Program Reviews

I loved studying abroad in Maastricht. The town is picturesque, the classes were engaging, and the travel opportunities were countless. The PBL education system fit the classes I was taking perfectly, and I loved discussing literature and economics with my peers (who were mostly international students). I also traveled to 8 countries, both through my own planning and also through the CES official trips that are part of the programs. I saw the Eiffel tower in Paris, ate paella in Barcelona, and "saw" Nessie in Scotland. Despite traveling around Europe, I loved the small-town feel of Maastricht, and it definitely felt like home by the end of my trip.

I wasn't sure if I would study abroad for a semester or graduate early. I assumed I wouldn't regret going abroad and I was right! I had the most fun semester in Bilbao; it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Everything about the city and the program is perfect. I learned so much about Basque culture while having the opportunity to travel to six different countries. If you are on the fence about studying abroad - do it! You will not regret it. Bilbao is a unique destination and you will fall in love with the city before you know it. There are so many types of food to try, places to visit, and more.

I studied abroad in Lyon for 6 weeks this summer. I'm really glad I did it, my French improved by a lot and Lyon was a fantastic city to stay in! I was placed with a great host family who were very helpful for showing me around the city and practicing my French, and I made friends with a lot of my classmates. The classes themselves were a bit basic, but that was to be expected of a summer course. The program also included a few excursions to other cities or twons in France, which were really beautiful and fun! Highly recommend!

Living in Alicante for the Fall semester was just not enough time. This beautiful and inviting city is a place that I will now always call a "second home". During the process before arriving in Spain, the USAC program made it very easy to get everything completed. I would like to say that they are a great program for people that have never left their home country or studied abroad because of the fact that they "hold your hand" through the pre-departure process. It was very comfortable and easy to get to Spain with their help. Upon my arrival into Alicante, I immediately fell in love. Alicante has everything that you need in a study abroad experience: affordability, walkability, great food destinations, incredible support, exciting academics, history, community, and beautiful sites. Thanks to USAC, I was able to learn about and live in such a special place. I wish I had more time in Alicante and I can't wait to go back and visit soon!

I studied in Spain Fall of 2022 and I had the time of my life. I had a great experience with the USAC program that I went under. They were helpful in all aspects as a student and a resident in a foreign country. My host family was the best people to live with, creating amazing meals, and helping me with language practice. They invited me to family gatherings and helped me adjust to their customs. I could travel during our breaks, and I truly got to use the best of my time there. I would do it all again.

I studied abroad for the fall semester of 2022. From the start of being accepted into the program, I was able to easily communicate with USAC staff, however sometimes it would take a little while for them to respond. The webinars and checklists were very helpful in order to prepare for departure and make sure everything was in order. I did not however like the travel agency they work with, Frosch Travel Agency. Communication was quick, however the flights scheduled were constantly rescheduled making a large group of us miss our flight to Lyon and have to add multiple hours to our already long travel day. On my way back to the United States, I also had many problems with my ticket (the airline said I did not have a ticket reserved for me on the flight, yet Frosch was saying that I did) and resulted in me almost missing my flight back home as well. Once I arrived in Lyon, the staff in the city were very nice and welcoming, and I thought the tours of the city given that week were very helpful. The living space that I was put in was the biggest option out of all, however the location was awful (on the top of a hill, so it was very hard to get back home at night without a bus) and there was nothing provided (towels, sheets, pillows, etc) which proved to be a very costly expense at the beginning of the program on top of the already expensive living situation. Lyon itself was amazing. The school, UCLY, is very nice and I thought all of the teachers were accommodating and nice throughout the semester. There were also many opportunities to participate in school activities and meet other international students. I wish we had gone on more pre-planned trips as a group because I found those to be the most exciting and stress-free trips. By the end of my trip, I did not want leave Lyon and hope one day I can go back again.

Academics:
Some students I know have struggled finding classes taught in English that are transferable to their home university, but I know others who have found classes that apply to their degree path. Sometimes, the "Language of Instruction" part on the Hiroshima University syllabus is a lie. It may say "Japanese/English" for some classes, but there is a chance those classes will be taught entirely in Japanese.

Living Situation:
The living situation is really you get what you pay for. The dorms are small and old, and you have to share showers or toilets with other students (depending on the type of dorm), but the dorms are extremely cheap. Cleaners come in once a week to clean the dorms. The Japanese are generally very clean, so the dorm living situation is really not too bad once you get used to it.

Cultural Immersion: It can be difficult for some students to make close Japanese friends. If you are not Japanese, you are immediately considered an outsider by some Japanese and have to work harder than the average Japanese person to become good friends with them. However, there are international exchange events and clubs that exist with the purpose of bringing Japanese and foreign students together.

Program Administration: I personally had no issues with administration before entering Japan and upon arrival. I think USAC and Hiroshima University did an excellent job helping students prepare for study abroad.

Health & Safety: Japan is extremely strict with COVID, so you can expect to wear a mask almost everywhere. Japanese take masks and sanitation very seriously, so you can also expect to see hand sanitizing stations everywhere. Crime rates in Japan are also very low, and many people feel safe walking alone in the middle of the night.

Community: Hiroshima University is located in Saijo, which is a somewhat rural area in Higashihiroshima in Hiroshima prefecture. Saijo Station is roughly 40 minutes away from Hiroshima Station by train. There is not much to do where the campus is located, but some students take frequent trips to Hiroshima City as that is where the closest city life is. You can also take the bullet train from Hiroshima Station to other big cities in Japan.

Overall, studying abroad in Japan was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have made many lifelong friends and improved my Japanese immensely. I would highly recommend anyone who is really interested in improving their Japanese and learning the Japanese way of life to study abroad.

This was such an amazing program and I couldn’t recommend it enough. If you go into the program looking for a super populated city like Rome…you will be disappointed. However, if you want to treasure an authentic experience in an amazing walled city – Viterbo is your place.
The program had wonderful language immersion. I recommend either knowing Italian prior to starting the program or taking one of the program’s Italian classes. It will make your life so much easier!
Viterbo has a train station so you can reach other Italian cities relatively easily but travel can still be tricky.
However, Viterbo itself has lots to offer and I personally recommend the Etruscan museum.
I loved my program and I wish everyone could have the same wonderful experience.

Overall, Viterbo was an amazing town to live in. While I lived with other American students, we were in an apartment building with Italians and so we were forced to use the language as much as possible. Additionally, Viterbo is not as touristy compared to other cities such as Florence or Rome, which forced us to utilize our knowledge of the Italian language which I think was wonderful and helped us get the full study abroad experience! The people of Viterbo are polite, the program's staff are delightful, and the food is amazing! The program itself was a great learning experience. The workload was to be expected while abroad. Professors expected us to attend class and put forth effort but classes were not overly challenging. They were enjoyable and allowed us to take the knowledge we gathered to immerse ourselves in the Italian culture.

USAC Prague was a life-changing experience; from excellent professors and advisors to engaging and immersive field trips, I had the time of my life. I expected to enjoy my time abroad, but I had no idea how much I would love Prague; it truly is a beautiful and wonderful city to live in;(the pictures don't do it justice). Our housing accommodations were excellent and right beside great public transportation, making exploring the city easy. The program itself was also amazing. I had great professors and advisors who made me feel welcome and were genuinely excited to show us their beautiful city and culture. Choosing USAC Prague was the best decision I could've made; you won't regret going. It truly is a life-changing experience.