Program Reviews

There are not enough words to sum up my study abroad experience but I will try! It was the most life-changing, eye- opening, amazing experience of my life. To have the opportunity to live within a different culture for three and a half months was truly magnificent. I learned so much from all the people I met and the places I visited. Studying abroad has made me realize what exactly I want from life. Since returning from Florence, I have continued to travel and explore new places and upon graduating I plan to move back to Europe!

I had a really great semester studying abroad with SAI in Barcelona. I felt as though I could always contact all of SAI’s staff with any questions I had, and all of the excursions and events that were planned were well done. Barcelona in itself was an amazing city to study abroad in for the semester. There was always something new to see or do. Additionally, my classes at UAB were interesting and I enjoyed them. Overall, a great experience.

Love love love SAI in Paris. The program provided me with the most unbelievable semester in terms of experiences and personal growth! 10/10 would recommend! If you are in doubt on whether or not you should go abroad, just do it, especially with SAI in Paris. I personally went to the Paris School of Business, but the students in this program can be enrolled in art, fashion, or even general arts and sciences schools which enabled us all to have experiences outside of our comfort zone. This was possibly the most exciting and enriching time of my life.

absolutely loved studying abroad through SAI at UAB. I studied business and looked forward to class everyday. I took 2 very thorough and in-depth business classes as well as 3 cultural immersion classes featuring many field trips and guest speakers. SAI did an excellent job of keeping me informed on all events going on in Barcelona every week through a newsletter, answered any questions in a timely manner before I even got to Barcelona, and has provided an incredible amount of support constantly throughout the semester. I am proud to say that SAI was the best possible program. Many big programs are more expensive, do not offer as many excursions, and you build an actual relationship with the staff instead of being "just a number" with the big programs. I highly recommend studying at UAB with SAI!!!

I had an amazing experience with SAI. The program schedules very many trips and activities paid for with your tuition, and they are all so fun. Also, the SAI program leaders are SO awesome. Everyone is extremely helpful and nice. I had many friends in other programs around Barcelona, and I was by far the luckiest. SAI set me up with an awesome group of roommates in an awesome apartment. Study abroad with SAI Barcelona and you’ll have the best 4 months of your life.

My time in Barcelona would not have been half of the adventure it was without SAI. From the support back in the States to the two program supervisors abroad, every step of the way they ensured that this was the greatest time of my life. I got my credit card stolen the first day I was here and the Program supervisor here in Barcelona made it her goal to ensure that I received my new one from America and through customs as quickly as possible. The intimacy of a smaller group makes the experience so much more fun due to how quickly you make friends with people from all across the world. Included in SAI’s program is a weekend all expense paid trip to Sevilla, the most amazing and lit city in the south of Spain. Getting to take over a hotel for the weekend with so many new friends was an experience I’ll never forget. If you travel to Barcelona you have to do it through SAI. Not kidding.

Studying abroad through SAI was a wonderful experience from pre departure procedures to returning to the U.S and everything in between. There were always activities throughout the week in Florence that were free with SAI such as cooking classes, pizza making, and walking tours. I traveled to 12 countries during the semester and made great friends from all over the country. I gained so many life skills from my experience abroad.

Choosing to study abroad was the best decision I have ever made. It is an experience unlike any other and I would recommend it to anyone. It was amazing to fully immerse myself in a country that I had never been before. Rome was a beautiful city with so much history and culture to learn about. I was able to become so familiar with all the places around me and really started to feel like a local. It was also so much fun being able to travel on the weekends. I studied abroad for 5 weeks and then stayed an additional 3 weeks afterwards. During my program I never once felt like I was there for too long, if anything I was not there long enough! I had the time of my life studying abroad and cannot wait to go back!

I chose to go to Milan because I am an Apparel and Textiles major and I wanted to be surrounded by fashion. I was able to attend Milan Fashion Week official shows and after-parties which was the main highlight of my time abroad (besides traveling to 11 other countries). Not only were the exploring parts of my trip awesome, but meeting my roommates and living in an apartment building where other locals lived really made me feel at home in this new city. We were located in a really friendly neighborhood with local grocery stores close by and school only being a 5-minute walk away. The city center was about a 20-minute walk, but I love people watching, so that was fine with me. The metro and public transportation was easy to use, much easier than Chicago or New York, even. The on-site staff was unbelievably skilled, always being available to answer questions. We went on a number of excursions both in Milan and in Italy. Once of my favorite things to do in Milan was to take a book and go sit inside the walls of Sforza Castle and spend hours there.

My study abroad experience was very unique because I was able to learn more about myself, my family heritage, and different cultures. I am so glad I chose SAI Programs and studied abroad in Rome, Italy. If it wasn't for SAI Programs, I probably wouldn't have met the people who have become my life-long friends. SAI Programs were extremely helpful in my transition from the United States to Italy. I enjoyed orientation and the excursion trip that was included in our program. My favorite memory is my trip to the Amalfi Coast. Not only did I fall in love with the view, but I overcame a fear. I pushed myself to take the ski lift to the top of Anacapri. It was the most breathtaking view that I will never forget. I felt like I was on top of the world and could handle anything. My life has changed tremendously since coming back home. I am in love with traveling and learning more about different cultures. I recommend SAI Programs to every student who is considering studying abroad because it will be the best experience of your life.