USAC Reviews

Israel was an incredible place to study as an International Affairs major. I learned first hand what the prominent political views and ideologies are that affect the situation in Israel. I've read a lot about Israel, but the only way to truly understand the country is to go.

India is amazing. It was completely different than anything else I've ever experienced and I learned so much from being immersed in Indian culture. USAC allowed me to volunteer at a tutoring center in the slums, participate in a Bollywood dance class, and more!

Studying in Israel was a fabulous experience full of culture, diversity, and joy. The university is only 20 minutes away from the Mediterranean Sea and train station. Public transportation is easy to use and really affordable. Greatest time of my life!

I would recommend going to Pau if you want to study abroad in a non-touristy city where you get a real and authentic experience in French language and culture. I stayed with a host family, which made my experience even better. The USAC staff is incredible and really made sure we felt comfortable. Pau is also very close to Spain which makes a fun weekend trip!

The reason USAC excelled in making my study abroad experience one to remember is because they combined unique experiences, with plenty of assistance (if necessary) at a low cost. I lived in a city I probably never would have visited and they took us on field trips I never would have found on my own. This enriched the whole experience for me. On top of that, the Resident Director Carlitos was there for me whenever we needed him. He showed us how to use the bus system, cultural nuances we should be aware of, best places for the night life, bet beaches to visit, and he even threw a going away party at his own house! From relationship problems, to school troubles, no one was a better problem solver than him. On top of all this, it was affordable. I'm a college student. My meals consist of oatmeal and free pizza from club meetings. I was ecstatic to find a program that was flexible, helpful, included field trips, and cheap. So grateful to USAC for the fantastic semester and all the assistance I received along the way!

I do not have enough amazing things to say about USAC or about Alicante. The on-site staff (Luis, Sylvain and Veronica) are incredible and are always in the office available to help with anything you could possibly need, such as travel or restaurant recommendations. All of the USAC professors are great- they're very clear, extremely fun to be in class with, incredibly nice and overall great teachers. What I am most grateful for is that I decided to live with a host family. I knew from personal experience with different program providers in other parts of Spain that host family situations could be risky, however USAC did an exceptional job choosing the families and everyone who decided to live with a family loved the experience. I only had a host mother in my family and she treated me like family and was an amazing cook. For anyone considering studying abroad, I believe that living with a family is truly the only way to become fully immersed in the culture and the best way to learn the language. I also really enjoyed being set up with an intercambio (a local student language partner) as it was a great way to meet/hang out with locals and practice my Spanish. The excursions USAC took us on were a lot of fun (and we were always fed really well!) and Alicante is an amazing city. It is small enough so that everything is relatively close (and walkable) but it still has everything I could want in a city (good shopping, fun night life, great restaurants, beaches, etc.). It is also very close by tram to many cute cities nearby that are beautiful and fun to explore so there is never a shortage of things to do. Overall, this summer I met a lot of great people, improved my Spanish drastically and experienced a lot of personal growth. I cannot wait to have the opportunity to return to Alicante and I highly recommend USAC and Alicante to anyone interested in studying abroad (which I believe everyone should do).

I knew going abroad for the first time alone would be a challenge. I knew it would be a challenge for me, but with the people of USAC to guide me- I was never alone. The staff was always cheerful and willing to help. They made the students a priority and I felt so valued. I took a sailing class in which our sailing teacher (Esperanza) gave us her full attention and helped my boat practice spanish every session. Sailing in the Mediterranean was a highlight of my trip that I will never forget. The excursions were well thought out and planned and left me stress free. I enjoyed every minute. At times- homework was avoided because there were so many fun things to do (especially during hogueras), so I would have preferred more classwork and less homework. I wish I had a heads up on what to wear before leaving the states. Every one dresses well... every day. I wound up buying a bunch of new clothes and leaving half of my suitcase behind. Prepare to spend lots of money on lots of cool new things you'll want to try. Be open, be active , be freeeeee! Spain is a wonderful country and I was so lucky to be there. I am looking into moving to Alicante to teach English after I graduate :)
I highly highly highly recommend studying with USAC and studying abroad in general! But for Spain, you couldn't find a better group than Veronika, Luis and Sylvain.

From the second you land in the airport and step foot in Alicante, you get this reassuring feeling that yes, self, you have chosen the correct place to immerse yourself in a different culture and make amazing memories in. Alicante's natural beauty of playa and castillo made it perfect to go wander the city and get lost in. It's a city but has a small town feel, which made it a great home away from home. The program and university staff are super accommodating, helpful, and genuinely excited to meet and help their students. The nature, city life, and el barrio make it a super fun place for students explore. The staff also takes students to near by towns and beaches for cultural exposure and group bonding. The memories made will last with me forever and were some of the best anyone could ever wish to have in a lifetime. Alicante will always hold a special place in my heart as a place in which my mind and soul grew tremendously.

I've never been more grateful for an experience in my entire life. As a first year college student, I already knew I wanted to explore the world as much as possible while I had the time. USAC's Alicante program gave me the opportunity to EXPLORE. I learned how to sail in a super fun course with multiple other students 3 days a week for a month. My roommates and I were located in an apartment on a main street called Rambla Méndez Nuñez. The street leads almost directly to the beach and all of the fun night life bars/restaurants in under a 3 minute walk. I was there during the 2014 World Cup and the streets were always full of young adults and students like myself. My spanish class was challenging but I never felt like I didn't have time to complete my work. USAC provides information about the area right when you arrive; best restaurants, beaches, and places to explore. The staff is extremely approachable and fun to talk to. During the weekends I traveled to Paris and also to Barcelona. I recommend taking these side trips because the flights and train rides are extraordinarily cheap and you'll make memories you'll never forget.

I highly recommend this program for anyone interested in Summer study abroad in Spain. If you want to be immersed in the language, Alicante is a great place to be. Many people know English, but you obviously will be surrounded by Spanish everywhere you go.

I lived in a home stay, which I also recommend for students wishing to improve their Spanish. My host mom only spoke Spanish and was also one of the sweetest people I have ever met. I felt so welcome in her home from day one. She was very talkative, whether I understood what she was saying or not. This allowed for a lot of practice speaking and listening to Spanish.

The university program was also wonderful. The supervisors, as well as the teachers, were very helpful and approachable with any issue you may have. I learned so much in my Spanish classes that I never would have gotten at my home university. It is helpful to constantly be thinking about Spanish while taking these Spanish classes.

Alicante has a small, beach city feel, which I loved. We walked everywhere and I never felt unsafe. A perk of studying there in the summer is getting to experience their yearly five day long festival. It was such an authentic, Spanish experience that I will never forget!