Program Reviews

My semester in Prague was easily the best 4 months of my life. Words can't even explain the experiences I had while traveling the world. Yes I spent all my money and ate more food than I ever thought possible, but if I had the opportunity to go back right now, I would without hesitation. From skydiving in the Swiss Alps, to laying on the beach in the Amalfi coast, to hiking through the mountains in Slovenia I made so many memories and friendships that are sure to last me a lifetime. Prague was the perfect place to study abroad. With its cheap prices, beautiful architecture, amazing food, endless beer gardens, and hidden gems found throughout the city, it became a home to me. I will without a doubt be back someday, and I am so thankful that I had this opportunity of a lifetime.

The ISA service learning program in Heredia was disappointing in many ways. The communication isn't clear, I was told I was going to have a roommate, then I was placed alone with a bad host family who was hours late to pick me up and wasn't welcoming, and then once my parents called the company and complained, they switched me to another host family with a girl I had originally asked to be placed with (because she didn't have a roommate either)....
They make it seem like excursions are included, but they're not.
They oversell the volunteer placements, we don't get to do what they tell us we will (we spent a lot of time sitting around) and I also was made to feel very uncomfortable by one of the male workers in the hospital (obviously this isn't the program's fault). One of my friends was placed in a clinic in which she wasn't allowed to do anything. She was obviously upset about this and talked to her placement coordinator and they told her that they constantly tell ISA that the students won't be allowed to observe medical procedures yet ISA doesn't change their descriptions on their website...
The ISA staff (specifically the head of the program at the time) wasn't very helpful or concerned when real issues with placement arose. They're nice people but they're all young and unable to create any real change if there's a problem. They also don't respect you as much unless parents get involved because we're young students.

I enjoyed Costa Rica but the program sucked and I still don't know what half the money went towards.

Heading to Cape Town for a year in 2014 with ISA, was hands down the best decision I've ever made in my young life. ISA was amazing and Cape Town is the greatest city in the world. After classes I would head to the ISA office to whip out some homework and chat with the friendly, helpful ISA staff, who became like my family abroad. With their support I was able to become really involved in the University of Cape Town campus. I joined the basketball and soccer teams. Every weekend I had a game with the soccer team and got to travel to neighborhoods all over Cape Town with my teammates and friends (we even made it to the national tournament!). ISA set me up with everything I needed to have the confidence to go out and explore the city/country. I could ask them for help regarding anything like what bus should I take on my trip to Durban? Or what was life like immediately after the end of apartheid? There is so much to learn in South Africa and ISA helped me navigate their fascinating history.

Where to start... This trip was incredible. I love the outdoors and New Zealand has so much to offer. I traveled all over the country (literally from the the most southern point, to darn near close to the most northern). The entire country is gorgeous. Making trips are highly encouraged; go see the country for what it really is. Great areas to go are the Tongariro Crossing, Mount Cooke, and Fjordlands. ISA does an amazing job making the transition into a country easy as well as constantly being there for support, and even taking the group on excursions. Even if you dont decide to go to New Zealand, go somewhere. The opportunity is there, take it.

I wanted to study abroad in New Zealand because I wanted an adventure, and my experience went above and beyond my expectations. I always felt safe when I was in NZ, but I was also able to step out of my comfort zone and experience new things at the same time. Living in the Uni Flats gave me the chance to live with both kiwis and other international students. I was also able to learn about the Maori culture through my ISA program as well as through my courses at the university. My ISA program leaders, Emily and Peren, were wonderful, and they played a big part in supporting us and also planned some "sweet as" excursions. Studying abroad in New Zealand through ISA is definitely something that I would recommend!

It’s hard to capture into words what it feels like to be truly happy. For me, that feeling came the day I realized that Wellington, New Zealand had danced its way so gracefully into my heart.

Studying abroad through ISA provided me with the perfect amount of structure, while allowing me to be independent. I will forever promote ISA's Bridging Cultures Program, as this multi-day orientation is an experience like none other that taught me a great deal about New Zealand's culture and lifestyle.

ISA's site support staff were also a huge perk to going through ISA. To sum it up, I received a phone call on my first day of "spring break" in Australia from my site specialist, who was just checking in to make sure I landed safely. The program staff's dedicate to their students i remarkable.

Studying abroad in Dublin was the best decision of my life. Deciding to study in Dublin wasn't an extensive decision- it was just something I knew I wanted to do. I didn't have "Irish" family (something you immediately learn to not say once you land in Ireland) and I'd never been to the country before- I just knew I wanted to go to Dublin. It felt right.

I knew my decision was right when I stepped off the plane in Dublin airport. The city is amazing and has an energy that can't be duplicated. The people are lovely, the city is beautiful, and has this strong sense of identity like no where else I've ever seen.
My favorite part of Dublin is the plethora of things to do, no matter you interest. A city based in such rich history- literary, sport, and historical history- there is so much going on in a place that has perfectly balanced old and new. Go to a book or music shop. Go to a cafe. Hungry? Go to one of the food or book markets. Want to stay outside? Go to Pheonix Park, the largest park in Europe. Want to go inside? Hit up the museums. They're everywhere, unique and interesting, and they are FREE. Go grab a pint and people watch. Go to Penneys. Just do it, even though you'll spend all your money. I met some of my best friends here, and we had some amazing, crazy adventures (30 Euro flight to the French Riviera? Okay!) but some of my favorite memories are just walking down Dame or O'Connell Street, and looking at everything- the people, the buildings, the buses. It's a beautiful city with so much to do, and everything is so accessible that it's impossible to have regrets.
Dublin is my favorite city in the world. Within days, it felt like home- partially due to my willingness to let it, but mostly due to the friendliness, style, and diversity of the city. If I could do the whole semester over again, I would- not to make any changes, but so I could relive it again! I miss this place and the people I met their every day. Slainte!

This was an incredible experience. I was able to travel through Morocco every weekend thanks to the structure of the program and the helpful staff. The excursions really added to the program. I went to the Sahara desert thanks to the help of the ISA staff members in planning the trip. The courses were serious, the teachers were very helpful, and I was able to learn a lot during my time in the classroom. The airport lost my luggage and had to travel to the next city to retrieve it when it arrived. One staff member was very helpful and helped me travel to Fes to retrieve my luggage. It was a program that I would recommend to an adventurous student looking for a safe experience in an Arabic speaking country.

I could sit here and write to you all day about how beautiful Valparaíso and Viña del Mar are, how good the food is, how my Spanish competency skyrocketed from being in an area with an unorthodox dialect, how relevant and informative my classes were, how great the nightlife is, how many friends and connections (Chilean and otherwise) I made, how awesome my host family is and how I still keep in touch with them... there are so many things I could say, but we'd be here all day. I think the biggest factor is how I still miss it every day, 3.5 years after spending 5 months there. I think of how hard it was to leave, how I could've easily spent another semester or year there if it were at all feasible, how my host mom had to console me by reminding me that I wasn't losing anything by leaving, that I had gained a family. Although I got very close to my host family and they were the highlight of my experience, I think of all the confidence I gained, all the memories I made, how strange it was that I gained a second home. I really felt like home in Chile... so much so that when I was able to sneak back to Viña for a week a year after I left, I had the same feeling of warmth and comfort that I got when I traveled back to my small town in eastern Kentucky from my college town of Lexington. A lot of that is due to Chile itself, but ISA was instrumental in me being as impacted as I was by my experience abroad. From the choice in classes and excursions, helpfulness and know-how of a staff that was genuinely interested in each and every student, the ISA office that was right across the street from the Casa Central of PUCV, down to even just how the program was planned all gave me the freedom and agency to really see Chile for what it was, with nothing logistically or administratively for me to worry about. Chile is phenomenal, ISA is phenomenal, and I would pack my bags and head back right this second if I was given the chance. I wholeheartedly believe anyone and everyone can find something about Chile to fall in love with. Go.

My time in BsAs with ISA was the most exhilarating and liberating months of my college career. I got to be independent and adventurous while ISA took care of all the details.

As a student at UB, I got to meet several other international students who shared similar interests. Making friends with expats was easy, but making friends with locals was even more fun. Especially because the nightlife in Buenos Aires is AWESOME.

ISA's tours include many cultural excursions that are both culturally significant and interesting for young travelers. We got to stay at a resort at Iguazu Falls and spend a few days soaking up the absolute paradise of that area. This was a really cool chance to meet other friends in the program and boat under the falls at the meeting of three countries: Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

ALSO: Argentinian food is savory and delicious. You will not be disappointed here.

BE WARNED: After a trip to BsAs, you'll catch a mad case of the travel bug and you'll never be able to get rid of it! :) <3