Program Reviews

This summer, I had the privilege of studying abroad and participating in a service-learning program through International Studies Abroad by WorldStrides. As a first-generation student, studying abroad was never something I had seriously considered, nor did I see it as an option in my academic career. However, after stumbling across a flyer on my university campus, I knew I wanted to explore the opportunity.

I had the chance to study in San José, Costa Rica, from June to July. As a civil engineering and Spanish major, I wanted to enhance my professional skills and expand my network, which is why I chose Costa Rica. I enrolled in a Spanish course at Universidad Veritas, which was unlike any course I had taken back in the U.S. Instead of traditional exams, the course focused on research presentations, essays, and discussions. The knowledge we gained in class was reflected in our essays and presentations, which replaced the need for exams.

I would definitely encourage any prospective student who is uncertain about studying abroad to take the leap. The staff and students at Universidad Veritas were welcoming and supportive, creating a positive atmosphere throughout the campus. ISA offered amazing excursions that deepened my understanding of Costa Rica's culture and geographical landscape. The ISA guides and tour leaders were incredible, teaching us about the history, traditional dishes, plants, animals, and more. Every excursion was a fun learning experience and a chance to capture hundreds of beautiful photos.

My host family truly made me feel at home. They were the kindest, sweetest people I have ever met and ensured that my roommates and I felt comfortable and safe every single day. They were thoughtful about our meals, often asking for our breakfast and dinner preferences, and even bought us our favorite seasonal fruits. My host mom exceeded all my expectations, and she became an important part of my experience.

Not only did I meet amazing people, visit beautiful places, and try delicious food, but I also experienced significant personal growth. By the end of the trip, I realized I had become more independent and confident, even planning solo trips without feeling like an outsider. Self-discovery was an unexpected but valuable aspect of my study abroad experience.

If you're considering studying abroad but are unsure, this is your sign to go for it. The program coordinators in Costa Rica were some of the sweetest and most supportive people I have ever encountered.

Studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the most rewarding experience I've ever had. As a biology major on a pre-med track, I chose this program because it offered the unique opportunity to gain clinical hours while also learning medical Spanish terminology. This experience has been incredibly beneficial for my future career. The doctors and professors were exceptionally welcoming and supportive, making the program even more amazing. I would recommend this program to students that are thinking of going on the pre-med track, or even nursing majors as it would benefit you for your future and would also be good academic wise.

In the Spring of 2024 I spent my time in Dunedin, New Zealand and attended Otago University. It was such a great experience and I am very blessed to have been given the opportunity. When I was out there I grew heavily in my faith and met up with the most wonderful church, Arise. There, I grew as part of a community with them and even more importantly, as an individual. It was so amazing to be able to see all nature in one day, from the mountains, to the hills, to the glaciers and beaches, the Lord of the Rings country and many more. Otago University was based on 80% international students and so, while in Uniflats, (the apartment/flat complex there), I dormed with those in Denmark, Canada, and New Zealand, as well as blessed to meet those from Italy, Norway, France, Germany, and more. There is no other experience like it and everyone's is different, so go and write your own tale.

It was a great study abroad experience for anyone whose interested in going to the UK to pursue their education. Nice weather, good Turkish, chicken shops and convenient stores to buy essentials. Exploring the multiple sites that the UK has to offer and meet a lot of great people and made some connections. Using public transportations like the underground tube, double decker busses, riding Lime bikes around the city and walking around the area. Overall, I really enjoy spending time in the country and hope to explore outside of London, besides Brighton and Windsor Castle.

I could not be more thankful for my 4 weeks spent in Malaga Spain. Malaga is a very calm and beach city, my student residencia was located directly in the city center around many shops and restaurants. As a Black girl from Maryland I was weary of study abroad, as i’ve never been a minority in my community—Malaga was immensely welcoming and fun. I settled on Malaga because I wanted to be near the beach, and I am very happy I did. The center of the University where I took my classes was right on the beach, everyday I took the bus to class, went to the beach afterschool with my friends, then went a a restaurant for dinner and then the club at night. The ISA program took us to Sevilla, Cordoba, and Grenada. My friends and I also bought a $60 round trip ticket to Madrid for the weekend. Chose Malaga if you want to have a very relaxed yet impactful experience, you will be able to travel around Spain regardless but throughout all the cities I visited Malaga was like a story book town, the people were friendly, the weather was amazing, and the food was delicious. (Not the case for Madrid.) I took an international relations course during the Spanish elections and learned things that had never even crossed my mind. Malaga is also the home to Picasso and his museum which was a nice gem. Despite the fact I went on the journey alone, I left with life long friends because of the many adventures we went on during our time together. Overall I had an amazing experience, my professor was one of the best professors I’d had, she took us on a field trip around the Andalusia region. Malaga is a beautiful city, on the Mediterranean Sea, the food was excellent and I was able to experience it to the fullest without feeling overwhelmed and homesick…I highly recommend this place for anyone who many be a little overstimulated at times, this environment was very easy, incredibly fun, and welcoming.

Valencia, Spain was the perfect study abroad location for me because it was inexpensive, had easy public transportation, and so many fun things to do! I was originally hesitant to study abroad because I was worried about spending too much money but, Valencia had so many cheap restaurants, places to visit, and transportation options compared to other countries. ISA was helpful in helping me to reduce my expenses by placing me in a host family. My family provided me with three meals a day and laundry once a week. My host family not only helped to save me money, but immersed me in Spanish culture through their cooking, language, and everyday life. I am so thankful for ISA for giving me this eye-opening experience!

When I was deciding on where to study abroad, I knew I wanted a town where I would deeply get to know the area, people, and culture, and Salamanca was the perfect place for that! I really enjoyed that It was the perfect size where when I would be walking back from class I might pass by classmates and friends who were sitting at street cafes, or when going out for a night, I would run into those same classmates or even professors and ISA staff. During my time there, I felt like I really understood the city and found my favorite cafes and spots to hang out, but there was always more to explore. Salamanca is close to a lot of really gorgeous nature and countryside, so my friends and I would always rent bikes in the city and take them to neighboring cities and spend days just exploring!
Through ISA I was also able to go on some amazing trips, both to cities nearby Salamanca, and those in different countries! I was able to really get a good sense of the country around me through these trips and some of the personal ones I took, and would learn a lot about the culture and history in each city we went to. Because my Spanish language skills were not the best when I showed up, I was able to take some of my classes in English which helped me feel more comfortable with the transition to understanding all the other parts of my study abroad experience that were completely in Spanish. I stayed in a resedencia (dorm-style apartment living) and really enjoyed the freedom it gave me and variety of people I was able to meet.
I am super glad I studied abroad in Salamanca, and have made memories and friends I will keep forever!

Studying in Seville was the best experience I have ever had. I was able to fully immerse myself in another culture and make lasting memories and connections with new friends and other students I have worked and studied with. I was able to have a productive learning environment while also being able to have fun and visit other cities. I had a little bit of an issue with the language barrier, but my host family was very understanding and ensured that we were able to communicate properly. Since I was in the study center I felt life I had a great support system.

I cannot recommend studying abroad in Athens, Greece more. This truly was a life changing experience. I grew into myself, learn how to adapt, and fully embraced the Greek culture. My advisors, Eugenia and Tess, curated an exciting learning environment through their warm smiles and kind hearts. Additionally, I genuinely feel like I met my lifelong friends on this trip. Because of them and my experience in Athens, I have become a stronger, more confident person and I could not be more grateful for this opportunity. Take the leap!

ISA study abroad is something you will not regret. With a promising new perspective of life itself, and a new appreciation of the world I can say it was the best experience so far. I spent my spring semester in Barcelona, living in a student residence. I recommend student residence living because you will be able to meet locals, practice the language, and feel less alone because of the easily accessible common spaces that is always filled with residents. Study abroad will also introduce you to a new education format than your home university.
The trips and gatherings offered through ISA was beyond helpful, and it was where I made some life long friends with great memories.