USAC
Kate
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Most transformative 5 months of my life!

Studying abroad was truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. Living and learning in a new country challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, adapt to different cultures, and gain a new perspective on the world. I not only grew academically, but also personally-building confidence, independence, and lifelong friendships along the way.

One of the best parts of the program was the opportunity to immerse myself in daily life abroad, from attending classes with local professors to exploring new cities and traditions. Every experience, big or small, helped me see the value of global connections and reminded me how important it is to be open-minded and adaptable.

I highly encourage anyone considering study abroad to take the leap. It’s an investment in yourself and your future that goes far beyond academics. The lessons I learned and the memories I made will stay with me long after graduation.

Kate
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Verona Italy Experience

Studying abroad in Verona was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Living in northern Italy gave me the chance to step outside my comfort zone, embrace a new culture, travel, and grow both personally and academically. From daily cappuccinos in the piazza to exploring the Arena and nearby cities, every moment felt meaningful. I became more adaptable, independent, and globally aware, while building friendships and memories that turned Verona into a second home I’ll always carry with me.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing we did was attend a traditional Viennese ball. I never imagined I’d get the chance to dress up, dance in such a historic setting, and experience a cultural tradition that felt straight out of a fairytale.
Pros
  • Traveling all around!
  • Experiencing the true Italian culture
What other participants should know
  • Housing was far from city center
Damien
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Santiago, Chile

I had a lot of fun in Santiago, Chile. It has a robust public transport system, so I was able to see a lot of the city. For the most part, I was engaged in my classes. I liked all of my professors and the actual area around campus and my home were a lot of fun to be in. There was plenty to do in Santiago. I felt safe most of the time. There is a bit of a problem with pick pockets, especially on the subways. One of the students in our program had her phone stolen, and a couple of others dealt with attempts. However, we were properly briefed about it and I felt more or less safe and prepared as long as I maintained minimum vigilance. My Santiago semester was my favorite semester in my college career.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would start to go to places alone immediately. I waited a couple of months to start branching outside of my cohort. I met some really nice and cool people when I did branch out, but I waited so long that I regretted not doing so earlier because I had only about half the semester to spend time with them.
Pros
  • Beautiful city
  • Great night life
  • A lot of free events and activities to enjoy
What other participants should know
  • Pick pockets
  • Chilean spanish is very difficult to understand
  • Some of the students were placed far away, so it was hard to see them when we didn´t have classes.
Reagan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Would highly recommend

Sara and Gabriela (the program instructors) were incredible and made my experience exponentially more safe and fulfilling. The professors were great and my Spanish improved significantly! I felt challenged by my coursework without missing out on experiencing the city. I made friends in the program and enjoyed the day trips with the group. I really liked my shared apartment and got very lucky with its location. I'm so glad I chose USAc because their on the ground support felt very secure while I was abroad.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Travel travel travel!
Ella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Such an amazing experience

I had a great time during my experience. My classes were hands on and I got to learn a lot from professors who were truly passionate about the job. I got to travel every weekend and see new places which was great. My host family made me feel so comfortable and we created a great bond. I was able to learn a lot of Spanish too. My host family helped with that a lot as well as my professors. I got very close with the people in my program as well and we became good friends. I would chose Costa Rica every time if I got the chance.

What was your funniest moment?
My friend and I were hiking at cerro dantas and she fell into the mud and it was very funny.
Pros
  • Walkable
  • Host family
  • Fun travels
What other participants should know
  • City can be sketchy at times
  • Bus takes a long time
Tate
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

USAC changed my life!

My experience with USAC was nothing but amazing. The staff was very friendly and helpful throughout everything, and were very easy-going. Their events and help with integration into UPV were amazing, and this experience has changed my life. I went in a different person than I left! It was overall an amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone who has the opportunity. My personal favorite was the Spanish classes, which were the best I've taken in my life. The professors cared so much for every class, and I came out with so much new knowledge.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Un calçot
Pros
  • Always exciting
  • Great quality classes
  • Tight community
What other participants should know
  • Too short:(
  • Not a lot of catalan/valenciano learned
Akasha
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

4/5

Amazing experience! Overall I felt safe very safe even as a black women! I would walk places sometimes by myself at night and wouldn’t be bothered by anyone and would still feel super safe. The City was super walkable and had many fun places to go nearby college dorms. The Downside is I never got my deposit back from school housing abroad and they stopped answering my emails to receive it, it was $300 USD. That was super frustrating. Besides that, I had an amazing time. My sister and I would hike ever weekend!

What was your funniest moment?
My roommate (from Wellington) would always tell us that she owned 1000 cats and they lived in her room under her bed.
Pros
  • Funny roommate
  • Safe
  • Beautiful sites
What other participants should know
  • No deposit return
  • Missed home a lot
  • N/A
Sophia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Turin 2023

My experience in Torino was life changing. I went in with no expectations and I didn’t know anyone. I met some of my best friends to this day and we have planned trips to meet in the states the past two years since. I was immersed in the culture and Italian lifestyle while still able to freely travel on weekends and breaks. I went to 8 countries and 15+ cities which was made possible by the convenient location of Torino. The teachers and support staff made the process of being away from home much easier. My housing was very clean and well maintained. Couldn’t recommend this program more!

What was your funniest moment?
Group class trip to the Italian Rivera! Late nights on the beaches and beautiful sunsets.
Pros
  • New friends
  • New cities
  • New culture
What other participants should know
  • Away from home
  • Language barrier
  • Overwhelming adjustments
Trevor
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A rewarding experience at a unique and welcoming location

The year I spent in Nagasaki was the best year of my life. The university is small, with less than 1000 students and teachers combined, making it easy to meet people and form connections. I typically struggle to make friends, but here I made friends from countries all over the world. There are many opportunities for personal growth, both academically and through community involvement. Nagasaki is a great location because it has a rich history of cultural exchange and is very welcoming to foreigners.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
There are many volunteer and community events to take part in. Join as many as you can! Some of my best experiences and stories came from choosing to join events advertised by the school.
Pros
  • Unique and historically rich city
  • Peaceful atmosphere and not too overwhelming
  • Small, tight-knit community
What other participants should know
  • Poor public transit compared to other areas of Japan
  • Old facilities
  • Daily climb up a hill to school
Noren
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience in Brisbane

I went through USAC to Brisbane, Australia and studied at the amazing Griffith Uni! My classmates (and aussies in general) were so welcoming, and the experience was an amazing blend of the familiar and the new. The program staff at USAC were so helpful and friendly, they made the process easy. Staying on campus really helped me meet other people, and they had such a large international population that I was able to learn about a lot of cultures in addition to Australia! There was a great variety of things to try, living just outside of the city but close to the beaches and national parks. I would recommend that everyone go at least once in their life, though if you're like me it'll probably be more.

What was your funniest moment?
Some of my friends took me on the Brisbane ferry and decided to wait until we were all the way out in the water to tell me about the Brisbane river sharks! It was quite the surprise, and they were all too eager to exaggerate the stories of sightings.
Pros
  • Lots of access to great food and culture
  • Flexibility in choosing which campus location to attend
  • Very helpful staff
What other participants should know
  • Not as much support on the ground in Australia, if I had questions I usually ended up emailing my home office which could delay communication with the time difference