Program Reviews

USAC's Lüneburg study abroad program brought great opportunity to create a new lifestyle around the German culture, allowing myself to improve myself. I greatly enjoyed stepping outside of my usual bubbles and talking in a foreign language, even with the knowledge that I wouldn't be perfect. I got to meet many different locals and explore Lüneburg with complete freedom. USAC was great with pairing people with neat and friendly host families and I was very pleased that I got to get to know the other students who came from different backgrounds from me.
My favorite part were the really neat field trips. They were very informative, but also really helped me focus my understanding of the German culture as a rich and varied people.
I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in history and meeting really nice people. Bonus tons of castles!

Before coming to Bilbao, I knew basically nothing about it or the Basque region that it is in. It definitely has a different feel than most Spanish cities people know like Madrid or Barcelona. Bilbao has things for everyone with great mountain hikes and tons of beaches to surf on and just lay out when it gets warmer. Most of the social scene is going out to a bar/cafe and getting a drink and a bite to eat most pintxos (which is the Basque version of tapas). I went somewhere almost every weekend and even though Bilbao is a smaller airport I was still able to fly to most major cities direct besides Milan!

Legit everything i needed and more!! The staff and program was perfect!! I loved where I lived and made so many new friends!! We had so many activities that were pre planned… including a cooking class which was AMAZING!! Spending my afternoons surfing the beaches of Sopela was another one of my favs!! Our program director Iban was great! He made me feel like Bilbao was home!! Would 100% go back if I could!! I had the time of my life!! If you need a sign… DO IT!! Seriously so much fun!! You must go!!

The onboarding process was so fatiguing and draining that by the end I was not optimistic for my abroad experience, but it was SO worth it!! I loved my host family and they made me feel so welcomed in France, Pau, and their home! I made a lot of really close friends that I miss so much and text or call every day. I loved how the uni classes were structured (and the coffee vending machine in the fac). I volunteered at a French high school, took a rock climbing class, went on a ski day trip with the uni, and made a podcast for the campus radio! Not to mention Pau's proximity to the mountains, the ocean, Spain, Basque country, Toulouse, and Bordeaux. And my heart. I still miss the rock lizards, the tulips, and the daily view of the Pyrenees.

This is a really fun and unique experience. I studied at London Metropolitan University and I would not recommend it for study abroad students. The structure of classes was confusing and so was the physical building. Teachers were striking and class wasn’t held often. Turning work in was confusing and class was not profitable. USAC support was okay. However there were times when we really needed them and they fell short. The accommodation was pretty bad. Mold on the walls and it was not cleaned before we moved in. We found used undergarments behind out toilet when we moved it. However, London was a really fun place to study. It’s very expensive but worth it for just a few months. There’s so much to do here.

This study abroad program was top-notch. Prior to departure, everything was communicated clearly, and I felt supported throughout the process leading up to leaving. Once arriving, I immediately knew I made the right choice in coming to Alicante. Luis was an incredible leader during my three weeks in Spain. He showed us local spots and gave us tips so we could better embrace the Spanish culture. I had the time of my life whether we were hiking Castilla de Santa Barbara, visiting Mercat Central, or trying some authentic paella. I was fortunate enough to make great friends during my time in Spain. I love to reminisce on the memories made and the new friendships that were formed. I loved Alicante so much so that I am going back in June with my family to show them one of my favorite cities. If you are looking for a study abroad experience that will really enable you to immerse yourself in the culture, I highly recommend Alicante. I hope everyone can visit this gorgeous coastal town someday.

In Fall 2022, I was given the best opportunity to study at Chonnam National University for the Yeosu intensive language program. My goal for studying abroad was to learn as much of the language as I could. USAC helped me achieve that by directing me towards the language program in Yeosu. There couldn’t have been a better option for me! The program was amazing and so well planned out. Living in an area where less people spoke English was intimidating at first; however, I realized that there are so many kind and understanding people outside of my own country. There are also so many resources out there that a language barrier is not really even an issue. I had so much fun and I always felt welcomed!

The USAC program in Chiang Mai is one of the best run academic programs I've ever been a part of. I've learned so much while still being able to travel, have fun, meet new people and explore the culture. The staff and Thai buddies are all amazing and caring, and they all love getting to know the new USACers! I highly recommend this program! It will change your life for the better!
Some cool things I did while studying abroad:
1. Fed monkeys on a private beach
2. Trekked through the mountains
3. Explored caves that led onto pristine beaches
4. Chilled in hot springs
5. Went to a full moon party

The three months that I spent in Lüneburg were easily the best three months of my life. The support of the staff and the friends that I met through the program was an amazing help to feeling safe and having fun! The classes were interesting and really helped me to better my language skills. It was clear that the instructors cared not only about us learning, but about us enjoying our experience as well. The program offers field trips, where staff took us to a few different cities nearby. These were great ways to see more of Germany without having to worry about the hassle of planning things ourselves. The city itself felt incredibly safe, as did the other students living in the apartments that they put our program's students in. I will say that the program itself did not make us really immerse ourselves in the culture. The USAC classes were in their own building, somewhat far away from the main campus of the university, which was a little disappointing because we didn't have that constant interaction with Lüneburg residents. Lüneburg is a beautiful city with lots to offer, and I can't wait to go back at some point in the future!

Last semester, in the fall of 2022, I had the amazing experience of studying abroad in Pau, France. I studied the French language as well as the history of art. All of my classes were conducted solely in French. My class contained students from all around the world and our common language was not English, but French. Being fully immersed in the French language and culture excelled my language skills and I now feel confident living in the country and speaking the language. In addition to my studies, I had the opportunity to visit countries I had not visited before. For example, my study abroad program arranged a trip to San Sebastian, Spain for the students. During our fall break, a few students and I organized a trip to Brussels and Amsterdam. Being able to travel around Europe while studying French as well as art history was a dream come true. I lived with an amazing host family that took me in as if I was truly a part of their family. This made the culture shock much easier to handle and gave me a sense of safety while living in a foreign country. Overall, this study abroad experience positively changed my life and has equipped me with skills I would not have acquired anywhere else.