Spain: Alicante - Spanish Language, Linguistics, European, and Gender Studies

If I could give USAC Alicante a score of 1,000 on the scale of 1-10, I would. Aside from Alicante's beauty in itself the USAC program made my stay nothing short of amazing.... It was hands down the best year of my life and it wouldn't be that way without the help of the USAC staff; from the housing they provided, to the organized field trips (which were awesome) to the all-around constant support and just being my parents-away-from-parents they truly made Alicante feel like a second home to me. I HIGHLY recommend this program to anyone interested!!!! Thank you USAC Alicante for the best year of my life!

Studying abroad with USAC changed my perspective on life and my future goals. I met so many amazing new friends, learned the Spanish language, and explored within Spain and throughout Europe. I truly learned more about who I wanted to be and got out of my comfort zone. The staff and professors are amazing people who love what they do and make the experience unforgettable. I would highly recommend USAC and Alicante!

I can't recommend this program enough. The city is beautiful and has a great beach and a lot of fun things to do. The program directors truly care about their students and not only set up fun excursions to different cities but also help you make friends with Spaniards (through an intercambio program), set up paid positions tutoring English at local schools and with families, and are quick to respond if you need any help. My housing accommodations were perfect, I could not have asked for a better location or nicer apartment. Teaching English at two local schools was such a cool experience and I would highly recommend that. The nightlife in Alicante is great, almost every club is free to get into (something I did not find in other Spanish cities) and people party all night. I took a sailing class and it was a blast, one of the best things I did while abroad. Other classes were very easy. There is an international airport in Alicante with relatively cheap flights to other cities in Europe, along with a bus and train station. I found it very easy to travel but also nice to stay and enjoy Alicante. The program is small and you will get to know almost everyone. I can't say enough good things about USAC or Alicante, I would HIGHLY recommend this program.

I had the time of my life studying abroad in Alicante, Spain through USAC. The city was the perfect size for me. There was plenty to do there without traveling, but it was also very well-connected and easy to get to other places. The beach is beautiful, the neighborhoods are safe and the people are friendly. Universidad de Alicante was a 25 minute tram ride away, and I really liked all of my professors. It's easy to make Spanish friends if you sign up for the Intercambio program, which gets you in touch with Spanish students who want to improve their English. It's a great way to meet locals, improve your Spanish and help someone with their English all at the same time. The USAC staff was incredibly helpful. They sorted everything out when I lost the keys to my apartment at 5 am on a Sunday and even helped me get tickets to a Real Madrid game. I can't recommend this program enough.

One of my favorite things about my time in Alicante was that the USAC staff provides you with so many opportunities and fun adventures like tutoring kids in English or the hiking, running, or film clubs. They also take the time to find ways to show you areas around Alicante itself, and they make a day trip out of it filled with hiking at a beautiful spot. Then they surprised us with a huge picnic at the top, and took us to the beach afterward for the rest of the day. It was especially awesome because you KNEW that the staff cares about their students and really wanted us to get the best out of our experience in Spain.

This program was the best!!! The excursions the program planned were fantastic, the people were fantastic and extremely helpful, and the area was beautiful! I am so happy to have chosen to go on a study abroad with this program, I cannot say enough good things about this program!! The only thing is that I wish I could have spent more than just a summer session with this program.

Before studying abroad, I had never left the United States. Going to Europe absolutely changed my life. I made many new friends, went on adventures every single day, and was faced with small challenges in my everyday life. I was immersed in an entirely new culture and I experienced things that some people will never experience in a lifetime. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is considering studying abroad.

At first, I had issues with the customer service in Spain - it is downright awful. The people in Spain tend to be more straightforward and cold, but then you realize you don't have to do things like leave a tip ever and it is more apparent why. They are very proud people which for me was an issue being the descendant of indigenous people who were oppressed and killed by the Spanish. You will see no recognition of that genocide caused by Spain but that is more pertinent to Latin American people for those who care about those matters. They WILL think your spanish is funny if you are a native speaker from another country, but for the most part I saw much more respect for other races than I do in the US. They are not as modern in Spain like in the US but very sustainable nonetheless. Their transportation system is incredible. There is a tram that goes everywhere and a bus. You can also walk almost everywhere- it is amazing. The city is one of the safest cities I have EVER been in. My roommates and I go out to parties, come back home late, and never felt in danger. It is a very laid-back, liberal city, and despite some rude people- the lifestyle they have makes you never want to leave! I traveled a good amount on weekends to other countries and truly grew attached to Alicante. I honestly feel like it is my second home. I would always miss it, even on weekends. I love how close the beach is, the clubs overlook the water, there are always great deals so it is also very cheap!!! I was very undecided between studying in Madrid, San Sebastian, or Alicante and I am so glad I chose Alicante. If you are into very big cities, then Alicante is not for you. It does not have a big city feel in my opinion, but it has everything you need. Big shopping malls, nice clubs (although not crazy ones like Barcelona obviously), a really clean beach, a beautiful view of a castle, great restaurants, and an amazing lifestyle. I learned to go party every single night and still went to school the next day. People don't drink the way Americans do, drinking is purely social. I thought it would be crazy and at times it was, but for the most part I think Spanish people just know that going out and being outside is crucial for happiness and being social! There is never an excess of drinking or being crazy. I really love it. There is no better place to be as a young person than Alicante! Also, the advisers at USAC will go OUT of their way to help you. They are truly amazing. Luis especially. The classes offered at USAC were challenging but fun, and you will learn much more than Spanish. The professors were so well rounded and always talked about current events, and so much more than the topics in class which were equally educational. Europeans are just so much more well rounded than Americans. They were also very supportive of our weekend travels and always had good advice. I will always carry this time period as the best time of my life. I hope to return very soon!