Program Reviews

*TLDR* No close airport, darn Americans, lovely vibe.
I enjoyed many things about my study abroad to Maastricht, however, there were several misconceptions I had going in, several of which I did not think to be of note until *after* I arrived. One MASSIVE one, despite all the marketing, Maastricht is not the "heart of Europe." In the US, traveling between countries is a long, expensive affair, with travel tickets costing hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars. In Europe, this is not the same. I believed that the only way to feasibly get around was by train, and that any other method would have been far too expensive to be reasonable. This is WRONG, Ryanair is a budget airliner available in Europe which you can get tickets for as cheap as $35. I chose Maastricht partially because I thought I would need a train to get anywhere. However, Maastricht is not a major train station city, and the airport is not open to traveling to most locations until summer, meaning if you want to travel cross-country, getting a Ryan Air ticket is the best choice. However, again, because Maastricht is not a major city, you have to buy train tickets to travel several cities over to even begin your cross-country journey. Secondly, the WORST part of studying abroad, hands-down, were the other Americans. If you are used to living in a sorority/ fraternity setting, then you'll have no complaints, if you don't live in such a setting, buckle up. I had one night where the other Americans were blasting music until 4 AM, and then set off fireworks INSIDE the building, causing the fire alarms to wake everyone up. When I told the security who was responsible, those same frat guys claimed they did "nothing wrong" and that I snitched for "no reason." It could have been a bad bunch, but it was clear to me that many of the other attendants had never actually faced responsibility and consequences for their actions and acted entitled and therefore caused others grief. All of that being said, the city of Maastricht was utterly enchanting, and the few friends I did make, I will likely have for decades. The city was so easy to get lost in, and although I had become fairly familiar with the city by the end of my semester, it felt like I could have spent years there and still had more to find. Since Maastricht is smaller, the city has a much more intimate feel and people are more likely to be kind and warm. One example of this smaller city's warm and cozy setting was when I met an older woman named Betty. I helped carry her broken bike and she bought me bananas to share with her and taught me how to recycle properly and where to find the cheapest groceries. I will remember that interaction for the rest of my life, and I'm not sure I would have had that in a larger city. Overall, you have to make the most of your study abroad, and although the bus/ train ticket to the nearest airport is a bit of a hassle, Maastricht is a city that you can't help but love.

Studying abroad was quite honestly the best decision I've ever made! Upon deciding whether I COULD do it beforehand, I was truthfully scared. I'd always imagined this ridiculously expensive experience that would bring me nothing but stress and anxiety. However, upon learning about USAC and their Summer programs, I realized it was much more accessible than I'd ever imagined. Then, I took the leap and applied, and realized quickly that my Summer in London was the best Summer I've ever lived. USAC itself was amazing in keeping in contact, creating such a safe space that made me feel welcome and protected! Then there was just being in London; the city was MAGICAL and I made some amazing new friends! We ate, explored, travelled, and did so much more than I could have ever expected! By complete surprise, one friend and I even stumbled upon the LONDON PREMIERE of our favorite show, and we actually got invited into the red carpet where we could see and greet our favorite stars! THAT WAS AMAZING! Beyond that, we went to two concerts, spent a weekend in Paris, and had amazing evenings out in the city. Studying abroad was truthfully the best experience I've ever lived, and I'd give anything to live it again!

My time I spent abroad were some of the best weeks of my life. I met a lot of new people I can comfortably call great friends who I am still in touch with, the host family I stayed with was very supporting of my learning of Spanish and were very caring. They made me lunch and dinner and breakfast if I ever needed it and weren't stirct at all, letting me roam around and come and go as I please. The excursions done through the program were very insightful and interesting with lots of beautiful scenery. We took a trip to some "witches caves" which were very pretty and large. Overall, phenomenal experience and would recommend it to anyone!

My study abroad trip in Heredia, Costa Rica will forever be one of the best decisions I made during college. I decided to go on this trip because some of my sorority sisters went on it the previous year and couldn’t stop raving about it. On the trip, I got to immerse myself in Costa Rican culture. I met ticos (Costa Rican natives), developed better Spanish-speaking skills, and got to try all kinds of different foods. At the same time, I was also earning 7 credits towards my college transcript. The teachers were extremely patient and helpful when correcting my Spanish, and the campus is beautiful. I had to learn how to ride the bus everyday to campus, which was a meaningful experience in itself. My USAC advisors planned trips and activities for my group and I, including playing indoor soccer, roller-skating, going to the city, and exploring tropical rainforests. Overall, studying in Heredia, Costa Rica made me develop life skills and try new things that I wouldn’t have the chance to try anywhere else, making it a truly transformative experience. I recommend the Heredia, Costa Rica study abroad trip to anyone who wants to deepen their cultural understanding and have unforgettable experiences.

Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! It was my first time traveling solo internationally, and I have no regrets. I made countless new friends and experienced so many exciting things. Plus, I earned academic credit for my courses abroad. These are memories I’ll hold dear forever. I still keep in touch with everyone I met during my journey. This experience truly expanded my perspective and deepened my understanding of the world. Whatever program you choose, go for it! I promise, you won’t regret it!

My month in Prague was amazing and probably the best time of my life. I got to see so much cool stuff on my own and was provided so many unique experiences with USAC, like visiting a medieval mine, a huge fort, countless medieval churches, museums, and boat tour! I got to meet several awesome people and got to celebrate my 21st birthday in a Irish karaoke bar. I got to see museums of history I have always wanted to see (I even got to go into not one but two cold war bunkers!). Overall so much fun and has defiantly made me want to move there!

My study abroad experience in Nishinomiya, Japan, was incredibly fun and memorable! The location was perfect—Nishinomiya is a charming city with a great mix of urban convenience and traditional charm, plus easy access to Osaka, Kobe, and even Kyoto for weekend trips. The local food, especially okonomiyaki, was amazing, and the people were friendly. However, the program’s support was lacking. I had to find my own housing with minimal guidance, which was stressful, especially as a foreigner navigating Japan’s rental system. While I made it work, more resources or assistance would have been appreciated. The academics and cultural experiences were great, but better organization from the program would have made it even better. Still, I loved my time there and would recommend it—just be prepared to handle some things independently!

I had the best time ever in Alicante my spring semester of 2024. The city is walkable, beautiful, and has a million things to do! Great markets, beaches, people, and experiences. There’s also an international airport that made traveling much easier. Accommodations were amazing. The USAC staff was so supportive and there for anything we needed. I think the best thing that our USAC program did was in the first week of us being there. They didn’t give us an opportunity to be jet lagged or homesick. We went and explored the city and the school immediately. They showed us how to navigate the transportation of the city and fun activities to do. I would honestly recommend this city and this program to anyone.

This program was amazing and I loved every second. I stayed with a host mom and she was patient and kind to help me learn spanish and she made amazing food. Also the safety in Alicante was spectacular because I could walk home really late at night from the bar, club or with my friends and not be concerned something would happen to me. The weather was amazing and I spent a lot of time doing homework on the beach as well as traveling around Europe since Alicante had a huge airport. The teachers were really supportive and loved teaching and made it easy to learn.

I studied abroad in Valencia during the summer and I had such an amazing time. I stayed with an extremely supportive host family, and while the language barrier was challenging, I learned so much about the local culture as well as about myself. I took an intermediate Spanish class, where we learned how to speak about relevant social and environmental issues. I also took a cooking class, where we learned how to cook authentic Valencian paella, among other local dishes! I met so many friends, went on adventures I will never forget, and solidified my knowledge of the Spanish language!