Program Reviews

The program at Accademia Italiana, Florence was wonderful. I was a junior in college when I decided to study abroad so I didn't have enough classes available to take a full semester, I did however get to take this shorter two month program. It is shorter than the full semester programs but the staff made sure to pack in so many wonderful experiences. Traveling as a group, and visiting local restaurants and sights, the staff made sure we were safe and having a great time. Since it was a summer program we were allotted a great amount of free time to travel around europe, the staff was always willing to help us arrange trips and give us tips and resources. As an art student with a minor in art history my favorite part was my art history class. Although our class was solely focused on Michelangelo our teacher took the opportunity to take us to a ton of museums and show us all of the important pieces central to florence and italy as a whole. This was a life changing experience I loved every second of it!

This program left me with a summer I'll never forget. This was my first real internship and the Arcadia staff worked to make sure the job would be beneficial to me and something that would help me in the future. I was able to explore London a lot during my art class (we visited a lot of museums and different historical sites) and I learned a lot in the process. The program allows you time to travel outside of London, as well, which was something I really enjoyed. I got to meet people from all over the US and was also able to interact with the locals. Overall, I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is considering studying abroad!

My study abroad experience was everything I had hoped it would be. The only problem was a minor miscommunication with the on site staff which ended in a missed meeting with the Arcadia staff. But the UL staff was astounding! They were so caring and helpful, it was like having family in Ireland.

This was easily the best 5 weeks of my life. It is a backpacking trip spending two weeks traveling through New Zealand and 3 weeks Australia with about 5 camping expeditions and the rest stays in hostels. Lots of travel. The leader of the program, Stewart Dickinson's main goal is to teach you about a different society, become unamericanized, learn how other countries interact with their environments and to ultimately make you fall in love with the environment again. You also grow incredibly close with a group of 20 or so students as you spend almost every second of every day together they go from complete strangers to best friends in a matter of days. You will see and experience some of the most amazing things in the world. The only downside is because we travel so much you don't get the experience of actually living in a different place in the world and never really find that other "sense of place".

Obviously, studying at Oxford was academically rigorous. This isn't going to be your typical study abroad experience! While many of my peers refunded from their study abroad experiences with stories of their ABUNDANT free time, I came back with a bag filled with essays and a mind filled with knowledge. Through Arcadia, I experienced an authentic Oxford education-- I lived on campus with other students, studies in the Radcliffe Camera, and drank at the local historic pubs that all became familiar. Oxford, itself, is absolutely breathtaking and walking to and from lectures was like walking through history. You will be held to the same standards as the matriculated students, but if you have a sense of discipline, you'll be able to work during the days and have your evenings and weekends free to socialize and travel. The program provided a wonderful orientation in London. Though I wish we had had more contact throughout my stay, they were very responsive and supportive whenever I reached out to them. If you're thinking of traveling abroad and you want to challenge and surprise yourself, there is no better place than the "city of dreaming spires." Good luck!

The University of Westminster through Arcadia was a great experience. Day to day experiences included walking around the city, shopping, exploring, going out at night. Weekends usually consisted of traveling to other countries throughout Europe.

One of the major highlights of my experience and something I still cherish nearly a year removed from the program are the personal connections I made. I was extremely fortunate to get placed with such amazing Australian roommates and those are friendships I have maintained.

The program at the Umbra Institute is great for adventures students because it give you the tools you need to be independent in Italy. Arriving in a country with no contacts, not speaking the language, and not being familiar with the customs is unnerving, even for someone who is excited to be abroad. The Umbra Institute struck the perfect balance of providing a comprehensive support system when students needed it, but allowing students to make decisions about their abroad experience for themselves. It's a program that allows you to really feel that you're living on your own in another country, and creates a sense of community and family around the school. The educational experiences that the Umbra Institute gives you outside of the classroom are also great for becoming familiar with Italian culture and learning in nontraditional ways. The program stresses being involved with the community and locals, as well as fellow American students, which makes for an amazing experience abroad.

My trip to New Zealand was the most entertaining and eye-opening experience I've ever had in my entire life. I have no complaints about it as the people, food, sights, locations, and trips were just too perfect. All I've thought about since coming back to the US is how I'm going to be able to get back to the land of the Kiwis. The Arcadia staff made the entire process absolutely seamless as well from start to finish. Also Jane Gunn Lewis is the best.

I lived on campus, in Te Kotahinga. The housing was close to campus, safe, and the people I lived with soon became my best friends. Wellington is a city unlike any other, that quickly becomes home. Its location makes it a great place to travel around the north island or take the ferry to the south island. The school is filled with friendly teachers, with class sizes ranging from small (20ish) to very large (500ish). One class I took, Earth Sciences, taught me all about the land of New Zealand and what makes it unique. Through this class I traveled around the greater Wellington area and was taught, hands on, how to identify various geological phenomenon.