, another thing that ACT arranged for us were optional field trips which we paid for in the first few weeks of being there. Some of my favorites include, hiking to the top of Mount Olympus, the Meteora Monasteries, and the Athens trip. Being able to sign up for field trips to see Greece really allowed us to get the full experience and truly enjoy the country we were in. The Greece trips were amazing, but of course there was time to go on those AND travel to other countries on the weekends those weren't happening . The first month, I was able to travel to a few islands in Greece itself: Crete, Rhodes and Symi. All amazing experiences with beautiful beaches and scenery. Outside of Greece, I was able to visit Ireland, Germany and Croatia! Greece was amazing and my experiences and time in Thessaloniki are some I would not trade for anything and would I do it again in the near future! Thessaloniki does really become your home away from home and the friends you make become family.

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Studying abroad in Thessaloniki was easily the best decision have made in my 4 years at Rutgers. This program has allowed me to meet people around the world and helped me step out of my comfort zone. I would definitely recommend this program to any student interested in studying abroad.

Attending ACT was the best decision I had made during my study abroad experience in Thessaloniki. Here, I found friends that I will be in contact with for a lifetime. My Greek classmates were very accepting and friendly to study abroad students. I also had a great time taking classes here. My favorite class was Art History with Professor Daphne. Every time I attended her class, I could vividly see the passion and love she has for the arts. She led most of our museum trips for our study abroad group and it was the greatest time. She was extremely knowledgeable of not only the art but also the history of Thessaloniki. There were very many professors like her at ACT and I happened to get very close to a lot of mine. The staff at Thessaloniki was also outstanding. Choosing ACT as your school for study abroad will be a decision you will not regret.

This past summer I was given the incredible opportunity to study abroad at ACT and I am so grateful for the experience I had! I got to meet so many different people, both Greek and American, all of whom I learned so much from. I also had the best teacher EVER, a literal rockstar who took us on field trips and really helped us absorb the Greek culture. However my favorite memory is from the weekend that many of us hiked to the top of Mount Olympus. Such a life-changing experience!

My study abroad experience at ACT has provided me with priceless experiences that have helped me grow as an individual and as a global citizen. The courses offered and the immersion in rich Greek culture have opened my mind to pressing world issues and have helped me better understand the world and our role in it. I highly recommend ACT and Thessaloniki as your study abroad destination!

Studying abroad at ACT could not have been a more amazing experience for me. I met SO many people, and not just students in my program, but many local residents of Thessaloniki and a couple of other travelers! Spending six weeks of my summer across the world was an eye-opening experience in many ways. I learned about the history of the city and Greek culture and experienced some of it myself by trying traditional dishes. It was my first time traveling outside of the United States, as well as my first time traveling alone! So it really pushed me to go outside my comfort zone and be truly independent.

When I first decided to study abroad in Greece I assumed I would be going to school in Athens but my college only had a program in Thessaloniki. Never heard of the city before I was not sure what to expect. Attending ACT and living in Thessaloniki is the best thing that could have ever happened to me. ACT is a smaller college which makes is easier to assimilate and make friends with the other students and professors. Professors know your name and work with you if you need help. Thessaloniki is an amazing city if you want an authentic Greek cultural experience. Although it is the second largest city it is smaller which makes it easy to get around and befriend the locals! I also felt very safe walking around Thessaloniki by myself during the day or night. The airport is only a 20 minute ride from the city center for other travel. Also a GREAT place for foodies. Get your gyros, falafel, gelato, truffle, pastry, seafood and whatever you could image all in less than a 10 minute walk!! I could go on and on for days talking about ACT and Thessaloniki. The American College of Thessaloniki is the place to be.

I couldn't have been more impressed and thankful for my experience at American College of Thessaloniki in Greece. My experience was beyond what I could have imagined thanks to the fantastic ACT workers and everyone that made this study abroad possible. ACT made sure students had countless opportunities to immerse ourselves into Greek culture. Whether this was weekend trips to Athens or Mt. Olympus, dinners at local Greek restaurants, or simply giving us a tour of the city. I will always feel like I have a second home in Thessaloniki thanks to this study abroad program.

My experience with ACT was AMAZING! I really wanted to study abroad so I scrolled through all the programs that my home institution was advertising. I picked this one the second I saw it, without even considering another program and I’m so glad that I chose ACT. I learned so much not only in class, but also outside of class from the additional field trips that they offered every weekend (my favorites were hiking to the top Mount Olympus and visiting the Acropolis in Athens). There was always something to do. Studying here made learning so much fun! My professor was very passionate and knowledgable about what he was teaching. He always made sure we understood what he was teaching before moving on to another subject. My class was on the Apostle Paul so it was really neat when our professor would take us on field trips so we could learn about something where it took places and visit places where Apostle Paul actually was!  All of the ACT faculty and staff that I encountered were very kind and eager to help. It was easy to tell that they really wanted every study enrolled in the program to get the most out of their experience. This program has certainly made a lasting impression on my life. I made so many new friends and so many new memories. If you’re considering studying abroad, I would HIGHLY recommend choosing the program at ACT!

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I had such an incredible time studying at ACT! My program just ended a couple days ago and I’m already wishing I was back. The 5 weeks went by in the blink of an eye so it’s important to make the most of your time. There were so many great trips organized for us to participate in, my favorite being the hike up Mount Olympus. However my actual favorite part of the trip had been the time I spent in class with such an incredible professor and other study abroad students. ACT really had me immersed in the environment, and I can’t wait to make a trip back to Thessaloniki in the future!

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My experience at ACT was nothing short of amazing. A small campus and personalized classes with lots of support from their awesome staff made my adjustment to Greek living seamless. I would highly recommend the summer program, and my advice would be to participate in all of the extra excursions!! Such a great summer that I will never forget :)

My time abroad is titled "An end to an amazing chapter in my life" because similar to a book, the best chapter is usually the last one. In this so called book, also known as my experience, I was able to make life long friendships as well as learn a whole new culture. If it weren't for the Greek course offered by the American College of Thessaloniki (with an amazing professor named Popi), I would have not been able to manage around Greece. Learning the basics is a must when it comes to traveling or everyday things like getting coffee or a bus ticket. Overall, would do it all over again.

Overall, sea sailing was a great experience. Definitely not an easy class, but that should not scare you away from taking it! What I mean is this class actually enforces you to know and understand parts of a boat and how to operate one. Therefore, you must actually study the material and come prepared to learn something new in every class. It also involves being physically involved. For instance, when dealing with the sails.

I loved taking Sea Sailing while at ACT. Definitely rigorous at first and a lot of memorization. But, once you have the initial information down the rest of the class isn't bad. The class takes place in the evening right at sunset - you get to be on a sailboat in Greece at sunset twice a week. How can you pass that up?! The teacher, George, is great - very friendly and knowledgeable.