WorldStrides Reviews

I chose to study abroad in Granada because I wanted to improve my Spanish, and I had learned that Granada has a unique culture and a rich history. I am glad I chose to study through ISA. They set me up with a wonderful homestay, just a short walk away from everywhere I wanted to go. My host mom made the most delicious meals for us.

All of my classes were taught in Spanish, and through then I learned a lot about Spanish history and culture. The only downside to my classes is that most of my classmates were Americans. I did join a theater club, and made friends from all over the world that way.

My favorite part of the experience was traveling a lot. ISA set up several excursions to cities throughout Spain, and we also had time to travel on our own.

I went for a summer session and I stayed at an apartment with 4 other girls. We lived right by the city center, and conveniently only 5 or 10 minutes walking from my university. ISA provided us with excursions every weekend, which were always a lot of fun. In fact, I consider them to be my favorite part of the trip. The program directors were more than helpful with everything that we needed, being on call at all hours of the day. Not only do you get to visit new sites and make new friends when studying abroad, but you also learn a lot about yourself and how independent you can be. I would recommend this trip to anyone. The #1 thing people tell me when I mention that I've studied abroad is that it was the one thing that they regret not doing during their college experience.

ISA was incredible. Both their staff and their prearranged excursions made my experience abroad truly unforgettable. Classes were based on placement tests which made them both challenging and rewarding. The professors really encouraged you to speak the language at all times which really made the experience all the more authentic on the streets of Paris. The classes were manageable and left plenty of time for exploring the city and traveling. The ISA staff were diverse and full of knowledge. They were easy to talk to and made the transition that much easier. The weekend trips around France were full of culture and awesome food. An even mix of history and downtime to wander and relax always made me look forward to the next trip!

Out of all the life decisions I've made thus far, studying abroad in Paris was the best. Being in Paris made me feel like a whole new person. I got to learn about myself, meet new people, and live in a city which I've always dreamt of. To say my experiences was amazing would be an understatement. To top things off the ISA staff in Paris were very friendly, young and a lot of fun. They were very helpful and gave us really great suggestions on where to go and what to eat. They became my second family. I am very grateful for this experience and would strongly recommend everyone to study abroad.

My experience with ISA International Studies Abroad in Cusco, Peru was with the Language, Literature, and Culture program. I went in the Spring of 2014, about one year ago and since the moment I returned I haven't been able to shake that travel itch. My experience with ISA was nothing short of spectacular. The customer service was great and was there if I needed help at any time whether it was before, during, or after my study abroad experience. They not only made me feel ready to study abroad but they made me feel home once I arrived in my host country when they picked me up from the airport and showed me around town before taking me to my homestay. The program was so full of activities that there was never a dull moment! Its the most you can get for your money and so much more than that! It was an experience of a life time and when asked what the hardest part was I always say: It was coming back.

I have never been able to sit still. I have always jumped from one place to the next looking for my next big adventure. Turns out Brussels, was my next adventure. You can go anywhere and discover yourself. However, the culture of Brussels, its central location, and its people made it the best place to be. The culture is so laid back and accepting, everyone is relaxed and happy. The people are friendly and helpful and love to meet outsiders. I was told it was hard to find a true Belgian in Brussels, because it was the home of every nationality under the sun, however I ran into quite a few.
I stayed in Brussels for my first almost 2 months of the program. I wanted to get to know the city I was living in. I would go and purposely get lost for the day, venture out to find the best frites, try one of the 2,400 different types of beers at Delirium, explore the numerous markets or sit in a park with frites and a biere. There was always so much to do. One of my favorite places to go and show people visiting me was Parking 58 (which might be a mall or residential building) but you could see for miles, all of Brussels laid out at your feet. The had awesome parties up there too! I also took the time to venture out to the Belgian coast and spend a day laying on the beach with friends finding the tiniest sand dollars ever. We went to a Belgian Red Devils Football Game, and the Christmas markets were so amazing!!
Belgium has so much to offer!
The people in my group were great too! We always had a great time.
Traveling was so easy too! 45 euros round-trip you could go to Budapest, Greece or Barcelona.
I took a really good Intercultural Communications class to at Vesalius College, with Professor Walravens. It was at 8am but well worth waking up for. It was my favorite class to take abroad.
I would recommend Brussels to everyone, even just to visit. You can do all the tourist attractions in a day, but you discover so much more in a semester, wandering around.
I want to move back there one day

Its been a little over 4 months since I returned from Newcastle and there hasn't been a day where I haven't thought about my experience. Through this experience I made so many lifelong friends and had my eyes opened to how vast the world truly is. I lived about 2 blocks away from the beach and a 15 minute walk from the town center and train station (on which you can pay $5 and get to Sydney in 2 hours). I lived in an 11 person share house with not only Australians, but people from all over Europe. And with the 4 other houses that had the same amount of people next door, it was like our own little international community. I learned so many things about so many different countries and cultures. I also learned that I love to travel as we camped up and down the east coast of Australia as well as drove an RV around the south island of New Zealand. I also got to fulfill my lifelong goal of surfing every day and becoming a good surfer. I just wanted to write this review to say that if you are thinking about going to Newcastle, GO! People will tell you that its scary to travel away from home for such a long time and that might be true, but after leaving Newcastle I was wishing that I'd chosen to stay a year. ISA is a great program that helped me every step of the way and gave me opportunities to meet so many fun people. At the beginning of the program they'll have you meet up in Cairns and you'll get an amazing opportunity to socialize and make friends with people who are also going to your university. I know its a big decision to commit to a program like this one, but I promise you it will teach you so many new things about yourself and completely change your perspective on the world.

I loved my time in Chile. I loved that my classes assigned homework that forced me to get to know the community by speaking with natives and exploring the area. I feel much more proficient in Spanish after my time abroad.
My host family was incredible. They were very intentional about making me comfortable and talking to me each day. Every day when I left for school, my host mom would tell me she loved me. They even had a dog - truly my host home felt like my home in America.
I enjoyed the opportunities to travel and get to know the country. I think it is important to explore because you never know when you will be able to return.

My experience with ISA in Spain was life changing. I was nervous at first, leaving the country with no family and no friends, but my expectations were exceeded. I chose to live in an apartment and the set up was amazing. Everything that we needed was provided and if there was anything else that we wanted, the ISA staff figured out a way to make us happy. The classes provided were both fun and educational, and I gained real knowledge about Spain's history and advanced my use of Spanish language. My favorite part of this program was the provided excursions to different cities in Spain and Morocco. The transportation and organization was all planned for us and our only job was to experience new culture and have fun. The on-site staff was like my family away from home. They were willing to do whatever it took to make us feel comfortable, safe, and happy. (Even if it meant coming to your hotel room every ten minutes to check on you and bring you gatorade when you are sick :)) Overall, the only complaint I have is that I couldn't stay forever.

My time in Sevilla, Spain with ISA was incredible. There were always weekly activities and excursions for us to do, so you can never bored! There are a variety of classes you can take too! Since I was so busy, I barely had time to miss home. My program was so welcoming and helpful, transitioning to Spain was so easy. I lived with a host family, and my program did an excellent job finding us a great Host Mom. My roommate was gluten free, and my host Mom always cooked her separate gluten free dishes. Seville is a great city for anyone who is looking for an authentic Spanish experience. I highly recommend this program, especially in the Spring because of all the fun festivals and holidays there are!