USAC Reviews

I spent the summer of 2016 in Lüneburg and it was beyond amazing! The on-site staff are so kind and helpful when you need something or have questions. They even had weekly cultural activities like afternoon cake-time and stuff like that just to check in with us!

The city itself is gorgeous, historical, and has everything you need and more. It is small enough to be cozy and see everything in a summer semester, but big enough to offer city amenities also.

One of my favorite things is the restaurant on the river! It is a must-try.

And, not to mention, it was all for the same price that I would've paid at my college anyways! USAC is terrific is so terrific and budget friendly, you simply couldn't ask for better.

It was hands-down the best summer of my life.

Do yourself a favor and do NOT spend your money on this program. I wish I could go back and tell myself that before I made the mistake of selecting this program. The organization and academics of this program are a literal disaster and something you should steer clear of. USAC should be embarrassed at the level of quality this program has.
Krakow is an amazing place, but USAC made it impossible to enjoy because of how little they did to ensure the program's success. Classes and professors weren't clear on expectations and the syllabi that USAC makes the professors create are not followed. There are barely any resources to do papers and research because there are no resources in English. The on-site staff had little to no involvement after the first week. The USAC website lies about what is included in program fees, as we did not ever go to Zakopane or the Tatra Mountains. The Vienna and Budapest trip was the biggest waste of $400, as the USAC website also lied about what we would be doing on that trip (you only go to art museums and USAC only pays for hotels, nothing else).
We were not immersed in local culture because, as USAC so graciously leaves out, we only took classes with the people in the USAC program (12 people for my semester). They did not introduce us to any local students or mentors when we got there, and we found ourselves feeling very lost and left out in the cold. The staff was hard to reach and did not seem to care about our experience until all of us complained to higher-ups in the organization.
I 100% regret my decision of choosing a USAC study abroad program and would not recommend them to anyone.

Completing this academically intensive program that lasted for 10 months was one of my life's crowning achievements and first successes along with my military service as an officer.

I don't think there is any other study abroad country where one can advance as quickly in Spanish as USAC's program in Costa Rica. I took an equivalent of 3 years of university level Spanish in 1 year. The professors and administrative staff were the warmest and most supportive people i've ever encoutered anywhere in the world and our committed to every student's success which falls nothing short of accompanying me to doctor's appointments or meeting me outside of school to tutor me. No hubiera podido hacer este programa con éxito sin su apoyo! Which means roughly "I would not have been able to do this program successfully without their support" to demonstrate the uses of haber which fallows a participio.

Though there are also many ery fun scheduled group activities as well where you can cultivate lifelong frienships and great memories.

I would recommend anyone to study abroad if they have the chance and if they are interested in learning Spanish and about Latin America I would put the USAC Heredia program on the top of the list!

I was unsure about the whole studying abroad experience, however when I came across Alicante, Spain I was sold. I saw that this city offered a service-learning experience in which students get the opportunity to volunteer with a local non-profit organization.
This was the one reason I chose this location. I didn't know what was in store but I was in for a surprise. It was definitely more than I expected!
The university is great and only a tram ride away! The onsite staff is amazing and it shows that they care for the students and enjoy their job. I also participated in the teaching assistant program and in tutoring which was a great way to learn more about the beautiful country of Spain! Aside from that Alicante is such a small and beautiful city that has a home feel. Definitely recommend studying here!

I have to say, this was the most memorable time of my life. I decided to do the year long program and with confidence I can say I have no regrets. First semester, I lived in one of the dorms offered. I had my own room, but shared the kitchen and bathroom with 3 other lovely ladies from different parts of the world. The school from the dorm was about a 20 minute trip but the sights you got to see as you walk to the school made up for the distance. The school was nice, classes close to each other and not to mention the cafeteria food was the BEST I ever had. As for the classes, if you are looking to learn Japanese, this is the place for you. I entered this program knowing only "Hello" and "Goodbye", but leaving the program with the ability to converse properly in Japanese!! Aside from Japanese, their international studies courses were amazing as well!!

I do want to say though, I kind of had a bad experience with the school in Japan. I'll admit, it was partly my fault since I should have paid more attention to deadlines. But the way the office was towards me was unprofessional and rude. I know that we re just students and technically guests in Japan, but a little bit more of respect and understanding would be appreciative.

Second semester I loved with a host family. Luckily for me, my host family lived 5 minutes away from campus. But aside from that, my host family was absolutely wonderful. They taught me how to cook, new Japanese words, and treated me as one of their own. If you ever decide to do the yearlong program, please try the dorm and homestay!!

Now for the city, or should I say cities. Osaka, Kobe, I miss you both oh so much. Both bustling and full of life. So much to see and do; so much to eat and drink (as in the different kinds of teas and soda flavors Japan had to offer). Oh, and Universal Studio Japan? You can't go wrong with that!!

This program taught me so much real life lessons. This program allowed me to see sights I have never seen before. Lastly, this program taught me that I can do anything, as long as I believe in myself. I believe that if you decide to attend this program, you too will have an amazing experience.

For many years I have wanted to visit Seoul, South Korea, and this program gave me the opportunity to do so. South Korea has one of the most dynamic societies I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Seoul is an absolutely gorgeous city filled with a rich culture yet modern economy. On the same street, you can see modern high rises that rival any countries and traditional food stands. Speaking of food, everything is delicious and cheap. Anywhere you go in Seoul, there will always be someone making food that you can consume, either at the stands or walking. There are also plenty of places to buy things, so make sure to pack lightly.

The people in Seoul are generally very kind and respectful. They are willing to assist you if you're lost or need anything else. Foreigners are overall very welcome within South Korea.

Korean fashion is also unique in comparison to the fashion present in the USA. Every district in Korea seems to have formed its own type of clothing. Hongdae is where most people are dressed in street-wear whereas Gangnam is where most people wear name-brand clothing that costs more than my left arm.

Kookmin University is also a wonderful school, located in a very beautiful part of Seoul. There is not much to do around the school, but if you cross the street, some more traditional-style restaurants can be found if you just go down the stairs. The campus itself is very well put together. There are many trees and lovely plants not native to the USA as well as a large dragon fountain right at the entrance of the school. If you're looking for some cool spots on campus, the Student Union building has a wonderful bakery right outside the doors of the second floor (try the Squid Ink Bread, it's basically the best thing I've ever eaten).

I can't say much about the on/off-campus dorms or even the Stay4U accommodations, as I lived off-campus the entire year I studied in Korea. If you are planning on living in on-campus dorms, be aware that there is a curfew and it's quite far from where most young people like to go to hang out. If you are looking for accommodations off-campus, I would suggest looking into an AIRBNB, Seoul's Craiglist (it's not as shady as American Craigslist, but still be careful) or even on Facebook Marketplace.

Overall the city is very welcoming to those who love city life, so I encourage you to take the leap and go there. The only thing I would suggest is that you arrive in Korea with some knowledge of culture, respect, and the Korean language. You do not have to be completely fluent in Korean, but being able to read it is very helpful when getting around.

Also, if you plan on staying for a year, you should look into getting a bank card attached to your transit card, it makes traveling and purchasing things much easier. There is even a bank on Kookmin campus that can help you do this! Good luck and have fun!

I had the most memorable, fun, and unique semester here in Alicante! I am so happy that I got the chance to study and explore this beautiful Mediterranean city. The USAC Alicante staff are so welcoming and caring to the students. Choose Alicante, Spain!! I am so grateful that I had the opportunity and support to study abroad in Alicante, Spain. I fell in love with the language, people, classes, city, beach, public transportation, local cuisine, and traveling. This experience had been so much more meaningful to me that I had anticipated. In my time abroad I’ve seen so many European historical sites, gained incredible memories, and discovered different perspectives through my classes and friends. I had done some traveling with my family before, but actually living in a different country and assimilating to the culture and ways of doing things has definitely had a greater effect on me. To immerse myself more in the culture I started tutoring kids in english twice a week. I also have an intercambio, that I meet up with to talk in spanish and in english. I had gotten a lot more confident and enthusiastic about speaking spanish since I have been here. I have noticed my progression of becoming more independent since being abroad. Through traveling and having to be on top of things with boarding passes, packing, metro systems, hostels, and safety, I feel like I have come a long way and gained a lot of knowledge! Some of my ideas about what are important and worth stressing about have also shifted for the better I believe. During my time abroad I met so many open minded, special individuals that I couldn’t imagine life without. My semester in Alicante flew by faster than any other. If I could give one piece of advice to a prospective study abroad student, it would be to be present in where you are in the world and enjoy every moment of it! Living and studying in a different country is such an extraordinary journey that is unique for everyone.

Studying abroad in Prague was surreal. The city is absolutely beautiful & culturally rich & along with that, almost everything is cheap. Beers are legit $1< for half a liter at grocery stores.
There are three different apartment buildings. Two of them are in prime location right on top of one of the most central metro stations in the city, and the other apartment is about a 15 minute walk uphill from these two apartments. Overall, the apartments are in a great location right in the heart of the city, walking distance from the most popular clubs, bars, restaurants, and attractions. As for the interior of the apartments, they’re hit or miss. Some flats are nice and some are not so nice, but for the most part they are cozy and easily livable. Big rooms and high ceilings, can’t complain about that.
All of the courses take place at one specific building and you will only be taking classes with the people in the program, so class sizes can vary from 3 people to 30. Some might complain that you don’t get to interact with Czech students, but that’s not an issue as long as you’re socially active. The academics in the program are not very challenging to say the least, but are still very educational. If you pick the right classes you will have absolutely no school work & will be able to travel & party all week.
I can’t emphasize how important it is to make friends with a majority of the program & go out frequently together. Not only is nightlife cheap, but it’s fun. You’ll seriously regret it if you shelter yourself the whole semester. The friendships & bonds made will be well worth it.
I tried to sum up the things most are curious about that aren’t talked about or are hard to find info on, so I hope it helps.
Just don’t be a loser. Have fun. You’re young and only in Prague once.

Studying abroad in Prague was surreal. The city is absolutely beautiful & culturally rich & along with that, almost everything is cheap. Beers are legit $1< for half a liter at grocery stores.

There are three different apartment buildings. Two of them are in a prime location right on top of one of the most central metro stations in the city, and the other apartment is about a 15-minute walk uphill from these two apartments. Overall, the apartments are in a great location right in the heart of the city, walking distance from the most popular clubs, bars, restaurants, and attractions. As for the interior of the apartments, they’re hit or miss. Some flats are nice and some are not so nice, but for the most part, they are cozy and easily livable. Big rooms and high ceilings, can’t complain about that.

All of the courses take place at one specific building and you will only be taking classes with the people in the program, so class sizes can vary from 3 people to 30. Some might complain that you don’t get to interact with Czech students, but that’s not an issue as long as you’re socially active. The academics in the program are not very challenging, to say the least, but are still very educational. If you pick the right classes you will have absolutely no school work & will be able to travel & party all week.
I can’t emphasize how important it is to make friends with a majority of the program & go out frequently together. Not only is nightlife cheap, but it’s fun. You’ll seriously regret it if you shelter yourself the whole semester. The friendships & bonds made will be well worth it.

I tried to sum up the things most are curious about that aren’t talked about or are hard to find info on, so I hope it helps.
Just don’t be a loser. Have fun. You’re young and only in Prague once.

I chose Chile because I wanted to discover and ultimately fall in love with a country I knew nothing about prior to my choosing to live and study there. The USAC Santiago program had all of the program aspects I was looking for: the ability to have all my classes in Spanish, the accessibility to traveling advice (and friends to travel with), and the option to live with a host family. I loved my professors (especially Señor Julián Gutiérrez); they made Spanish fun and surprisingly easier to learn. I loved my program director and advisors; they were so easy to talk to and always were down to talk and have fun. The friends I made are all super unique and amazing in their own ways (both local university students and the students sharing my foreign exchange experience in Santiago). But my host family was the best aspect of it all; they taught me to cook, corrected my Spanish, and accepted me as their own. That was definitely the best part of the entire thing - knowing that, even in a foreign country with zero familiarity, there is a family for you that accepts you and that you could always turn to.
As for some advice: definitely opt for a host family for the ultimate integration experience. Apartments are cool, and you definitely have some more freedom, but when it comes to living in your typical Santiago barrio with a cool family that cooks and cleans for you as well as gives you unlimited advice and guidance, you really can't go wrong. Practice your Spanish as much as you can, even if you're embarrassed! People will always appreciate your effort and you will definitely learn more than you ever thought possible. Finally, don't be afraid to travel! Chile is the most amazing place and country ever, and South America is an entirely different world (geographically, at least). Take advantage of your time in a big city, but also don't forget that the Andes and Torres del Paine are waiting for you!