I spent a summer in Lima, Perú, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. Lima is a huge city filled with endless activities, so you'll never be bored. There's something for everyone between the delicious food, rich history, amazing art, and beautiful beaches. There are also plenty of outdoor activities in the city itself or in nearby towns. And, just to reiterate, the food is a huge part of the experience. Peruvian cuisine is on another level, with Lima being home to FOUR of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, including Central, which holds the top spot. ISA helped make this an easy and enjoyable adventure by always being just a text message away to answer any questions and taking us on several wonderful cultural activities. I can't recommend the program in Lima enough, I loved it so much that I'm doing it again this semester!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Spending a semester abroad in Sevilla was one of the best experiences that I have ever had. All of the staff were very helpful and made a point to get to know all of us individually. The city is very safe and I made lots of Spanish friends that I still talk to regularly now that I'm back in the States. The classes were engaging and the professors were all very knowledgable. The city is very walkable and accessible which made getting around easy. Outside of the city centre there are a lot of small restaurants for a more local feel to the city and the food.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take full advantage of the public transportation and cheap travel prices in Spain.
During my Study abroad experience in Rome, Italy I had the opportunity to not only enjoy the scenery of the beautiful city that Rome is, but get to meet new people along the way, some are in the same boat as you, and others have more experience living abroad. Coming together and experiencing a new culture with new people from different backgrounds was a special time for me. The program made sure that we had the time to explore Italy and its beautiful places and famous landmarks safely and responsibly. Not only that but since the beginning of the program, they made sure that the process of applying, to at the end of the semester would go smoothly for students. I appreciate everything that this program has done for my own experience as a student because it helped me enjoy my time the way that I wanted to in Rome.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
One thing I would change for myself was that I would look more into flights to other countries which would cost me less before the program started. I love Italy, and one thing I love about it is that it is very close to other countries that I want to visit. But I didn't do my research beforehand on flight tickets or anything. So if I had to do it all over again, I would try to be more prepared in that information.
I had the absolute best time on my study abroad trip this past summer! The ISA representatives were so attentive and always made sure we were adapting well to the culture of Greece! The school was fantastic and the students and teachers were very friendly and accommodating! I made friends on this trip from schools all over the country and we continue to talk on a daily basis, and I was also exposed to culture that you simply cannot find anywhere else! Overall, this program is one of the most memorable experiences i have ever had and i would recommend it time and time again!!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Do as much as you possibly can! You are only there for a short amount of time so try and see all of the sights while you can!
Pros
Experienced new culture
Fantastic food
Made lifelong friends both in Greece and other people that studied abroad with me
Cons
The walk to school is very long but it’s beautiful
I loved going abroad to Barcelona so much! Upon arrival, ISA made sure we were set up with everything we could possibly need. They made sure we knew what to do in any situation we might find ourselves in and gave us resources I would not have otherwise known about. The ISA team was extremely helpful in communicating with the university I was enrolled in and making sure I had access to classes that UCLA would award me credit for. They were quick to respond to my emails and always available to answer any questions I had throughout my time. I would definitely recommend ISA to any student looking to go abroad and I would not change a thing about my experience!
The best 5 months of my life that I have ever experience. My whole study abroad experience has been great. I learned so much from my time abroad and it has really changed the way I perceive my life and my perspective of life. I met a lot new people from different culture and made a bunch of new friends. My program director, Gabriela Gamper, made it possible for me to learn and experience the Argentine culture to the fullest. She was really awesome. The whole experience was a lot to take in at first but it becomes a lot easier to handle later. I highly recommend that everyone should take the opportunity to go or study abroad.
I've studied abroad 4 different times, but Madrid with ISA was probably my most favorite experience. I got to practice my spanish in and out of class, experience the night life of Madrid, and connect with other abroad students and create some of my strongest friendships. My apartment stay allowed me to grow so close with the other girls I was living with and my next door neighbors. We had a built in family that laughed, cried, and traveled all around Europe together. I'd do it all over again if I could .
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Anyone wanting to do this program should save up money before coming!! I did that and it was the best decision ever. Take advantage of the time you have abroad! Try everything - food, dance classes, last minute flights. This program allows you to have the flexibility to travel and learn and that's a gift you can't let go to waste :)
Pros
No school on Fridays @ Universidad Nebrija
Intensive Spanish Course option to help with transitioning and learning the language
Awesome study abroad community
Cons
Class Attendance will count for or against your grade
Studying abroad in Málaga, Spain was an unforgettable experience filled with endless memories! I knew I always wanted to take advantage of a study abroad opportunity during my time in college but I found it difficult to find the right program for me. Once I was introduced to ISA and the programs they offered I was hooked! They offered an endless amount of support before, during, and after my time abroad. The program allowed me to immerse myself in the culture, people, and endless activities that the city, and country, had to offer. From walking the endless beaches, meeting students from various corners of Europe, and building lifelong memories and relationships with fellow students in my program, the experience was one to remember! Every day brought new discoveries and adventures, shaping an experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. Although I was only there for a month, Málaga truly opened my eyes to the opportunities that exist outside of the US and helped me in determining my future career path.
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
In the US, many Americans think of a tortilla as a thin flatbread made of either corn or flour; however, in Spain, that is not the case. While trying to find an affordable and easy place to get lunch after class our program director recommended we go to a lunch spot owned by a local couple. When we first went, I was surprised at how many options were similar to an American lunch spot but one thing stood out to me, the tortilla. A tortilla in Spain takes on an quiche-like shape and consistency. At first, I was scared to try it because it seemed very foreign to me, but once I took the first bite, it became one of my go-to meals.
I never thought I would have the opportunity to study abroad, but ISA made the experience accessible and were very supportive of my needs throughout the entire process. I knew I wanted to experience the "City of Lights" at least once, and visiting taught me so much about French culture and language. I was not only in awe of the Eiffel Tower, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much art and beauty there is throughout the city, even when you're not looking for it. There was never a dull moment. I really appreciate the ISA Paris on-site staff for helping me adjust to Parisian lifestyle, and giving me the opportunity to see Paris through the eyes of locals. It was an unforgettable experience, and I hope to visit again soon!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
To future travelers, I would suggest to try to make a list of the top three places you want to visit and try to spend the day there. The longer I stayed in an arrondissement in Paris, the more I was able to take everything in and explore places I might have missed otherwise. There's so much to see.
Studying abroad in Florence, Italy through ISA was the experience of a lifetime. The program was in the Fall of 2023, from the end of August until Mid-December. Although I wanted to stay forever, this timeline was a perfect amount of time away from my home university at UCLA. ISA set 4 of my friends and me up with a wonderful apartment, right on the edge of the city center and the residential area. They were extremely helpful in providing us with anything we needed, from kitchen supplies to a spare key when I was once locked out! Florentines were extremely welcoming and excited to share their culture with us, making this experience more immersive and culturally enriching. The classes offered were also so fascinating and fun! I can't recommend the program enough.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice would be to get as involved in the community as possible! Florence is a small but mighty city, with passionate residents. They are all super excited about sharing their beautiful culture, history and city with you, so you should definitely take advantage of that. I did a weekly pilates class in Italians, which was a fun way for me to do something I love in a Florentine way!
