USAC Reviews

I loved my time abroad in Chiang Mai and feel that it has shaped who I am and what I want to do in life. Chiang Mai is a beautiful city with a rich culture and this program really gave me the opportunity to explore and appreciate it for what it is. There are plenty of opportunities to mingle with locals and students, speak and learn the language, and travel to other parts of Thailand and Southeast Asia! Some of the classes were really informational and fun, and there are definitely plenty of learning opportunities outside of the classroom setting as well. My love for Thailand lies in Chiang Mai and Southeast Asia and the experiences I had during my time studying there last year, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering studying abroad!

Maastricht is a small town in the Southernmost province of the Netherlands, nestled just 2 hours from both Brussels and Cologne. You'll feel immediately at home in this quaint town. Meeting other people is easy as you live in an international guesthouse with not just other Americans, but students from all over the world. In classes, there is no separation between you and the traditional Maastricht University students. With a ton of faculties, it is possible to take courses in nearly every field of study with ease. Many of the American students complete their program through the Center for European Studies (CES), which is a great group of advisors who take you step by step through the application process, choosing and registering for classes, and organize trips with the whole group throughout the semester (Berlin, Paris, etc.). I could not have imagined a better program, for it was nice to have a smaller town to come back to every week after traveling, the immense help from the CES team, the people I got the chance to meet and the amazing courses I got the chance to take.

This was a great trip. If you like to drink than the island of Florianopolis is the place to be. There are many bars and clubs if you like the night life. During the day on the other hand, has lots of options from going on hikes to enjoying the sun on the beach. The locals on this island are very nice and it is a relative safe place in Brazil. You will fit in on the island of Florianopolis if you're a white american, most individuals are mixed with European decent. The staying arrangements were more than great, i had a large bed and im a relatively big human. The director of the USAC program is the man, he will guide you with any assistance you need to get on your way. The other participants of the program made it a great time too. Even though we didn't know each other from the beginning, we bonded and by the end of the program left as best friends. The food is absolutly amazing, those Brazilians really put something else in their food.

I loved my time in Vaxjo. The small town really felt like home. The Swedes were so welcoming and nice and the University was lovely! It was not the classic study abroad experience but I still loved it. Even though the housing was terrible, the community made up for it and then some! I really enjoyed getting to experience Swedish culture and so many others as well. Swedish culture is very relaxed and it was so peaceful where we lived. We would travel on weekends and return to the peaceful town and relax. The classes were very enjoyable and not overbearing. The social life was great, especially if you make friends with some local Swedes, they are so welcoming to international students (especially since Linneaus is an international university)

Pros: Beautiful city, beautiful campus, very stimulating and discussion based classes, professors really care and are willing to take time to help you, great region if studying politics, conflict, religion, or archaeology

Cons: The school was pretty segregated from the rest of the town. It was a bit of a bus ride, and the buses didn't really run on Shabat, so you felt stranded. The university felt very Americanized, not much different from my home university. Also, the International School's administration was an absolute joke. They were not good at responding to problems, especially promptly. I had an issue with my internship, and was berated by the program director when I brought it up to her. I did not feel supported or heard, at all. They had an 'open door policy', but we joked that it meant nothing because no one was ever there that could help.

I had a blast in this program. Everything was great and the timing was wonderful with the GIAF. Perfect for students on the quarter system who still want to be able to work in the summer.
Do not skip the day trips and go to the arts festival whenever you can, they're so much fun and a great way to see the country and culture. Bring sea bands or ginger for the trip to the Aran Islands though.
I highly recommend taking an afternoon to walk to Menlo Castle, it's just across the river and has some interesting history.
If you take a trip to Blarney, DO NOT KISS THE STONE.
Bring at least 2 pairs of good walking/hiking shoes, one pair will get wet and you want a dry pair to change into.
The music class is fun, but I wouldn't say it's terribly enlightening if you're a music major already. The theater class is very much worth it.

This was the best city ever and another home of mine now. San Sebastian as a city has everything you could need and is accessible to do all. With being a smaller city, you are able to experience more and learn more about the Basque culture. USAC provides great classes and makes sure you are comfortable in the class you are taking. One of the best add ones for me was doing the Madrid field study which allowed me to experience another part of the country and see 3 other cities that I would not have gone to without this field study! USAC made it able for me to stay with a family so I only spoke Spanish allowing my skills to significantly improve and have help if I was struggling on a homework assignment. USAC also had excursions that brought me to places I would not have traveled as well.

USAC has a way of making students feel welcomed, safe, and excited all simultaneously. I was so anxious to find my way from the Chiang Mai airport to my dorm building at the University. 1. Because I did not know the language. 2. Because it was a new country and I was what Thai's call a "farang," a foreigner, who could be easily manipulated by "taxi! tuk-tuk! where you going mam?" Luckily, USAC arranged transportation for students who wish to take it in situations like this and I am so happy that we have this option!

USAC also arranged a ton of activities to immerse ourselves in the culture! Some of the activities included:
- Cultural Art Crafts: Students were able to create ceramic cups, paper crafts, and tie-dye fabric
- Trekking Tours: We were guided through the forest by a local family who owned a tour company. We saw beautiful sights, learned about the nature around us, and stayed at a local home stay.

In addition as someone who is pursuing a career as a humanitarian, I was very interested in volunteering/interning. I worked at a Blind School teaching English and it was one of the most remarkable experiences to date. If you have the opportunity to volunteer or intern at a local organization, do it! They are always looking for help and you won't regret it!

I am so happy I chose USAC as my program of choice. I had a great time and would not choose to have it any other way!

My semester was incredible and I had so much fun studying abroad. I was able to see so much of not only a France but all of Europe for a decently affordable price. I enjoyed the freedom of staying in a dorm, but those who lived with host families had an even more enhanced experience and I feel like it’s a better way to learn the culture and language. Classes were difficult to get used to at first, but I really loved most of my professors and I learned so much. I wish I tried a little harder to meet other French students on campus, but I definitely made great friends with people in my program. The excursions organized by USAC were some of the highlights of my semester and I always felt safe and supported. If you can, definitely go on the optional tour at the beginning of the semester! It is totally worth it.

USAC was one of the best experiences of my life! The staff was welcoming and supportive, the location of Prague was incredible, and the opportunities for excursions were endless. We hiked, we toured the city, we went to Vienna and Budapest. I also got to volunteer for an international school, even further enriching my experience. And in class, we took walks through the city to visit the places we learned about in class. I will never forget this experience and I am so grateful to USAC that I was able to study in Prague and have the best semester ever!!

One thing that I will continue to remember about my semester abroad was when we moved my literature class a few hours early and to the Charles Bridge. We watched the sunrise while reading Czech poems. Then we walked to monuments of Czech poets and discussed their lives.