WorldStrides Reviews

ISA was one of the best things I have ever done. The program directors were amazing and always willing to help with anything, whether it was with my Italian, hailing a taxi, or just being there to talk. I would 100% recomend this program!

The fisherman at the market glanced at me oddly when I asked if I could have the intestines of the mackerels he was gutting. “Es para mi clase de zoologia,” I explained. As I hung on for dear life trying to keep the bag of entrails from whacking passengers, the rollercoaster ride up the Valparaiso hills to the biology campus was an extra challenge that day. How worth it though! After three hours in the lab finding various parasites and observing them under the microscope followed by a two hour theoretical lecture, I had learned so much - not only about biology and Spanish, but also about the culture.

Choosing to study abroad in Costa Rica offers such a unique experience. While in Europe you have the chance to visit a multitude of countries, in Costa Rica you spend the time seeing the individual country itself. I learned to appreciate everything this place has to offer. I learned so much about the culture, the geography, the history, and the Spanish language. Every weekend was a new adventure. Not to mention, Costa Rica is "the happiest country in the world" and it showed through interactions with the locals. ISA's program made it super affordable and it was worth every penny.

Trying to decide where to study abroad was one of the toughest decisions I've faced. There are so many amazing locations to explore and experiences to have. With that said, I can't imagine choosing a better program or location than Prague, Czech Republic. There is something about this city, these people, and this way of life that is magical. Living in Prague is truly like living in a fairy tale.

ISA makes this dream a reality. The on-site staff are the nicest and most welcoming people I could imagine. They truly do bring you into their life and culture. The excursions they take you on give you a glimpse into life in the Czech Republic and also give you the opportunity to explore nearby cities such as Berlin and Vienna. They are always ready to help in any way possible!

Going to school at the University of Economics in Prague was an amazing experience. The classes were sometimes challenging, but what do you expect when you are attending a first-class business school? It was a unique experience to be surrounded by both local and international students in a great facility.

Living in Prague was an easy transition from life in the United States. The language barrier was a fun challenge and wasn't as difficult as I first imagined it would be. The food was great and I miss eating meals like "smazeny syr" (fried cheese) and "Svicova na smetane" (meat with sweet creamy sauce). The housing options in Prague were great as well. My apartment was well furnished, modern, and in a great location! Transportation in the city is easy to navigate and you can get anywhere in no time.

Another great thing about Prague is that you are located in the heart of Europe. This means you can get to many other great cities in no time. I traveled to 15 countries during my four months in Prague. Every time I returned from my travels, it was always great to be back "home". That was what surprised me most, Prague became my home.

Overall, ISA in Prague is a great experience and it changed my life. I would do anything to go back!

One of my greatest memories of my time abroad was the first time I watched the Eiffel Tower at night. It's truly spectacular and something I think everyone needs to experience. My roommate and I along with a couple friends packed up a blanket, some cheese and crackers and headed on over. When we got there we bought a few bottles of wine and set up camp. There were tons of other locals and tourist around with music going and lots of chattering. It was a super fun scene where we met a lot of other amazing people. When it started sparkling it literally took my breath away. People started cheering and taking photos. It was a moment of awe that I was truly blessed to experience.

Studying abroad in Italy certainly gave me the travel bug. After taking an International Business course IN ITALY(!!) I decided I must work on the international scene. Every day in Rome, I wanted to walk alone to get everywhere, so I wouldn't be distracted by someone I knew (I know it sounds bad, but really it was just because Rome and the people were so perfect that they deserved the whole of my attention. The excursions were amazing, the people I met were amazing, and every moment in Rome was amazing. The support staff was essentially your family while you are there - all of them are amazing, and I wish I could stay in touch with them. ISA was great because you really had to do nothing besides (obviously) have a passport and get the medical checkup. At almost every school, studying abroad costs the same as taking a regular semester. If you don't study abroad, your life won't be as wonderful as it can be. Don't let this chance to open your eyes to the wonders of life slip by. Apply now! Personally, I would suggest taking one serious class (a.k.a. one major-focused, or even international business because AUR has the BEST professor for that class) and one fun/cultural one (i.e. the food tasting one, the history class, etc). Heads-up, the food tasting class was apparently impossible to get an A.

Salamanca is a small, unique, historic, lively, young city, perfect for students looking for a richly cultured experience abroad. Salamanca is so gorgeous and historic, yet it has such a large student population that it is incredibly young and vibrant, especially at night! The food, atmosphere, nightlife, and even daytime activities kept me busy and entertained all day everyday. I made some very dear friends in my program, and made friends with locals! The people of Salamanca-especially students--are just as eager to meet new people and make friends as you are. Unlike the larger cities of Spain, Salamanca is very small and walkable and CHEAP!!! This made coming back from traveling to bustling, more expensive cities so comforting because life in Salamanca is more relaxed. I can count on one hand how many times I used a taxi and/or public transportation there. My professors were all wonderful. They were passionate about the subjects they taught and engaged in our learning process. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this city and this program. I miss it everyday and will definitely return to the Golden City.

I went abroad with a University of Kentucky marketing professor and 25 other students to Floripa during the World Cup last summer arranged by ISA! The focus was on World Cup marketing and brand awareness. We had class a few times a week, took site visits to companies such as Mormaii and Alltech, and also got to visit the nearby city Curitiba for the Brazil vs Cameroon game. This was one of the most fun and interactive programs I've seen at UK and I was so happy when I found out I was accepted!

The ISA staff was with us every step of the way, whether it came to finding us last minute Fanfest tickets or showing us local spots or even just being there to translate for us, they always went above and beyond to make our trip as great as possible! The World Cup hosts viewing parties for the games for those who cannot attend and we waited in line all morning to get wristbands. They sold out right before we reached the end and Rodrigo, the ISA director for Floripa spent an hour calling different people to find us wristbands and by some miracle, was able to get them for us! I really don't know what we would've done without Rodrigo. Getting to watch the Brazil game with thousands of Brazilians was the coolest experience, you can feel how Football runs through their veins!

As far as the actual country of Brazil, I've never visited such a diverse and beautiful country. You could go from city to mountains to ocean all within the same day if you wanted to. One day we visited Costa de Lagoa which was a fishermans island that you could only reach by boat. Some of the best seafood and views I've experienced in life. And the food! I have yet to find another country that has such a wide array of DELICIOUS food. I love food, I love the beach, and I love exploring. Brazil, I will find my way back to you soon!

Obrigada, ISA for arranging such a fun and unique trip that I will not soon forget!

During my time in Spain I was able to travel all around Europe and see many different countries and cultures which was an incredible experience! During this time I was able to visit friends that I have previously know. But doing this I was able to get an first hand experience of the country and was able to see different places that normally wouldn't be seen.

This was my first time studying abroad. I was beyond nervous, but this was the best experience of my life. ISA had so many opportunities and activities that kept us busy but we still had the opportunity to hangout and explore with our friends. The staff was beyond exceptional, and supported me with all my fears and complications. My first problem was missing luggage and the staff called the airport and had my luggage sent to my hotel room. I had the best time. I have no complaints at all. There were many opportunities after ISA.