USAC Reviews

Living in Costa Rica has been the perfect opportunity to learn Spanish and immerse myself in Latin American culture. The people here are so kind and patient I have felt very comfortable practicing and learning. It has been incredible to see firsthand what I have learned in Latin American cultures classes back at my home university, and a bonus is the amazingly diverse nature and wildlife that surround you wherever you go! I would definitely recommend this program if you are trying ot learn Spanish but also want a rich cultural experience!

If you are looking to grow your French language skills, meeting international and French students, and live in a lovely French town outside of the Pyrenees, then Pau is the place for you! Intensive language courses in the Institut d’Études Françaises pour les Étrangers mix you into other international students where your only shared language is French. I grew so much because of this and gained a lot of confidence, both as a person and a French speaker. On top of that, you’re a quick train ride from the beach in Biarritz or exploring small mountains time like Bedous. The program directors are incredibly helpful and love to give recommendation for travel, restaurants, and cultural festivals/events happening. However, if you are looking to country hop, it is a little more complicated due to class schedules and not having a large airport nearby.

I participated in session 2 of USAC’s summer program last year and had the best time. I would highly recommend San Sebastián to anyone looking to go abroad. Not only is it on the beach, it has the feel of a smaller place with the resources of a big city. I personally took the positive psychology class during my time there and did not particularly enjoy my professor but I would recommend every other aspect of this program. I made life long friends, got to see a new side of Spain, and was able to travel to new places on the weekends.

I enjoyed my study abroad program! I felt my time there allowed me to integrate into the culture to the point that I truly saw the local culture rather than what people see as a tourist. It showed me that I can adapt quickly to assimilate the customs of the community while also still retaining my independence and sense of self.

Coming back to the U.S., I came back with a better understanding of my personal identity and how different practices around the world are similar and different to where I live. This program helped me see ways I can incorporate different cultural perspectives in my career advancement and knowledge. I highly recommend this program to people that want to challenge themselves!

The dorm rooms were perfect, clean and spacious. It was a nice walk to campus everyday, and I learned a lot from my professor. It was also right on the beach, less than a 5 minute walk! The students and administrators of our group were great people as well. They had group meals and traveling, which helped make it feel like family. They also encouraged us to grow in every aspect. We traveled to amazing places on the weekends, which was super simple to do, truly an incredible experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

I spent 10 weeks in Chengdu and I wouldn't change it at all. I was able to improve my level of speaking proficiency a lot. The classes were the perfect amount of difficulty and I still had time to travel to Chongqing, Zhangjiajie, Beijing, and Xi'an on the weekends. My first session had 5 people and we didn't hang out much, but my second session did everything together and it was great. We all travelled to Chongqing and Xi'an together. My recommendation would be to take advantage of your time and be as outgoing as you can because your program will go quickly.

I absolutely loved my time abroad. I would do it over and over again if I could. Our program leaders were amazing and always had a local excursion for us to do. The city was amazing, the classes were good, the professors were great, and again(!) the program leaders were so so amazing. The longer weekend trips were definitely worth it and the spring break was the perfect amount of time. The only downside is that we don't have a ton of immersion or interactions with other students. The school isn't physically part of another university so we don't have the opportunity to interact with non-USAC students automatically. There are opportunities to connect with the community and other students if you seek them out yourself, but it's not built into the program. Otherwise, I have zero complaints! I love the housing (it's in great parts of the city and super accessible and good), everyone is very helpful and welcoming, and it's a great experience.

Prague is such a wonderful and safe place to go abroad. The city has so much charm and character while also feeling modern. The social scenes and night life is super fun if you're into that. Tons of stuff to do on a day-to-day basis. One thing that surprised me about Prague was how much nature is integrated into the city; the parks are amazing! Going through USAC made the entire process feel super stress free and I felt supported through the entire process. USAC is a much cheaper compared to other programs for the same quality! Overall, I definitely recommend considering Prague for study abroad.

I had a wonderful experience in Chengdu! This trip allowed me to grow in many aspects such as independence and improving my Mandarin Chinese. Because the program was a small cohort of 8-9 people, the staff and professors were able to make genuine connections with everyone. I also am fortunately still in contact with my classmates from the trip which. While in China, I had the opportunity to go on many trips both facilitated by staff and just with my classmates. The cost of living there both short term and long term is also feasible to live off of. I had many meals close to campus (Sichuan Normal University had great options right outside campus). The public transportation was also wonderful and got me to mostly everywhere needed. A few personal downsides to the trip was just its length and the accessibility. I personally wish I could have gone on a longer trip (at least an additional month added) because there were always events going on in the trip. If I wasn't in class in the mornings, I would be exploring or going on a faculty led trip. We only had 3 weekends, so outside of class we would go out and travelling. Although it was an amazing experience, there is definitely so much you can do in Chengdu and China itself. Another con would have to be the accessibility. The city itself is very progressive, however, something to keep in mind is that accommodations such as elevators may not be in every building and street if needed. That was just one thing I noticed, but other than that if you ask anyone for help or need anything locals are willing to help you.

Studying abroad was an incredible, life-changing experience. I was fully immersed in a new culture, which helped me grow both academically and personally. I gained confidence, independence, and a broader perspective on the world. From meeting people from different backgrounds to exploring new places and trying new foods, every day felt exciting and meaningful. It pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way, and I made memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. I highly recommend it!