ISA by WorldStrides

Program Reviews

Default avatar
Libby
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing summer in Granada, Spain

I studied abroad in Granada through ISA during July of 2024. The program covered language and culture classes, all taught in Spanish, and I was able to finish my Spanish minor with the credits earned. I picked Granada over Barcelona because I wanted a more localized experience in which I could be fully immersed in the culture, and that's exactly what I got and more. I stayed with a host family in their apartment, a 20 minute walk from my classes. Every morning I would take a peaceful walk to class with other students through the beautiful, old, safe streets of the city, watching the world wake up. My host family did not speak much English so I was able to practice speaking Spanish every day, and they were patient and kind while helping me learn. ISA always had organized activities like a guided tour of the Alhambra, the ancient Islamic palace and gardens, tours of the city, wine tasting, a Flamenco show, beach trips, and mountain hikes. Our ISA chaperones, Melissa, Lorena, and Angel were kind, supportive, and always in touch. I got sick at one point and they helped me get to and from the hospital, offering support and communication to make the process as stress-free as they could. Granada is a beautiful city filled with life, stories, good food, and good people. I loved my experience and can't wait to visit again someday.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Look into the holidays and festivals in your city or in the surrounding area, and try to attend them. Ask your host family or group mentors about them for details. Festivals in Spain are beautiful to witness and partake in, and if you can even plan dates to incorporate them into a trip, it's 100% worth it. I want to the summer solstice festival, El Noche de San Juan, and it was the highlight of the trip.
Default avatar
Abigail
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing Experience

Studying in Seville, Spain with ISA was the best decision I could have possibly made. I completed my study abroad at the study center in Seville and had small classes that made the studying part fun. My professors were amazing. Seville was a great location to travel from, and I traveled every weekend. It was also an extremely safe city, I felt right at home. My host family was perfect, and I would not have changed a thing. My favorite part of the program was our trip to Morocco. We camped in the desert and explored the city. It is something I will remember forever.

Default avatar
Nicole
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredible Semester in Granada!

I had the best time with ISA in Granada! The ISA Staff is amazing and they are so supportive and also plan such great activities to help students get to know the city and make the most of their time. Granada is the perfect size because it is a city, so there are plenty of things to do, but small enough where it can really feel like home. Great to practice Spanish as it is not an international city like Madrid, so I really feel like I developed my Spanish skills. The University of Granada is very well-known and there are tons of students (especially erasmus), so there are tons of people to meet, activities to do, and opportunities to progress your Spanish. If you can, I recommend to live with a host family, this made me experience even better. The city itself if so beautiful, tons of of opportunities for hiking/nature, and so many hidden gems to explore (ask the ISA staff for recommendations). Cannot recommend this program and city enough!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Definitely stay with a host family if you can! My host family was incredible and so caring. They really helped me with my Spanish and my host mom was an amazing cook.
Take advantage of all the ISA activities planned, as well as get involved with the Juventud, Church groups, sports teams, etc to meet locals, have more friends, and improve your Spanish more
Pros
  • City is the perfect size. Sooo beautiful and walkable. Good public transportation.
  • Free tapas--get free appetizer with every drink
  • Great to improve your language and learn about the history of the city/Spain
Cons
  • Granada airport is small. Usually needed to take a 2 hour bus ride to Malaga for flights
Default avatar
Reilly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Eternal City

I absolutely loved my time abroad in Rome, Italy with ISA. I went in Spring 2024 and was pleased by the weather, cuisine, and attractions Rome had to offer. Rome is a city like no other with a vast range of activities to do and neighborhoods to explore. I never found myself bored and was able to travel to 12 countries throughout my semester abroad. I found traveling out of Rome to be affordable and relatively easy which I loved. I attended The American University of Rome, which was incredible and enhanced my film studies scholars. Both the professors and staff were very accommodating and offered resources whenever I needed support. ISA was extremely helpful in my immersion to living abroad and I formed close relationships with the staff that helped eliminate feelings of homesickness. I would highly recommend studying abroad in Rome with ISA!!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I would advice future travelers to get as involved as possible in their program and school abroad. It is truly a time to embrace yourself and try new things. I became more extroverted, free-spirited and open to new adventures after my time in Rome.
Pros
  • Rome has incredible culture, history, and people. The city is just as romantic and enchanting as the language, and locals encourage you to learn Italian.
  • The ISA program's staff is responsive and proactive in any situation involving their students.
  • ISA's excursions are both fun and relaxing as they are completely pre-planned. It is a great time to bond with the other students in your program. I still talk to all my friends from abroad every day!
Cons
  • Rome is a big city which can feel overwhelming to someone who is not a fan of crowds or noise.
Default avatar
Kate
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Semester Ever!

Picture this: sipping espresso at a quaint café, discussing global marketing with classmates from 80+ countries, the Eiffel Tower in view. This was my incredible semester at the American Business School of Paris with ISA!
ISA's program exceeded all expectations. Their on-site staff provided excellent support, from orientation to ongoing advice. I was placed in a homestay in a beautiful Parisian neighborhood, enhancing my cultural immersion. The academic experience was rewarding, with English-taught classes offering unique perspectives on business.
ISA's cultural excursions were a highlight, from Louvre tours to weekend trips across France. These pre-arranged events made exploring accessible and fostered connections with other ISA students.
Choosing ISA was one of my best decisions. They transformed a potentially overwhelming experience into an unforgettable adventure. For anyone considering studying abroad in Paris, I wholeheartedly recommend ISA. They ensure a safe, educational, and life-changing experience that goes beyond just academics. Thanks to ISA, I've gained knowledge, experiences, and memories that will last a lifetime!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Try to fully immerse yourself in the Parisian culture! Dress like the Parisians, learn to blend in, and try to really appreciate the cultural differences. By letting myself adapt to the way the Parisians acted, I was able to get so much out of my experience abroad and learned just how much I love Paris!
Pros
  • 24/7 support
  • Culture
Default avatar
Ella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Semester in Florence

Studying abroad in Florence with ISA was the best decision of my life. Being able to live in a new country and learn about a completely different culture and way of life is a once in a lifetime opportunity. There is no better way to learn than being able to learn through experiences. During the semester I was abroad, I was able to travel all throughout Italy as well as to many other countries all over Europe. Because of this program, I was able to meet some of my best friends and make many amazing memories. Through my time there, Florence truly became a second home, and I can't wait until I am able to be there again!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I were to do it again, I would have stayed in Florence more weekends. I went on a trip almost every weekend, which meant that I didn't really spend any long periods of time in my home city. I also wish I had done more day trips or quick overnight trips to smaller places around Italy. Studying abroad is your opportunity to get to know a country on a new level, so I wish I had taken advantage of that. I don't regret anywhere I went, but I wish I had spent a little more time in Florence as there are many things that I never got to do.
Pros
  • make long-lasting friendships
  • travel the world
  • learn a new language
Default avatar
Hannah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Lived in Rome for 2 months

I went and studied at the American University of Rome over the summer and enjoyed everything about it. I was the only student from my university going and was very nervous but everyone in my program welcomed me with open arms and made me feel loved. The hardest part of the trip wasn't the Italian or the culture (they mostly speak English and their culture is really exciting) but I found that the one thing that made me homesick was a hotdog.I somehow got sick of eating pasta and pizza. I'll tell you though, once I got my hotdog when I landed in America, I just wanted to go right back to Italy.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I know I wasn't the only person in my program who had a bunch of trouble with getting an international phone plan for the time we were there and ultimately had to get a plan in Italy so that would be my biggest piece of advice: pay a little extra so you can follow the trains and map out where you're going and in case any emergencies happen, you have a backup plan. It will ultimately reduce your stress tremendously and you can enjoy your trip more.
Pros
  • Lots to do in rome
  • plenty of resources to travel around
  • planned out adventures for the entire program
Cons
  • turns out our ac was broken for a month and we just didn't know how to read celsius
Default avatar
Anna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

What an AMAZING experience & program!

I spent five months abroad in Granada, Spain, during the Spring semester of 2024. I lived with a host mother, and two other roommates from my university. There are so many positive things I can say about this program and my time. To start, ISA is such a wonderful organization that I highly recommend traveling through. They were so helpful with everything from getting my Visa, to the on site staff in Granada, and my return to home. They have everything organized in easy to locate places, and communication was always clear. I chose to study in Spain for the language. I am a Spanish minor, and have always loved Spanish and had a goal of becoming fluent. All of my classes in Spain were in Spanish (however, I had some friends whose classes were in English, it just depends on your language level :) and my host Mom didn't speak any English. Both of these components aided in mastering my fluency in Spanish, which I will be forever grateful for. My trip included excursions, which were amazing. My favorite excursion was my trip to Morocco. The Sahara Desert and cities of Fez and Meknes created so many memories for me that I will cherish forever. There are so many amazing aspects that ISA and studying abroad has to offer, and I would HIGHLY recommend you check them out!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Don't be afraid to embrace change! I developed so much personally during my time in Spain, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Change can be scary, but adapting to a new lifestyle and routine was such a good thing for me. It helped me understand that change can be good, and it aided in me gaining a new perspective on many aspects of life.
Pros
  • Language/fluency mastering
  • Ability to travel anywhere
  • Meeting people that will become your lifelong friends
Cons
  • My university evaluated my credits abroad for GPA, rather than just completion requirements. This made it a little bit hard to enjoy myself at times because I was so worried about getting good grades, rather than just passing the class.
  • It was a very long program, which I personally loved, however, I feel the program could have maybe been cut short by a few weeks.
Default avatar
Alexa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

6 weeks in Barcelona!

At first I was so scared to study abroad because I was alone but I never think for a second that I regret my experience. I overcame the challenge of having to be independent in a country where I do not speak the language. I felt so much peace and happiness during my stay and wish everyday I were back there. I saw myself grow as a person and become more confident everyday. The locals would encourage us to dance with them and everyone is truly happy there. If you are thinking about doing it, DO IT!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to future travelers is to be active and be yourself. Being actively involved in your cities activities and holidays really made it feel like I was part of the culture there and never an outcast. You have to be yourself to really let yourself grow and evolve instead of putting up a front.
Pros
  • Traveled the world
  • Cheaper than my universities tuition
  • Made ever lasting friendships
Cons
  • protesting for tourists to leave
  • Can be dangerous if not aware
  • Picky eater
Default avatar
Melany
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Study Abroad Experience in Salamanca!

During my time in Salamanca I had the best time. I have always been a city girl but knowing that I would walk everywhere, I was searching for a city where everything I needed was at walking distance. Salamanca was the perfect middle ground for that. I got to experience the city life without needing to travel miles across town for the best restaurants and cafes. I lived in a "residencia" with other students from other programs who were also studying abroad or were students that were studying their full college career in Salamanca. Salamanca was a city I feel in love with because of the history, the culture and the people. I enjoyed exploring new corners of the city center, expanding and challenging my Spanish speaking skills, shopping and building new friendships!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
My most nerve-racking moment had to be when I started getting really homesick. I have not been farther than 1 hour from home ever, so being in a completely different time zone where I was thousands of miles away was really difficult. I overcame this by accepting the fact that studying abroad is an opportunity of a lifetime that I should embrace and enjoy. I also reminded myself bittersweetly that me living in Spain for the semester was temporary.