Program Reviews

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!

My semester abroad in Alicante, Spain, was an immersion into Spanish culture and the sun-drenched life of the Mediterranean coast. My days were a blend of academic pursuits and afternoon explorations, where I quickly learned to navigate the city by the rhythm of its palm-lined esplanadas and the scent of saltwater in the air. Mornings began with churros and thick hot chocolate, followed by classes that deepened my understanding of Spanish history. The afternoons were for wandering through the narrow, winding streets of the old town, discovering hidden plazas, or relaxing on the expansive sandy beaches that define the city's coastline.

I loved London and getting to visit famous tourist attractions. The program's staff was very helpful in finding activities for us to do or visiting museums to learn more about the history of London. This also helped us become friends with the other people in the program as we got to go all together. I loved how I was able to culturally immerse myself while still being able to focus on classes. My courses were good and the professors were also helpful with any questions I had. I was also able to make friends in my classes who I still keep in contact with and visit today!

USAC was great for the most part, but this program is very hands off. If I didn't actively push to meet the people in my cohort, we would never cross paths. USAC provides guides for housing, insurance, visa, etc., but if you're not from a major country it becomes difficult to navigate the process. As far as housing goes, Korea University only hosts around 100 exchange students at the dorms, but there's over 1000 exchange students overall. Off-campus housing is "easy" to find, but most places don't have any reviews and are not good (mostly depends on landlord). Finding a nice off-campus place is very difficult. You should apply for an ARC as soon as you can. I requested an appointment the week I landed, and I got my ARC 3 months later. Without it, you can't ride the city bikes, travel outside Korea, order food, deliveries, and some other things. Classes for my major (senior level) were very challenging but I learned a lot and met a lot of good friends. My elective classes were very, very fun, I met some of my best friends in those. Overall, as I write this review, I'm tempted to drop everything and go back to Korea University.

My semester in Chiang Mai Thailand was one of the best chapters of my life. I met so many incredible friends in the program, many of whom I still keep in touch with now. The city was perfect for living in, exploring, and travelling around. The staff from the Thai buddies to Jum, the program coordinator made it their job to make us feel at home and comfortable while also encouraging us to branch out and try new things. Between the food, friendly people, and amazing memories, this is a program I'd recommend to everyone wanting to go abroad!

USAC was the ideal program to study abroad with. The application to my study abroad program was straightforward and uncomplicated. They offer excellent support throughout the application process and during the study abroad experience. USAC provides many blogs and an orientation to help you settle in while abroad. USAC is transparent and makes the financial aspect easy with a budgeting program and offers scholarships. Before depature USAC allowed participants to contact each other, making the arrival smooth as students were able to previously get to know each other and communicate. Overall, studying abroad with USAC was a great experience.

I have been abroad multiple times, but this time was obviously different. Living in a small town is what I loved because every single morning, you would see most of the same people, walk the same path, and see different things. What was special was that in Reggio Emilia, not a lot of locals spoke english, so you had to try to speak Italian. Once you saw them every day, they would know your order, and try to speak english to you and they loved seeing you. It was a great experience, that I recommend to everyone!

I feel like I came back a changed person. I have so much more confidence in myself after completing this program. It proved to me that I am able to figure things out and survive in a culture different than my own. Everyone was so nice and helpful and it helped me get accustomed to the new culture quickly. I highly recommend this program as I had a lot of fun and feel more independent than I ever have. This was my first time outside the United States and it greatly broadened my understanding of the world