Program Reviews

USAC coordinators Sarah and Gabriela were so welcoming from the start! They were honest, friendly, and always made sure every member of the program felt safe and at home. The living accommodations were amazing, as well as our landlord, and the transportation access was so helpful. I had a great time abroad and believe the program gives students the leniency to do what they want, but also follow correct safety guidelines. We were very immersed in the Spanish culture and I hope to visit again one day.

I cannot say enough good things about USAC Madrid. I loved the professors, especially my Spanish teacher who introduced us to numerous Spanish traditions. I also really appreciated the administrative staff who were always happy to answer questions. Finally, I absolutely adored Madrid. I loved living in such a vibrant city with beautiful parks like Retiro, amazing architecture, and fun activities like holiday markets. Leaving Madrid turned out to be the hardest goodbye, and I cannot wait to return.

When first starting this program, I had no idea what to expect. By the end of it, I took away more than I could’ve asked for! I had a small group but made some really great friendships, we still keep in touch today. I traveled to so many places like Milan, Florence, Arona, Stresa, Portifino, and others not in Italy like France and Amsterdam. For anyone wanting to study abroad, I would encourage them to take every opportunity to see as much as they can. Travel, go out, explore your city, and make the most of this once in a lifetime experience. In the end, you’ll never regret it, you’ll always have a good story to tell.

I was nervous to study abroad in Thailand for 6 weeks but I'm glad I had friends and family encouraging me along with my college study abroad advisor's and USAC advisor's. This trip wouldn't of happened without their support and help. During my time in Thailand, I got to visit all the places I dreamed of: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Bangkok. I got to see Elephants and take care of them. I got to try so many new dishes. And I meet so many new people who are now my friends. We all got close quickly, us USAC Goers and the "Thai Buddies" who were apart of the program. We all got to learn from one another and had the best times. The memories with them of walking in the rain, watching the premiere of Barbie, giving the Elephants a mud bath, chilling in the USAC lounge room, going to the Sunday Night Market and much more, are the memories I'll hold forever. I still talk my best friend's ear off about all the things we did. It was definitely the best thing I ever did in life so far!

Green, for erbazzone
sparkling, for cappuccino
interesting, for the kinds
home, for Reggio Emilia, for its streets, its colors, its size
Delicious: the parmiggano cheese!
Walking, talking, learning, enjoying, seeing, discovering, traveling, adventures, challenges and incredible moments.

The experience in Reggio was beautiful, now I miss it and I can't wait to go back. There are many reasons to go, for me it was a 100% Italian experience, you feel at home, you feel part of it.

I miss you Reggio

Living in Reggio Emilia for the Summer was the most amazing experience. I truly felt emerged in Italian culture, as I lived alone in the studio apartment, above lovely restaurants and shops. I made so many friends, both from America in the USAC program, as well as befriending local university students. As a woman, concerns of solo travel of course arise, but here I always felt very safe and taken care of by the administration. The food was incredible, considering I am vegan and still had many options of authentic Italian cuisine. Reggio Emilia was also the best location to be able to take weekend trips. I did this every weekend as train costs are fairly cheap. Every weekend I took the train; I went to Florence, Venice, Ravenna, Rimini. All were about a 2 hour trip from Reggio Emilia. I could go on and on about the growth I experienced over this Summer, and would love to go back one day.

If you're on the fence about studying abroad, JUST DO IT! Stay with a host family and practice the language as much as possible, meet new people and experience everything you can. This experience was truly one of a kind and if I could go back and do it all again I would time and time again. My classes were challenging but fun and I learned more Spanish in two months than I did in years of classes back at home. I met lifelong friends and gained confidence in myself as a traveler, learner, and person.

I studied Roman Art and Architecture in Verona from early July to early August. I went with my a fellow student at my University which was fun and definitely brought us closer, but there were plenty of people who traveled alone and instantly clicked with people. Italy is a great place to travel within and although I felt immersed in the city of Verona and there's so much to do, I think it's best to make the most of the weekends and use TrenItalia or buy a (relatively) cheap plane ticket to a nearby city or country. Within Verona, my favorite place to eat in Verona was Mood Sushi, an all-you-can-eat buffet that had the coolest ambience within it - water in the floor and floating tables! The best italian food I had, though was pizza at Pizza Bella Napoli near Piazza Bra, where the Verona Arena is located. Also, from late June to early August, the Opera Festival is going on so that's a must if studying during summer term II. We had plenty of free time to explore, while also balancing our schoolwork and making the most of the classes we were in. Within the program itself, we did plenty of day trips that were optional, but these were some of my favorite memories within the month so I absolutely recommend going on these day trips and going on the tours to get acclimated to the area! Overall, I learned so much both academically, met lifelong friends, and made some amazing unique memories! Every student should study abroad!

I knew I wanted to expand my worldview and studying abroad is a great way to do this. Not only did I get to continue my education while visiting a new country, I got to assimilate into the environment. I was nervous to leave home but I knew it was a step I needed to take. I had such a wonderful experience. The minute I met my study abroad group in person my worries dissipated. We all bonded so much living in the flat together and going on the scheduled trips. I highly recommend taking advantage of those! USAC is a wonderful organization and the entire process was so much less stressful than if I'd done it alone. The USAC and University of Brighton staff were lovely. I felt so supported while abroad. I think a common misconception is that studying abroad is very expensive. Through USAC, I was able to pay my home university tuition so the only extra costs were some fees and the plane tickets. Though these fees add up, I believe it is a manageable added expense when you consider all that is included (we were supplied kitchen supplies, bedding, and snacks from UofB upon arrival and both the University and USAC have trips that are included in the fee costs). Ultimately this experience changed my life. The people in my study abroad group have become some of my best friends. Deciding to study abroad allowed me to have so many amazing experiences at such a young age. The memories I made will truly last a lifetime.

This experience was such a fun one for me that I would choose to do over and over again. it was a way of me actually getting out there and going outside my comfort zone. Since I also went to different countries it was so much fun to see all the cultural differences and to experience them all! This experience also gives you the freedom of traveling where you please. I was able to see so many countries I do not think I would have if I would not have gone on the trip. It also gives you good mature skills like budgeting because you are not allowed to work while in a different country being there for only a semester.