WorldStrides Reviews

For me the best part about ISA abroad was the inclusive trips that allowed me to explore my host country without worry. However, the personal relationship with staff and inclusion programs that set up interactions with Peruvians, especially at the beginning of the program, were a close second. The university I studied at was incredibly helpful and provided exactly the academic rigor I wanted. Professors were willing to go above and beyond to help me as an exchange student.

Studying at Griffith University on the Gold Coast was the best decision I've ever made! The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) was amazing with orientation in Sydney and with the spring break trips, I went on the Thailand excursion and it was amazing! Griffith was a great school with a beautiful campus. I was able to join the women's soccer team and play with all Australian and European international students. This was such a great experience for me because I was able to make real friends outside the group of Americans I came with. The school provides great ways to truly integrate with Australian students through classes, trips, and clubs. Also the housing was incredible, we lived in a hotel that was a suite style set up just a street over from the beach! The view we had was beautiful and the beach was so nice. Also we lived in close walking distance to bus stops, shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs so it was an ideal location. If anyone is considering studying at Griffith I would tell them to go for it because it was the best time of my life!

Studying abroad was one of the best experiences of my life. I was able to live in a foreign city for five months and explore a totally new culture! Australians were welcoming and Sydney was beautiful with so much to offer. i was never bored and I was constantly traveling to new places. The Education Abroad Network does a fantastic job at getting you acquainted with your city before "setting you free." The Education Abroad Network staff is always available whenever you need help or advice. They host coffee meet-ups and dinners, which were an excellent and fun way to catch up with friends. By studying abroad through this program, I made lifelong friends and unforgettable memories. The Education Abroad Network truly made my study abroad experience perfect.

I am from out in the country in the USA so living in the city was quite different and it was hard to get used to the transportation, first and foremost. But after about 2 weeks of taking taxi´s and the busses, I figured my way around the city quite easily.

Being in classes that were completely in Spanish was definitely difficult. I actually didn't pass one of my classes because I was too proud to get a tutor even though I needed one. But this class was a literature class that was one of the tougher classes anyways.

In regards to support from the company, the on-site staff was amazing!! I would visit the staff's office literally everyday to do homework or ask for some help understanding something, or to get help with some directions with somewhere I wanted to go. They were extremely helpful!!

The social scene was great, too. Right away, ISA introduced the whole group to some local peruvians our age in order to help us get a little bit more integrated into the community. They knew people that worked at the big clubs of the city so we were always put on the lists of people to get in and didn't have to pay a cover....that was awesome!

The program definitely changed my life. Within a week and a half of starting the program, I met my wife. We spent a lot of time together during the program and were able to continue our relationship after I came back to the U.S.A. Now she is living here with me and we have a 1 year old daughter! :D

My experience with ISA was wonderful. The support staff they have in Lima are really caring, fun and extremely helpful to the students. All of our excursions were well planned and they did a great job giving us on-site support at our universities and with personal emergencies that arose during the program. My host family really helped me get acquainted with living in Lima and gave me a real home there. All the challenges that I had while being in Peru came from USIL (Universidad de San Ignacio de Loyola) which is no longer associated with ISA or just from the difficulties of living in a large city in South America. I would highly recommend this program to anybody looking to study in Peru.

Everything I did in Peru I would have never done on my own. I'm so glad I went with a program that took me places I never even knew existed and challenged me to embrace a whole new culture. The people in Peru are amazing, and I'm so glad I had the chance to live and experience it.

As a graduation requirement for my major I needed to study abroad in a Spanish-Speaking country for at least one semester. ISA, International Study Abroad was heavily recommended to me by several members of the faculty at my college. I chose to study in Lima, Peru, at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP). I chose to study for two separate semesters fall, and spring, although a year long program was offered, but I would have needed to wait until spring, as it is a spring-fall program. I could have directly enrolled in the University the second semester, and my found my own lodging, but I was so impressed with ISA I decided to stay within their program

I lived with a different family set up by ISA each semester. Both families were very friendly, and accommodating. ISA took great strides to organize orientation activities, and help the participants to learn about Lima, as well as the country. ISA offers several trips, both included with the program, and available for a reasonable fee. Included trips include Cuzco and Machu Pichu, as well as going to Iquitos.

Overall the majority of my time was spent in Lima, going to classes during the week. I made a variety of friends, went on some trips of my own, explored the city, and enjoyed Lima's nightlife as well as excellent culinary traditions. By my second semester I spent the vast majority of my time only with Peruvians, any I left being fluent in Spanish. ISA offers tutoring for your courses, and has an office at each of the Universities offered through their program. The main ISA office is always open to students who need some guidance or help.

I wish that I had spent more time with the tutors offered, as taking classes in Spanish was difficult for me, and ultimately I did fail several courses. While Lima is a cheap place to live, I should have saved up more spending money for the first semester, as my second semester I was better off and was able to more enjoy the city and explore the country. I would also caution perspective students who will study in a country such as Peru, where the USD is very powerful, to be cautious with their money. I and several other students spent far too much money at first, and everything seemed so cheap; ultimately this adds up.

Malaga is the perfect city to study abroad! The size is just about right; it's big enough for you to explore the different neighborhoods and keep discovering new things, yet it's not too big to be overwhelming. Malaga has an authentic Andalusian feel and the BEST weather. Although it has a well-connected airport and miles of Mediterranean beaches, it is not touristy so you will barely hear English - if at all!

The school is 3-minute walk from El Palo beach. The campus is exclusively for international students, but you are likely to have classes with fellow ISA students. The workload is doable. I barely had homework and found that my language class was not that challenging. The other class that I had was interesting, but I did not expect to write a long paper at the end so it made the end of my program a bit stressful.

The ISA staff in Malaga is so welcoming and helpful. They respect your decisions and understand that the students are adults, but they are always there if we would ever need help. If there are questions that they could not answer right away (very few existed), they will not stop until they find the answers! I owe much of my "independent" post-study abroad travel planning to the staff!

As for the housing, I am glad I chose to do a home stay. My host mom picked me up from the Malaga Maria Zombrano train station and made me feel at home since day 1. She and my host dad are very understanding, especially when it comes to my countless changes of plans. They also listen to my food preferences and I am very satisfied with the meals. Another plus is that my laundry was done more frequently than it was expected!

Compared to the other students, I lived the furthest from the city center, even though it was only three blocks from the main shopping street. Inevitably, I had to walk home alone after a night out, but I generally feel very safe. I've heard people say that the Spaniards stay late out at night, but I found that this was not always the case. Oftentimes, I would be the only one in the street at night. It is also said that cat-calling is an issue, especially in Andalusia, but I think it has been blown out of proportion. It does not happen as much as people seem to say. Yes, some men will utter "guapa" or "morena" as you walk by, but as long as you ignore them, they would not advance.

Overall, I would recommend ISA Malaga to a friend. Amazing city right on the beach, lovely weather, doable school work, vibrant nightlife, and great staff!

Over

Going through TEAN was such a rewarding experience all around. Traveling by myself to Sydney, Australia I never felt alone because I was with TEAN. I chose TEAN because they set up your flights, housing, roommates, pre semester trips and spring break. This program takes all the anxiety and stress out of the planning to go abroad and during your abroad experience. TEAN offers a five day orientation in Sydney before the semester starts. This gives students time to explore, learn, but most importantly adjust to a new environment. Overall the staff is extremely friendly and helpful throughout the whole process and will guide you throughout your whole semester!

ISA Sevilla was truly a liberating experience full of constant exposure to a new interpretation of Spanish culture. I felt safe and independent on my own, but having on-site staff guiding us and informing us while on excursions boosted my confidence. Being given a home-stay also made me feel at home, enjoy home-cooked meals, and help me adjust to the new area.