Program Reviews

I absolutely loved my experience in Cork Ireland. USAC did a lovely job of creating group outings that were a reasonable frequency, with a reasonable time commitment that were meant to help us explore different parts of Ireland! I think that Ireland as a whole is also a great jumping off point for exploring all of the rest of Europe, since tickets to and from Dublin to other countries are generally pretty inexpensive and affordable, so it's a great place to begin Europe adventures. The public transportation is also incredible in all of ireland, making it super easy to go throughout all of the country on any off days!

The study abroad program provided such an immersive, fun, and educating experience!! I had the best semester in Italy and learned so much about the culture and will carry this time for the rest of my life. Forever grateful!! I would recommend to anyone that wants a change of pace and wants to travel. Italy provides great food, and the best sites. There is so much to see and explore in Italy and every night provides something to be cherished. I cannot recommend going to Viterbo enough. You will get to know the language and the country in important ways and it is life changing.

My experience with the USAC 2024 Study Abroad program in Verona, Italy, was truly unforgettable. Studying in Verona gave me the perfect balance of academic learning, cultural exploration, and personal growth. The city itself is Amazing; there are fresh markets and delicious ristorantes all over the city. Beyond Verona, I had the opportunity to travel throughout Italy, discovering the beauty of places like Rome, Florence, and Venice. Each destination offered its own unique flavor, and of course, the food everywhere was nothing short of amazing. You can also go to Austria by train, which I highly recommend.

I would highly recommend the USAC Verona, Italy program to anyone considering a study abroad experience. It’s not just about studying in a new place; it’s about immersing yourself in Italian culture, experiencing unforgettable adventures, and creating lasting memories with friends who feel like family.

Lyon truly has it all, and USAC serves as the perfect liaison, setting you up with a community and a multitude of opportunities to become involved within Lyon. From meandering open-air markets to exploring les traboules, to attending the orchestra, plays, and opera, eating lunch in Roman ruins, and having access to a myriad of museums, and of course impeccable cuisine, Lyon has so much to offer. The program directors always had their door open for drop-in questions or simply tea and a chat. USAC provides incredible support, helping mitigate the tedious and often daunting paperwork and logistics that coincide with living abroad. The language program itself is a neat design that sets you up for success in your French learning journey - it's incredible how much progress you make without realizing. I highly recommend taking the classes offered to USAC students that are in French; it will definitely accelerate your learning process - if fluency is your goal. USAC Lyon is the perfect program for someone who wants to study abroad and get outside their comfort zone, while also having a support system upon arrival.

My time studying abroad in Lyon was truly unforgetable. The USAC program provided so many amazing opportunities for students to get a fully immersive experience. I got to participate in a language exchange with other French University students, volunteer with young friend kids, and learn about the history of Lyon in my classes. There was ample time to travel without having to miss classes, and tons of amazing things to do in the city as well. I will forever cherish the friends and memories I made!

I absolutely loved my time studying abroad with USAC in Chiang Mai, Thailand! The city is wonderful (as somebody who is not a city person), very walk-able, and near to a lot of other great places to visit. The CMU USAC staff are phenomenal and planned a ton of great events to help us get to know the area and were great resources for everything. The Thai buddies program that USAC sets up is a really great way to meet Thai students and get to know the area better. The courses were not very difficult (compared to my usual STEM courses) but they were very engaging. Chiang Mai is very affordable and I always felt safe. The food is phenomenal, I miss it every day! I got my degree in geology and didn't take any major related courses while abroad, but I still had a lot of opportunities to engage with my field outside of classes. I truly cannot recommend this program enough!

I had the wonderful opportunity to study an academic year abroad at Yonsei University! I know there's a general impression of study abroad where people see it as overhyped and way too expensive. I had this same idea of study abroad before I started my program, but it really proved me wrong. I had incredible experiences, met life-long friends, and made memories that'll I'll cherish forever! As an out of state student whose tuition is covered by FAFSA grants and loans I was really scared that to go abroad I might have to take out additional loans, but USAC's program tuition was really reasonable and the process was very straightforward, so I was really stressing more than I needed to! Study abroad was by far the best decision I've made in my college career, but I know that it took me awhile to get over my own skepticism. So, all I'll say is you really will never know until you try it for yourself!

The leadership was exceptional. Under Olga and Stefano I felt extremely comfortable to ask any questions and was taken care of with so much attention. The professors are amazing, mostly professors who freelance and work at other universities in Lyon, like Lyon 2. Finally, I have to mention their exceptional job in coordinating housing. I still talk to my host maman Chantal and the community I was able to build with her friends and family would not have been possible without the lovely people at USAC.

I attended USAC in Uruguay as a way to help complete my requirements for my degree in International Language and Culture: Spanish. This program had so much language immersion from living with a host family to having courses in Spanish. I felt that I grew my speaking abilities through the format of the program. The program directors were so helpful in giving recommendations and accommodating what we wanted from the program that I was able to see so much during the month I was there. It was a great experience for Spanish immersion!

Studying abroad with USAC in Torino was truly a life changing experience. I was scared to leave my friends and family, moving to Europe not knowing anyone in my program. However, as soon as I landed in Torino I had already met such amazing people. Little did I know that I would make lifelong friends! We were a program of about 40 students and became as close as one group could possibly be. Torino is such an amazing city, from its architecture and art to food and culture! Our program directors, Eliana and Danielle, were extremely kind and welcoming and became great role models for us all. The program trips were so much fun and I encourage you to take advantage of all of them. We were fortunate to be able to visit Lake Como and a wine tour in the Piedmont region. If you are thinking about studying abroad with USAC, do it! It was truly the best 5 months of my life.