Why Go With CEA? |
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The CEA Difference
At CEA, we believe in making study abroad accessible to ALL students. When you choose us, we are with you every step to make sure you have a great experience, from the moment you apply to your return home from your program. It's what we call the CEA Difference. There are four main aspects to the CEA Difference:
We understand the need to stay on track academically while abroad. We proactively work with colleges and universities across the United States and Canada to make it possible and easy for you to study abroad with CEA. From offering quality academics to assisting in transfer credits, we will be your guide.
Quality Academic Programs in a Variety of Course and Term Options
Our programs are developed with strong academics and are taught at some of the most prestigious universities and institutes around the world. To ensure academic quality, we partner with academic institutions that are recognized either in their host country or in the US. Working with strong international partners gives leverage when submitting your courses for pre-approval and can make the transfer credit process easier.
Smooth Credit Transfer Process
When you have chosen a program, we will help you facilitate course approval and transfer credit by providing your home institution with important information, such as sample transcripts, course descriptions, contact hours, recommended credits and course syllabi, as available. Having worked with over 1,000 colleges and universities across North America, we know what it takes to make the credit transfer process a smooth one.
University Relations Advocates
To ensure that we open the door for more students to study abroad have a University Relations team who establishes relationships with schools and university across the country. They will actively work with your school's faculty and advisors on your behalf to facilitate credit transfer and financial aid processing.
Study abroad is unique to any other academic experience because of the opportunities for cultural immersion. CEA recognizes the importance of combining academics with hands-on cultural experiences, as the interaction between the two helps to reinforce your learning.
Immersion and Social Activities
Each city has its own unique qualities. We offer a variety of local immersion activities to match your interests - cooking classes, language exchanges, volunteer opportunities and a wide variety of other activities are at your fingertips, all of which enable you to interact with locals and delve deeper into the culture. Our international staff is a great resource that can help find the right activities for you.
Cultural Excursions
One of the most unique and exciting aspects of studying abroad is the opportunity to travel. We realize you may not have the time or resources to plan your own travel excursions, which is why we include organized excursions as part of your program. More then a field trip, our excursions let you expand, explore, and experience the natural beauty and rich history of the surrounding region.
Integrate into the Community with CEA Housing
Your living arrangements abroad will provide one of the greatest opportunities for cultural immersion. Housing is an integral part of your study abroad experience and CEA provides a variety of different housing accommodations. Our housing is designed to enhance your experience, maximize your exposure to the local way of life, and help you integrate into your new community.
Your Personal Advisory Team
When you study with CEA, you will have a team of experienced advisors who will be your study abroad advocates. Your first advisor will help you choose a program and assist you with the application process. Your second advisor will step in once you've made a selection and help you prepare for your program by providing insight into your destination, academics, housing, and more. In addition, we also have a Student Finance Coordinator, as well as an Academic Relations Manager on staff to facilitate financing and credit transfer with your school. Our advisors are specialists in their fields and each have studied abroad themselves; they understand first-hand the unique requirements and needs of being an international student. Best of all, you can always pick up the phone and ask for your advisor by name.
Comprehensive Pre-departure Planning
We understand planning your study abroad program can be an exercise of time management, especially when you're juggling classes and studying for exams. We keep you on track with MyCEA Account®, a smart and dynamic online tool for pre-departure planning. It's personalized and specific to your program, so you'll know exactly what you need to do and when to prepare for departure. Deadline dates, important documents, passport and visa processing, helpful links and more are right at your fingertips that you can access anytime, anywhere.
Experienced Overseas Staff
Your support continues while you're abroad with a full staff of experienced professionals onsite to help you throughout your study abroad experience. The onsite staff will organize airport pick-up and transportation to your new home, serve as academic advisors, cross-cultural counselors and excursion coordinators. More importantly, they are there to ensure your well-being and make sure you have a safe and positive study abroad experience.
Your well-being is paramount to CEA. The staff at our headquarters is in constant contact with our onsite staff to ensure you are safe and well at all times. We are committed to your health and safety abroad.
Onsite Orientation
We will help you make a smooth transition from home to your life abroad. Upon arrival in your host city, you will receive an extensive orientation, including a tour of your new city and academic institution, as well as review local customs and laws. We will introduce you to onsite resources, from banking and local transportation to immersion activities, so you can get familiar with your new environment and manage your new independence with confidence.
Health and Safety Committee
CEA takes your health and safety very seriously and has formed a committee to ensure your well-being. We have an Emergency Response Plan to make sure our offices, both in the US and onsite have clear channels of communication with students, their families, universities and embassies in times of emergency. We monitor the political climate of all our locations and are in constant contact with our onsite staff to touch base on any local developments. We also provide a 24-hour emergency phone number in the US that gives students, parents and universities direct contact to a CEA staff member at all times.
Quality Medical Coverage
CEA has partnered with HTH Worldwide Insurance, a leader in travel insurance, to provide you quality medical insurance while you are abroad. Coverage includes most medical expenses, emergency evacuation and a full range of medical assistance available 24-hours a day. The comprehensive coverage for any illness or accident abroad does not carry a deductible and the benefits of HTH Worldwide begin even before you leave home with password secured access to your insurance records online. In addition, you can search online for medical providers in your host city, read city health profiles and download translations of key medical terms. CEA and HTH enable you to have peace of mind while abroad.
