USAC Reviews

Prague was amazing, affordable, unique and fun. With the USAC staff located in Prague, there is 24/7 support for students whether it is an emergency, or you just want to go on a hike and don’t know where. They consistently provide opportunities to explore the city and surrounding natural areas providing many opportunities for adventure. Additionally, they provide crucial info regarding cultural norms such as tipping, acceptable behavior in public, how to use the public transportation, etc. Prague provides a unique experience to live in a true European city that has extremely affordable living as well as food and recreation. With many rivers nearby, hills to explore, and castles to be seen there is always something to do no matter what your hobbies are- Prague has it all!

Going over seas abroad was so scary to me at first. I was very worried that something was going to happen or that i wasn’t going to enjoy myself. I have flight complications getting there and the USAC team communicated with me so well and helped me get everything in order even though i was a day late! The classes were fun and exciting and we went on lots of little walks and trips during class which made my learning expirence much more enjoyable. The housing was ok, the only thing that was kinda of upsetting was that out apartment didn’t have an oven but besides that everything was amazing! I recommend USAC to people who want to study abroad and i was recommended by somone as well. Very good staff very friendly and were always there to help us and make sure we were having the best time we could! Love this program, and i would definitely would go back!

When I left for the airport on a rainy Detroit day, I had only hope and excitement for what was to come. Having just completed my freshman year and never traveled overseas, I had so much to learn. What would it be like going to a country where I knew absolutely nothing and nobody? Although it was slightly terrifying, it is also precisely why I chose to go to Prague. When it comes to study abroad, I highly recommend going out of your comfort zone. I can honestly say I learned so much not just about a new culture but about myself. I have been left with memories I will carry with me forever. If you've ever talked to someone about their experience studying abroad, I'm sure they've shared similar sentiments with you. What other programs don't have is the USAC Prague team. The people that run the program were another highlight of the trip. They gave tours around the city, showing us the best beer gardens and overlooks along the way (The Letna beer garden is a must *pictured below). They had stories of the recent Velvet Revolution and history that they happily shared. The program itself was a huge part of what made the trip so great. I looked through the classes I would be taking while there. A language course and an architectural history course. I knew I wanted to immerse myself in the culture, or at least know how to order at a restaurant. Learning the ever intriguing and complex Czech language ended up being a huge attribute during my time there for both ordering at restaurants and connecting with locals. If you are looking to widen your knowledge on buildings, culture, or just plain life, do not hesitate. Go to Prague, maybe have a beer or two and enjoy the moment with new friends.

I had been abroad before, but actually studying abroad was my dream. I chose Italy for several factors. I had the time of my life and would recommend others to study abroad too, in Italy or another country. Schooling was okay. It was a little frustrating because our schedules changed every week. We had the entire schedule ahead of time but it would be nice to have a set schedule to make planning and traveling easier without having to scour the schedule to make sure it worked out. Our housing wasn’t the best. I heard the semester after us had more options, but we felt really unwelcome in our building and lots of things broke and went wrong. Hopefully having more options made the housing experience a little better. Our building was also very very far from school. It was either a 45-60 min walk or a 20 min bus ride with an additional 15 min of walking. A closer building would have been a lot easier. Verona is beautiful and full of history. There’s so much character there, be sure to take advantage of it and get to know your new home city! The traveling experience was also incredible. Verona is a little tougher to get to other places simply because the airport is really small, and to get to bigger cities is time consuming because you have to travel by train or bus to get to the bigger metropolitan area airports. But it’s worth it. Being able to travel to so many different countries for so cheap and just for the weekend is something I’ll never forget. Studying abroad was definitely an experience to remember. I’ll always tell people to make the jump and just do it. You will never regret it.

I was very proud to have studied abroad in Shanghai, China and met very good advisors such back in spring of 2016. However, the fun and safety doesn't really rank the highest. There were a problems during my study abroad there, people didn't get to really meet each other and off for themselves. Also, several of my friends had lost their phones, money, and going everywhere that has ripped my friends off. My roommate is also puking several times after a late night out bar and entering the dorms at 3 am or later.

Torino was fine, but it did not keep my interest for the full-year that I was living there fore. Therefore, I did not stay in my host country that often. I traveled to other countries as much as I possibly could and would recommend the same to anyone who is placed in a good travel hub within continental Europe. Italy is wonderful, but there are so many other lively cultures just around the corner that are waiting to be explored! And if you do it right, traveling throughout Europe can be very inexpensive. If you plan ahead and are organized, traveling to and around other counties will become second nature.

Pau is a wonderful little city—it’s not a rural village or a big city, but a great middle ground of the two. It’s a great place to study as the academics are intense but fun, and it’s also a central area from which you can travel to multiple areas: for example, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Biarritz, St Jean de Luz, Lourdes, the Pyrenees and multiple cities in Spain are all within three hours of Pau. The Pyrenees offer incredible views and beautiful areas which are all accessible in Pau. For travel, however, you have to really figure out the public transportation system. It is fairly cheap, but because it is run by the government, it can be subject to strikes or delays with no notice; however, overall it was still an effective way to get around. Pau itself is a quiet city, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you want to go clubbing every night. But if you want to learn the French language, make great friends, explore the world or just live abroad for a semester, I would definitely recommend Pau.

I enjoyed Shanghai. I can get a sense of international presence while at China. Also we meet both locals and foreign residents. So we can get a sense of diversity. It’s major city of commerce at Chinese. There are many different dining options, so we can have both Chinese and Western food. Transportation is convenient, so the metro can bring us everywhere we go. There are few downsides. The internet is both restricted and slow. Some people lack manners such as spitting on the streets. Also Shanghai’s environment still has room to improve. Other than that, most of my experience is positive.

I went on a study abroad to Pau, France and it changed my life. I met and studied with people of all ages and all nationalities and got to learn about each of their cultures. I lived with a hist family with whom I developed a great respect and love for the French lifestyle - we did everything together from travelling to cooking to going on casual picnics and strolls in the park - my favorite memory. I got to travel and see the world and experience all types of cultures and people. After the program, I desperately want to go back and make a career for myself in France one day. I’d advise future abroad students to never be afraid to speak! Use your language skills at the market, the restaurant, etc!

This study abroad program to osaka/kobe was LIFE CHANGING. I had a great time! I lived in an international dorm, and was able to become lifelong friends with many international students. I made many Japanese friends as well. I have met many of my friends in their home countries after the program ended!
The school was AMAZING. I learned so much Japanese in just 5 months. The location is in a good cultural hub of the country; there are many natives and international people there. The school had great facilities: a good gym, pool, cafeterias, stores, and libraries. Everything I needed was within walking distance of the dorm.
This program is great for learning Japanese. The teachers pushed for us to use Japanese in and out of class, and rarely used English.
The location was SUPERB! The city is located in between many tourist areas, such as Himeji Castle, Kyoto, and downtown Osaka. The campus was located at the base of a mountain, the top of which holds amazing views of the city! You could go anywhere in the country by bus, train or plane for a cheap price.
All in all, this program was outstanding! I will never forget it, and it has changed my life!