WorldStrides Reviews

I believe that the trip was very terribly advertised and did not provide what was promised. Numerous times, I asked if it would be a cultural experience, where we would meet students in school from foreign countries, as well as learn to speak Spanish. Yes, for those that know Spanish and have family in Spain, then they just paid for a trip to encourage their learning. However, students who have very basic knowledge of Spanish are NOT taken care of. I asked many times to be placed into a Spanish family that understood at least some English. When I arrived, my family spoke no English at all past "Hello" and learning Spanish became quite impossible. Emphasis was given to the Spanish speaking children and it discouraged other students from learning since they were beginners. I am completely discouraged from this and all other ISA programs. ISA programs are expensive and are not worth it. I am currently studying at a European University through a European program and not only is the price practically 3 times cheaper, it is much more accommodating.

Studying abroad in London was an incredible experience! ISA helped me get the most out of my time there. I met several students in my class that came to London on their own. These individuals found their own living quarters, signed up for classes on their own, and had to book places to visit without much help or guidance. Traveling through ISA allowed me to skip out on all that hassle and focus on what really mattered; having the best time I possibly could!
First of all, London was an amazing and beautifully diverse city. I met people from all over the world, which I did not expect. There were so many places to see and visit that unfortunately I did not get to see them all on my short trip. The ones I did see though were fascinating. I was also able to easily experience what British life is like as I traveled on the tube daily and often went out to traditional pubs. London does not have the best reputation for food but fortunately I did not experience that, as ISA placed me near a wonderful international food market which my friends and I would go to almost daily for dinner. Speaking of where I lived…
I was set up to live in a wonderful location through ISA. I lived about a 5-minute walk away from the River Thames and the London Eye. There was no long commute to class, which would have cut out on some major time spent on sightseeing. We were not stuck out in the middle of nowhere – we were in the heart of the city. I could not have asked for a better location, and most likely would not have found it without ISA.
The ISA staff really made the experience more worthwhile. Whenever I asked one of our staff members a question, they would go out of their way to give me the most thorough answer. They were all extremely friendly, and I felt very comfortable with them. I was in London during the Olympics and my friends and I were able to get tickets to see some of the games through a special website designed only for those living in Britain. The ISA staff introduced us to this website and made it possible to see the games.
ISA set up great excursions. It was so nice not having to worry about when to plan out all these trips and how much they would cost. That way, I was able to focus on planning extra trips and fitting in as much as I possibly could. My absolute favorite part of my trip to London was an excursion set up by ISA. We took a 2-hour train ride followed by a 1-hour bus ride out to a small town called Dorset. This location had the most beautiful beach and cliff I have ever seen. The location was so remote and the journey to get there so difficult that I definitely would not have found it on my own.
Studying abroad through ISA was an amazing experience, one of which I would definitely recommend to any friend. London was wonderful and I truly cannot wait to go back. ISA made my experience much easier as I did not have extra details to finalize – they took care of all those. It made my experience all the better!

I went to Madrid not knowing what to expect, where I could go, and who I would meet.

Even before the first day, ISA was able to set my worried mind at ease. We were led through the visa application process and travel planning step by step (this included an airport pick up by ISA-Madrid staff).

On that first day I met my host family, who I still Skype on the weekends, almost a year after my program started. I could not have asked for a more loving and fun family to live with. A single mom, with two kids, would work all day, then come home and cook for us. She treated us like her own and I would argue that we ultimately became family.

Not only that, but the excursions included in the ISA program were a great opportunity to see more of Spain and grow closer to the other kids in the program. Whether it was Toledo, Salamanca, or Granada: we found ourselves immersed in culture and history. I made friends that live all over the US, but I still talk to them and laugh at all of the pictures and memories of our incredible semester away.

Finally, the ISA-Madrid staff was so helpful. Their centrally located office was always open to us to study, hang out, and ask for just about anything. My friends would need to go to the doctor, get a new phone, or figure out where the best paella was and the staff was always there to help.

I had such an amazing experience on my study abroad and I can confidently say that ISA had a large part in molding that.

I can not explain how enormously India has influenced my life in a small 'review bubble'. ISA did a great job with my pre-departure orientations. They have AMAZING support in America and in India. I spent 4.5 months in beautiful India and I am in complete love with the country. I met the most amazing friends I have ever had in Hyderabad- we still talk daily, even a year later! India is a curious place... it is dirty, crowded, busy, loud, hot, etc. but at the same time, it is completely magical... I have never felt so at peace in my life. During the week, I would go to school, go into the city with friends, hang out, play with my adopted street dog, and do homework. During weekends, we would all travel together around the country. The relaxed class structure allowed us to do this easily. ISA also made their trips extremely easy and stress free, but it was still fun to explore on our own. Luckily, our on-site advisor would help us with anything we needed (like setting up train tickets, sharing advice as to where to go, etc.) I have never known more beautiful people then I did in India. I have never seen a more beautiful place then I did in India (Munnar, to be exact). There are numerous opportunities to volunteer too! NGO's are plentiful and easy to sign up for. I taught at a migrant school down the street from my hostel and, even now, I think of my students every day. It was such an amazing experience. I can't wait to go back!

Studying abroad in London was my first time traveling outside of the US, and I couldn't have had a more amazing experience. I lived in east London with 5 roommates--none of which I knew-- and they have remained some of my closest friends in the year since I was there. ISA coordinated everything, and the staff members were always nearby if you needed them. The included excursions enabled me not only enjoy London, but to also explore the rest of England including Bath, Stonehenge, and many more areas. The University of Westminster catered to study abroad students by offering courses such as Art and Society to help you become more acquainted with the history and culture or your host country, and all of my classes had a very diverse mix of people. My time in London was truly a life changing experience that I believe all should have!

I studied in Madrid, Spain this last summer and had an amazing stay abroad. I was so nervous going to Spain especially because it was my first time out of the country on my own and I feared the language barrier I may encounter. However, my time abroad turned into an unforgettable journey. I was able to indulge in the rich and beautiful Spanish lifestyle. I watched a real futbol game at the Real Madrid stadium and was even able to surf in the northern beaches of Spain! I made so many connections with students from all over the world and the United States. Studying abroad really opened my eyes both educationally and personally. I would have never dreamed of going to school in Spain, but classes were so interesting because of the different cultures imbedded in each one of the students. Every day was a different adventure and I am so glad I took the chance to expand my international experience.

During my stay in Madrid, I can honestly say I was never bored. There was always something for me to do if I had spare time after classes or on the weekends. There was always another area to explore. I still want to go back and get to know Madrid even better. There was always a new restaurant or cafe to try, but at the same time I found my favorite little spots. The big city feel that Madrid gave me makes me want to return one day to live and work there because I enjoyed the atmosphere so much. The location of my residence was probably another huge part of my happiness. I was literally two minutes walking from the main square in Madrid. I love being in the center of the action, so I couldn't have been happier with my location. I was two minutes away from the metro station. I was 100 yards from a grocery store and plenty of places to eat. I could go on and on for hours about Madrid. I left knowing that someday I'll be back.

..but really, what are you waiting for. If I had to re-do my study abroad experience, I would have gone earlier, and more than one semester. James Cook University in Townsville, was the perfect location for studying abroad. Townsville has something for every type of student. A quick bus ride to the center of town where there are great restaurants, clubs and shopping. The bus also brings you to the beach and the airport for weekend excursions.

Now about the STUDY, in 'study abroad'. The facilities were great and the course schedule and work was very easy to adjust to. I went abroad my junior year of college and had to take higher level courses to ensure I graduated on time. Though they were higher level courses, the effort put into the courses, was equal to if I was still in the U.S. (A question many people ask me as an alumna).

I loved my dorm (or college as the locals call it). I lived in George Roberts Hall, a motel style dorm. I had my own room, two suitemates, a shared bathroom and a common living space.

My semester in Brisbane, Australia, was the most unforgettable and exciting semester of my undergraduate career thus far. As a Zoology major, I chose to take classes unique to the Australian environment (like Coral Reefs) and had the amazing opportunity to conduct research with an Honors student based on gecko behavior. I crossed so many items off of my bucket list, from learning how to surf and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef to holding a koala and Zorb-ing down the hills of New Zealand’s North Island (basically, rolling down in a giant plastic ball!). Yet the most memorable aspect of my time abroad was undoubtedly the people I met—both from Australia and numerous other countries around the world, from Fiji and Singapore to Germany and Great Britain. Living at International House allowed me to step into and experience cultures that I am generally not exposed to at my home university; I was able to engage in many events that promoted this, including special ‘Bara Khana’ dinner nights and watching traditional dances being performed during talent shows. Without GlobaLinks, this life-changing experience would never have run so smoothly and effortlessly; even from the first leg of my journey, I had no worries about the logistical part of my experience. The incredibly long flights, orientations upon arrival, where to pick up my pre-ordered cell phone—all of this was worry-free, thanks to the dedication and guidance of the staff both on-site and back home.

My experience with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad was phenomenal. Every step of the way was extremely easy through them. I had a lot of doubts about going abroad as does anyone and they helped me through every step of the process. Whenever I had a question about anything there was always someone on the other end there to answer it for me. Their online checklist made going abroad an enjoyable experience because I did not have to stress about what had to get done it was right there in front of me. Also, the bridging culture program they have to help you get adjusted to the Australian culture was amazing. I met some really great friends there and learned the ins and outs of life as an Aussie!