Program Reviews

I studied abroad in Galway two summers ago and I still reminisce about my time there every day. When I first arrived, I was nervous about the group: everyone had different areas of studies and went to different U.S. universities. I knew no one. But Mark, Tim, and Angus (among other USAC staff) planned a walking tour of Dublin when we first arrived, allowing me to meet and bond with my peers; we all suffered the same jet lag, having arrived just a few hours before. Beginning the program in Dublin allowed the group to arrive in Galway as friends. Some of my favorite memories were reading in the park with everyone after class and sharing a few pints at the local University tavern: Sult. As for academics, I thoroughly enjoyed both my Irish literature and Irish history classes; both allowed me to better understand and engage with the culture where I was living. I'm grateful for this experience, as I left Galway with lifelong friends and memories.

My study abroad experience with USAC was truly unforgettable and offered the perfect balance of cultural immersion and support. I loved how involved I could be in the local community, especially through English tutoring Spanish students (and getting paid!), as well as participating in a Spanish language exchange where I practiced my Spanish while helping a Spaniard improve their English. The housing was conveniently located in the city, making it easy to explore and feel fully immersed in daily life. From the moment I arrived, the USAC staff was incredibly welcoming and consistently went out of their way to help my roommates and me whenever any issues arose. The program also offered a variety of free excursions that allowed us to indulge in the culture and discover some of the best-kept local secrets. One of my favorite experiences was taking a traditional Spanish cooking class, which I highly recommend—we made paella and many other classic Spanish cuisine staples.

During my junior year of undergrad, I knew I wanted to study abroad to see the world and gain valuable experience and knowledge to take with me back to the states. I had hit a bump in the road looking for different programs that were affordable, friendly/welcoming, and full of opportunity until I came across USAC. USAC had everything I was looking for and turned out to be everything I hoped for and more! From the extensive language and cultural immersion, to the friendships I made, USAC made my study abroad experience one that I’ll never forget. The staff, faculty, and friends that worked alongside me at USAC prioritized my success and overall experience. I was able to take a windsurfing course, enhance my Spanish skills, and travel to various parts of the city with included program field trips. I highly recommend USAC for anyone considering studying abroad, you definitely won’t retreat it!!

I loved my time aboard. It taught me so much such as how to stand on my own two feet, how to navigate in a new system, and how to interact with people of different backgrounds. USAC made this possible by setting up a lot of things for me and by putting me in contact with the people I needed to be in contact with. By taking care of my housing, schooling, and overall set up, I was able to focus my time on taking care of me. USAC also put me in contact with other people who were traveling to the same place as me, so I was able to make friends with people before I even got there.

Though I only did a short 5 weeks program here, I miss it every day. The town is perfect and so beautiful especially in the summer. The academics were perfectly challenging and the university was great. We also got a ton of support from our advisors 24/7. The housing was nice for me because I did a shared apartment where a lot of other students were so we got to meet a lot of different people. Weekends were limited which would be my only complaint but overall a great experience that I would do again.

This program was really incredible for improving my language skills! Many people spoke English, so it was easy to struggle in my second language along with the people I was speaking with. There was very little pressure and often times people would help me or give me to space to express myself. The classes were also very helpful with us starting class by sharing what slang we learned! I chose Lyon for the academics and even though that was my priority I fell in love with the city. Lyon is a large city but has a smaller city feel. There was so much to explore but it didn't feel too overwhelming. As Lyon was very influential city for the French resistance during WWII, there is a lot of history embedded into the city. There were so many opportunities to meet people in and outside of the university and program. I was able to engage with French language and culture as well as engage with the immigrant communities! The onsite staff were also incredible and helped me through many situations!

Studying abroad in Donosti (San Sebastian) was one of the greatest experiences of my life. The USAC faculty in Donosti are the best people who truly care about educating and sharing Donosti // the Basque country with others. I learned so much during my short time abroad, not only in terms of the course materials, but also in terms of self-exploration and the exploration of a new place. The program had a great work-life balance, the city is beautiful and safe, and there is always something new and exciting occurring. The Basque Country is full of incredible, welcoming people, and I am honored I had the chance to study here.

This study abroad experience was the best experience of my life. I can't recommend it enough. I got to take incredible classes and go on phenomenal adventures. I got to cross so many things off my bucket list, and I made so many amazing friends. This program had such a deep impact on me that I am trying to study abroad again. This is something that I truly believe every human being should experience. I learned how to be more independent than I had ever been before, and I learned how to explore and do things just because I wanted to do them. If you are even thinking about doing study abroad, seriously, do it. You won't regret it.

I loved spending my senior year in Viterbo. I graduated with a degree in biology, but I also loved the various classes I took, including history, anthropology, Italian, and politics. I enjoyed listening to all the professor's lectures and writing papers on topics I would not have otherwise researched.

I personally loved the city because it was more homey and quiet. It is busy during the festival around the Macchina di Santa Rosa, but otherwise expect to learn Italian to talk to shopkeepers (it is hard but worth it). Rome is in such close proximity that you can take advantage of the trains to travel. I often spent weekends traveling around Italy and loved it. The airport is very efficient, and it was pleasant flying out of there when I visited some other countries.

I met wonderful people. Everyone was smart, kind, and fun. It was an opportunity to meet people from universities across the United States. I look back on the memories I created with everyone in my cohort at least once a week and miss them thoroughly. I made some life-long friends and visit them around the United States with my newfound love of traveling.

I would recommend that anyone planning on studying abroad plan their trips very early on. It may feel rushed and hard, but doing so will ensure you spend your time the way you want to. I loved all the adventures I went on!

This was my first time traveling alone and visiting a different continent, which made me very anxious. However, this culturally rich city exceeded my expectations in many ways. I got to try delicious croissants and baguettes, find my way despite the language barrier, and engage with French society’s identity and values. Lyon was the perfect place to immerse myself in French culture. It is large enough to explore for months, but not as overwhelming as Paris. Classes were challenging, but helpful.