Program Reviews

The best way to describe my experience is life changing! Studying abroad allowed me to make friends from around the world, explore parts of the world most people don’t see, and learn a different culture from my own. Going to school once a week allowed for endless travels and lots of time at the beach/ pool! All of my professors were very understanding and accommodating (they know you’re not there just for academics!) If I could study abroad again I would! You will never regret your decision to go abroad!

I’ll remember the memories I made and the friends I met forever!! The field trips were amazing but I do wish we had some more time in some of the places. The course I took was “Folklore of Cork” with Shane LeHane and it one of my favorite courses and professors I’ve ever had. Cork is an amazing city and I wish I could have spent more time there! The housing was similar to the typical form were used to in the United States but probably could have been cleaned a little more upon arrival. But the location was great and easy to get places.

I had an absolutely incredible time in Ireland! Getting to be immersed in Cork, Ireland’s culture for 6 weeks was one of the best experiences of my life! I go to explore all over Ireland, explore Cork, and take some of the most interesting classes I have ever taken! I don’t regret going but I do regret having to leave after 6 weeks (although that was the program length for me). I wish I could have stayed longer because I had the best time and I miss it everyday… also the people who were in the program with me were the best!!

I could not have been happier with my experience in Madrid! The city is so rich in history and vibrant in culture. The program directors Sara and Gabriela created a welcoming experience far before my program started. I felt prepared and safe to adventure and immerse myself in my surroundings. The downtown co-living residence option was amazing (street I lived on featured in the picture)! I was able to meet international students who gave me great suggestions on where to eat, where to go, and most importantly where to shop for groceries! The metro system was so easy to navigate-- especially with a central location like I had, but I absolutely loved how walkable the city was. The city is LGBTQ+ friendly and if you are looking for community stop by Chueca! My selected course delved into the LQBTQ+ history of Spain and drew comparisons to the history in the U.S., which was taught by my amazing professor Eloy! He made the material engaing and interactive by taking us to local queer archives and NGOS. Truly I could not have asked for more. Don't think twice about studying abroad in Madrid!

My study abroad experience in Korea was absolutely incredible. It was nothing short of amazing and it makes me desperate to go back at the mere thought. There are so many things to do as a young student in the city of Seoul as it truly does cater to you. College districts are known for their cheap prices on food and clothes. Also, transportation makes it extremely convenient to go near and far with most buses arriving every 15 minutes! The nightlife is so much fun and while public transportation does stop temporarily at 12am, there are so many places open 24/7 for you to hang out. Whether you decide to take this opportunity alone or with friends, you won't regret a single moment!

This experience gave me so much insight into what I want to do when I graduate college. The love that I felt and experienced during this adventure was incredible. Whether is was my amazing host mom or my amazing friends I met through this program my love for the Spanish language, the Spanish culture, and travel overflowed!!

I always felt supported and knew that everyone in the program wanted me to have an amazing, life-changing experience! When I traveled to other places I always felt safe and knew that I had a support system in San Ramon to help me figure out the issues I had with transportation or just general confusion. Costa Rica is such a small country that it is easy to travel during the weekends and see all the cool attractions it has to offer!

I will be forever grateful for this program!!!

My experience in Costa Rica was great. I met new lifelong friends and gained mentors as well. My professors were amazing and always available for any questions. The staff for my program were tremendously helpful and kind. The trips that staff set up for the students were perfect; they were so memorable and in beautiful, breathtaking places. I would highly recommend studying abroad to anyone who has the chance to do so. I will forever cherish the memories I was able to make on my study abroad trip.

This summer I studied in Valencia, Spain for a month...and I would not have changed my experience for the world. If anything, I wish I could have stayed longer. Having the ability to meet new people, living with an incredible host family, and learning how to embrace a different culture helped not only grow my confidence, but also my character and change my perspective on life. I learned how to embrace differences, try new foods and activities without fear, and I was able to become a stronger Spanish speaker. Without my helpful host family, understanding teachers, and incredible and encouraging USAC community (both staff and students), I would not have had the most memorable time abroad. The opportunities and connections that I made during my study abroad will forever play a great part in my life and I hope to keep sharing my experiences with others in hopes that they choose to study abroad as well. So, take the chance without worrying about whether or not you'll have a good time, because I promise you will! Studying abroad will forever hold a place in my heart and I hope you get the chance to make these remarkable memories too!

I studied abroad in Viterbo as part of a six week program. My program had about 20 students from all across the US, most of whom did not know anyone else in the program. I think this allowed us all to get to know each other better and be more open to trying new things. Viterbo is a pretty small town in a rural part of the Lazio region and its downtown core is one of the most well-preserved medieval sections in all of Europe. Our apartment was inside the city walls and walkable to many restaurants, a small grocery store, a produce vendor, and the Corso Italia, which is the main drag for shopping in Viterbo. Overall, the apartment was nice and furnished well enough, but it did not have AC. This is standard for many residences in Italy, but it was rather hot while we were there and leaving the windows open did result in a lot of bug bites. The class schedule was a little unusual in that it was not the same every week, so one week you might have a class on Monday and Wednesday, and the next on Tuesday and Thursday. I took the photography class, the cuisine class, and intro to Italian. I would highly recommend taking the intro to Italian class if you are not familiar with the language as many of the shopkeepers and restauranteurs in Viterbo do not speak English, and knowing some Italian will make your interactions smoother. The cuisine class is a great way to learn more about Italian culture, and you do get copies of the recipes to make at home if you so choose. I really enjoyed the photography class, which is the one I needed for credit at my home university. Aside from the very good instruction in the mechanics of photography, I enjoyed how this class got us out into the city and seeing different parts. It was not listed in the class description and is not necessarily required, but it will be easier if you bring your own camera. In addition to the great experience in Viterbo, the town is accessible to both Rome and Florence by rail, and from there you can go onwards to Milan, Naples, etc. In the six weeks we were there, we had time on weekends to go to both Rome and Florence, as well as Positano on the Amalfi coast, and a beach in the nearby town of Tarquinia. I would also highly recommend going to Lago di Bolsena! The program also offered multiple field trips that students could go on to different lesser known places near Viterbo - the two I remember were Civita di Bagnoregio and Marmore Falls. Overall it was a really great experience during which I felt like I got a window into a realistic lifestyle in Italy while also getting to see many of the places I wanted to visit.

To start off I was placed in the most wonderful host family. They were extremely welcoming and treated me as one of their own. I was able to have my own bedroom and bathroom for privacy and alone time when needed. Other than that outside of the classroom I spent all my time with my host parents and grew extremely close to them and their entire family. The food was amazing and I was fully immersed in both the language and culture on a daily basis. I learned so much about myself as a person here.