Program Reviews

I studied abroad in Lille, France for one month. It was not without difficulties, but it was the best month of my life! I have dreamed of going to France since I was a little girl, and this exceeded my expectations. ISA was a program that helped me achieve this dream and guided me every step of the way. In Lille and the neighboring cities, I was able to see so much history and art, not only by myself, but also in one of my courses called World Class Museums. I had a French course which challenged me, but the teacher was very kind and understanding, and made the class fun to attend!

I had an incredible four months in Sydney on the TEAN program attending the University of New South Whales. From traveling around Australia and to many "nearby" countries, making life-long close friends, making many memories, and experiencing moments that cannot be replicated anywhere else, these factors will stay close to my heart forever. This program staff not only creates a great orientation in the Great Barrier Reef and Cairns, Australia where you get to know Australian history, and culture, along with their incredible wildlife. This program feels like a dream from start to finish. I regularly studied and read on the beach (or other pretty campus locations), ate great cheap but quality local food, and spent time getting to love Sydney closely for all it has to offer.

Studying abroad was an exhilarating and eye-opening experience. It brought on many trials, but I am proud of overcoming my hesitations and facing them head-on. I benefitted from international travel by learning to become more independent and self-reliant. I’ve commuted to college every year, so it was my first time living away from home. It challenged me to be more decisive and outgoing. Because of this, I made great relationships and became more self-assured. Even navigating public transportation helped me to be more vigilant and mindful.

Although I saw significant self-improvement, other aspects caused some difficulties. Before going to London, I had frequent contact with ISA to ensure I would have consistent therapy and someone to administer my allergy shots. I was confident and felt at ease knowing there would be support for my mental health and physical health. However, there were complications with my therapy and shots, which hindered me from receiving treatment until the end of the semester. Ultimately, I advise incoming study abroad students to ensure specific measures are in place before traveling to their designated country. Hence, they are guaranteed support for their mental and physical health.

Despite these setbacks, I am thankful for my experience studying abroad and the chance to live in London. The city is full of activities and opportunities, so I encourage students to fully immerse themselves in the culture and meet people from different backgrounds. It broadens your perspective and truly changes your life!

Words don't do it justice. Life-changing. Truly. I feel like I am an entirely different person from who I was before studying abroad. It was perfect down to every last detail. To be honest I didn't even do any extensive research on Granada or the program prior to going, I just was sure that I wanted to study abroad somewhere. In fact, not a single other person from my university was going to Granada, so I knew zero people going into the program. Naturally, I tend to go quiet in social situations, so I knew this new environment could be a challenge. Instead of falling into my old ways, I made a daily effort to push myself to meet new people and be more gregarious. This was the root of my growth, and it was massively facilitated by the staff of ISA Granada. Not only were my hosts passionate and welcoming, but the ISA staff organized dozens of events to help involve us students. The three coordinators, Angel, Marisa, and Lorena, made it abundantly clear to us that not only were they there for our every need, but they really cared about us individually. They were curious to hear how we were enjoying our experience and keen to suggest ideas for us based on our interests. My school held a pre-study abroad conference in the winter before I left, and when one of the coordinators asked me where I was going and who I was studying abroad through, the response was incredible. I told her ISA Granada, and her face lit up with excitement for me. She was elated to tell me how amazing ISA was and how much I had to look forward to. She did not exaggerate in the slightest. I hope that this review can serve to others as she did to me, encouraging you to study abroad with ISA, and be excited to do so. You will be so happy you did.

New Zealand honestly exceeded my expectations. The country in itself is BEAUTIFUL. Auckland is obviously more of a city, but it's on the water and has lots of parks so you still feel close to nature! Getting to other parts of the country is really simple, with plenty of cheap flights and busses.
I really enjoyed the housing accommodation, living apartment style with two other flatmates. The University of Auckland campus is nice as well, very blended into the city but still with a campus feel.
Auckland has a lot of good food with a wide variety. I really enjoyed how easily we could walk downtown and find new cafes and restaurants!

A phenomenal program and place to go if you want to improve your social confidence, be less of a picky eater, try new styles and clothes, explore nightlife, and learn meaningful life lessons.

So much of making the most of your time lies in preparation. Pack properly. Don't bring a lot, you'll want to buy a lot there. Don't bring overly colorful clothes (You'll stand out a lot!). Account for mid/post-semester travel when booking flights. Flights to Japan, Taiwan, and more are very cheap compared to from the states.
Be involved in KUBA! Go to the cheering orientations, the dinners, and more. They're more expensive than a meal on your own, but they are amazing opportunities to make friends with both Koreans and exchange students from around the world. I regret not going to my group's MT (bonding event) despite its steep price.

I strongly suggest to use TEAN when going abroad! I went to Sydney, Australia Spring of 2024 with 3 friends and the support of the TEAN staff made all of us feel so safe in such a far away place. Our pre-trip with TEAN to Cairns was absolutely amazing and they planned amazing activities for all of us!! When the Westfield stabbing happened all of the members of the TEAN staff reached out to the students to make sure we were comfortable and okay. I was also able to meet so many more friends by doing TEAN.

My experience in Melbourne this past semester was the absolute BEST! I was able to study at the University of Melbourne's Victorian College of The Arts in their Music Theatre course in which I made the most life-changing connections and had the most fun while exploring the incredible city of Melbourne. I would recommend Melbourne to anyone studying in Australia as there is a perfect mix of city in with the surrounding nature. Melbourne is often rated as the most livable city in the world and it really lived up to it!

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.