USAC

Program Reviews

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Julia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Program Every

The professors were amazing; my Spanish improved so much in so little time. The entire program became really close, and I made two really great friends who I know will be lifelong. I spent my mornings in engaging and fun classes, then would spend my afternoons studying in cafes or the beach (or just hanging out with friends). In evenings, we would all surf together, and my roommates and I would often get pizza and watch the sunset together on the beach. The location is beautiful, and I always felt safe walking around. Absolutely loved it.

What was your funniest moment?
We traveled on the weekends and had so much fun, but we nearly missed our flights every time. If I were to do it over again I would be more timely lol.
Pros
  • Amazing location
  • Culture is Awesome
  • Surfing
Cons
  • Can get expensive if you travel
  • Rains a day or two a week
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Nancy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Dreaming of Cuba

It has been one semester since I did my winter travel abroad to Cuba and I miss it so much! My experience there was wonderful and I am constantly using something I learned, whether it is how I'm making my coffee these days or my global perspective on current events. USAC made it so easy. Being a non-Spanish speaker, I was realistically afraid. Yet, the Cuban people welcomed me and my poor attempts at Spanish. My favorite part was walking and exploring neighborhoods and restaurants. I felt very safe there. USAC arranged an abundance of activities for us including rides in classic cars, a Cuban ballet and museum visits. I learned so much. I regret not staying longer. I dream of one day returning to La Habana!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
The most nerve-racking moment was going through customs. Not being fluent in Spanish I was nervous about what to expect. It was very intuitive and english speakers helped reassure me where I needed to go. Cuban hospitality is amazing and the workers were very kind in helping locate my visa (it was waiting in Cuba for me) and proceed through the process. It was actually very easy in hindsight. My nervousness was unfounded! Once I made it through customs and retrieved my bag, a very visible host from the USAC program was waiting for me with ice cold water. It was such a blessing!
Pros
  • Global Awareness
  • Confidence Builder
  • Learning new things / Adventure
Cons
  • Injured foot walking in poor shoes on cobblestone
  • Currency took some getting used to
  • Humidity
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Sienna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience in San Sebastian

Studying abroad in San Sebastián, Spain was an unforgettable experience. The city's stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine made every day an adventure. The warm and welcoming locals, combined with excellent academic programs, provided a perfect blend of education and cultural immersion. I loved exploring the historic Old Town, indulging in pintxos, and learning Spanish in such a beautiful setting. San Sebastián's unique charm and the friendships I made there will stay with me forever.

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Alana
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Would 100% recommend

I loved this program! The program director was super supportive and helpful and the professors were also great. There is a lot to explore and do in Heredia and beyond. Classes kept me busy, but I still had time to explore and travel around Costa Rica during the weekends. If you are interested in increasing your confidence in Spanish or in Medical terminology in Spanish, I 100% recommend that you participate in this program. You will enjoy every second of it. Plus my Spanish has improved a ton since being here!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Don’t overpack! Pack light, you don’t need to carry around the extra weight.
Pros
  • Host families are awesome
  • Explore a beautiful country
  • Good public transportation
Cons
  • Somewhat expensive
  • Can be scary if new to spanish
  • Long class periods
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Keann
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Awesome for business students!

I loved my time in the Basque city of Bilbao, located in the northern region of Spain. Its culture is really unique and unlike other parts of the country. The USAC business classes offered were great and easily transferable to my home university, along with awesome electives like surfing or basque cooking (taught by a Michelin star chef!). The public transportation is very cheap and it costs less than 2 euro to get to the airport by bus. This makes traveling much easier and Bilbao Airport is a good hub to get to many places in Europe. There’s also a well connected long haul bus system, with companies like FlixBus, Alsa, etc conveniently located in the San mames central station. Being able to have the support of your fellow study abroad peers and the staff while adjusting to living in Europe makes the experience a lot more comfortable. Great food scene, art scene, nightlife, and shopping. Really the perfect sized big but not too overcrowded city, close enough to the beach as well. I think about my time there everyday and miss it so much. I wish everyone could study abroad in Bilbao!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I would have to say squid ink risotto. It’s a classic traditional Spanish dish that’s honestly pretty good, and you have to appreciate the love that Spanish chefs put into their cooking. I got to take a basque cooking class as well as try many of the restaurants in Bilbao, and it blows my mind how high quality with fresh ingredients even the simplest food can be.
Pros
  • Not many English speakers - great because you get to practice Spanish and feel more immersed!
  • Rich culture and appreciation of life- people here live life slow and appreciate it. Enjoy the food, drinks, shopping, live music, art, whatever it is!
  • Good international business courses - learn international business while in an international setting and absorb up to 10x more info, you see what you’re learning about everywhere around you!
Cons
  • Not many English speakers - it could feel alienating at times, and always having a feeling of anxiety before speaking to strangers is a lot mentally.
  • Big city, so some safety concerns. Stay with groups at night and be aware of your surroundings and you should be okay! But it is a big city so you definitely can feel a little sketched out in certain areas.
  • Sometimes hard to talk to the locals - some people are not very friendly, it was hard to meet local people to talk to.
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Grant
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best decision I’ve ever made!

I had a wonderful time studying abroad in Torino. I made so many great friends, experienced amazing cuisine and culture and learned how to travel internationally. Usac Torino has amazing advisors that not only watch over your academics and safety, but engage you into their city’s culture and lifestyle. I had a great time. I was able to travel to 4 neighboring countries during my time abroad including Germany, Switzerland, Monaco, and France. Studying abroad is truly a great experience and I recommend that everybody should do it.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I ate a lot of rabbit whilst abroad and it was tasty.
Pros
  • Great food
  • Great friends
  • Great people
Cons
  • Language barrier
  • Travel strikes
  • Communication issues
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Callie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Goals and Hopes Met

I chose Torino, Italy for a variety of reasons. I wanted to experience living in Europe and in a larger city, be culturally immersive, have academics that align with my interests, and practice a new language. If you're looking for something similar, Torino is the place for you! I loved living in a larger city, complete with a metro system, urbanized layout, and opportunities to experience city life. I was so happy with my immersion, too. I lived in a neighborhood alongside Italians and was exposed to every walk of life, from young children to older individuals. The academics were fantastic, too, as they catered to my international governance interests and smaller class sizes for a more personal experience. Overall, all of my goals and hopes were met in Torino, and more! I also got to travel frequently thanks to Torino's prime location and made endless memories that I will cherish forever!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I decided I wanted to try solo traveling before I went back to America. I was so terrified, but I went to Switzerland my last weekend before going home. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my time and I learned so much about myself! Not only this, but I also got to see new areas of culture and language since I was in a completely different country. I was so happy to have studied in Torino because it honed my traveling skills and is in a prime location for traveling, which properly prepared me for my solo adventure!
Pros
  • Easy to get around
  • Great food
  • Lots of cultural and language immersion!
Cons
  • Lots of partying within the program
  • Sometimes hard to connect with peers
  • N/A
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Megan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best 4 months of my life!

Studying abroad in San Sebastian, Spain gave me the most incredible memories, lifelong friends, and has changed me for the better.

The small cohort of students in the program makes for a very tight-knit group who get to experience all this city has to offer together, and the housing accommodations were gorgeous and perfectly located. The city is bursting with culture, and the food is to die for. Public transport made it super easy to get around, but the city is equally walkable. The beaches are absolutely stunning, and it was so easy to travel to other places from there.

This program is definitely best suited for lower-key individuals who enjoy more relaxing outings at night and are excited to interact with the culture. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better place to study abroad!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would say yes more! You only get to study abroad once and it is so important to take full advantage of all the opportunities
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Esther
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wouldn't change a thing!!!

This program was life-changing for me! The USAC staff was very helpful during the preparation/application process so I could complete my application and course registration without stress.
Korea University was the right choice for me. The campus is beautiful, spacious, and clean. There is a vibrant student culture, many fun traditions, and tons of school spirit!
There were also many opportunities to make friends and connections. At KU, you are automatically enrolled in an international student club where you can meet people from all different countries and backgrounds (including Korean students). You are assigned a group in which your Korean student leaders will teach you KU traditions and Korean culture. You will have many opportunities to experience life as a Korean student.
For those who wish to improve their Korean ability, there is a Language Exchange program where you can be paired with a Korean student to meet with throughout the semester for language and cultural exchange. I had an incredible experience with this and made lots of progress with my Korean proficiency.
I mainly took Korean language courses. The professors were all very kind, engaging, and helpful. Classes were challenging, but not overwhelming. I was able to balance school and personal life and manage my coursework while still having time to travel and meet with friends.
There are also many cute cafes and delicious restaurants around campus. It's a lot of fun to discover new study spots and places to hang out with friends. It didn't take long before I felt right at home at Korea University, and I will always think of it as a second home.
I have grown so much and made many lasting friendships through this program, and I wouldn't change a thing.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take advantage of the Korea University Buddy Assistants (KUBA). You will automatically be enrolled in this program. It is an amazing way to make friends and to experience Korean culture. There are so many events and opportunities that you can participate in, and it's by far the easiest way to make connections and start to feel at home in during your time in Korea.
Pros
  • Rich Culture
  • Beautiful Campus
  • Delicious Food
Cons
  • Cultural Differences
  • Lots of Walking
  • Strict Class Attendance
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Max
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My time in Spain!

Studying abroad in Spain for a year allowed me to grow as a person so much. Being in a new country experiencing new cultures such as soccer clubs, different cuisines, taking cooking classes are all different experiences I’ll never forget. USAC also offered many fun excursions that allowed you to build new relationships with your program. One of my favorite parts about studying abroad was how easy and convenient it was to travel all around Europe. If your debating studying abroad, I heavily recommend studying through USAC as they have an amazing group of teachers and staff and are very helpful and supportive.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Stay in hostels as much as possible as it’s a great way to meet new friends and people at a very affordable rate.
Pros
  • Experience new cultures
  • Travel is very convenient
  • Try new food
Cons
  • Miss family and friends
  • Could get homesick
  • Language barriers