USAC Reviews

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

Studying abroad in Lyon with USAC was easily one of the most rewarding experiences I had in college. The program felt organized and supportive without ever being overbearing, which made it easy to settle in and start exploring. The staff were approachable and genuinely cared about our experience, whether it was helping with classes or just giving local recommendations. Lyon itself is such a vibrant, livable city with incredible food, beautiful river views, and so much history around every corner. My classes were interesting and manageable, leaving plenty of time to travel, practice French, and build real friendships. I left feeling more confident, independent, and grateful for the experience.

I studied abroad in Prague for the second summer session during 2025, and it was an unforgettable experience. Prague is an absolutely gorgeous city and USAC gave me the chance to live in it for a period of time. The class I took (Architecture) took us to so many museums, churches, castles, and art galleries, most of which I probably wouldn’t have known about if not for the class. The professor, Milan, was so kind and knowledgeable, and so was every staff there (like Dasa and Jan.) If you decide to study in gorgeous Prague, you MUST do the Budapest/Vienna tour. It was a truly amazing trip and I couldn’t recommend it enough.

I was the only Japanese student participating in USAC's San Sebastian program. Living in Spain with English-speaking friends and facing a language barrier was a difficult experience at the time, but I also learned a lot, and I can say that those were the days I worked hardest and felt the most confident of my life.

Everything was new during my time in Spain, and I studied hard every day and communicated with many different people. My time in Spain influenced my career path and way of thinking, and I began to dream of becoming someone who can be active internationally. Even after returning home from Spain, I continue to keep in touch with my friends and teachers. I used to be shy, but now I can speak three or more languages ​​and I feel like I've discovered a new side of myself. I'm grateful to have been able to spend such wonderful days in the beautiful city of San Sebastian. I'm glad I chose USAC's program!