USAC Reviews

The USAC program in Bangalore, India, gave me one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. Before I get into the fun and thrilling adventures I had, I want to say USAC provided excellent housing (especially for the living standards of India), and had a security guard and a gated entrance into the building. We were 200ft. from the hussle and bussle of a crowded city and I always felt 100% safe. Now, the best part of about Bangalore is that it is the 'Silicon Valley' of India, and because it much more industrialized than other parts of India, it was very easy to find things to do every night. We went to beer gardens, Indian clubs, large commercial shopping centers, there was always something to do! At the end of the night you could flag a rickashaw to take you home for a very low rate. I truly experienced the perfect mesh of both rural and urban India.

I'm really glad I chose to study abroad in Bilbao. The city truly became my second home. I am so thankful for my host family as they were the best part of my experience. I would definitely recommend this housing option.

I also really appreciate the TABC program. Teaching English helped give me a better direction in what I was doing with my degree. Plus it was nice to get the stipend.

The language classes challenge you but aren't overwhelming. Definitely do the whole track!

The Hague is THE best place to study abroad. It is an international hub and you will certainly meet people from all over the world. Plus it is a great location in Western Europe that provides convenience for those looking to travel to other countries. Choose The Hague and enjoy the Dutch culture, the many bike rides, the intriguing coffee shops, and the diverse student body.

I grew up in the American West, far away from my family's homeland. I have always been familiar with our history, however, having been reared in the largest Basque community outside of the Basque Country. None of my 21 years of experience, though, could compare to my one semester in Bilbao. It was amazing to walk through the history, language, and culture of my own people while studying castellano and living with my father's cousins in Berango. Bilbao will forever be my second home, and I am thankful to have stayed in such a kind and meaningful place, and I know that all of my friends felt the same. If you wish to feel completely welcomed in a completely foreign atmosphere, leave it to the Basques to usher you in with open arms, feed you, and teach you everything they know.

Santiago was awesome! Lucho and the rest of the staff were great. I also definitely recommend a host family, mine was great. Having a host brother to show me around made all the difference in my experience. Also do the tour! USAC does a great job of organizing field trips and other events.

I loved Viterbo! It is such a cool city and it's nice to see the medieval history along with the modern twist. It was such a fun nightlife and the locals are great. Stefano and his staff are so helpful and I miss them like crazy. Just go, you will definitely not regret it!

I've got so much to say about the USAC Bilbao program. I think though the thing I was absolutely the most impressed with is how much the program cared about the students, and how they did everything to make sure they had the best experience of their life. One of the best examples of that was my first week there. One of my friends in the program wanted to go home. She was homesick and having a hard time adjusting and didn't want to be there. The resident director of the program, knowing she would regret the decision to leave, and that she would adjust eventually, took matters into his own hands. He took her with him for the day to run errands and go about the day to day activities. I'm not sure how he knew that would make a difference, but in the time he was able to talk to her one on one that day, and in a casual environment, made her feel at ease. I think she must have understood that she had someone there to fall back on. Because after that she decided that she would stick it out for a couple more weeks, and ended up having the semester of her life like we all did. I think this was one of the best examples of how much the program cared about all of us, our well being, and making sure we had an experience we would never forget.

Lüneburg is the perfect city for study abroad - small and local, but with a huge population of international students. Every Wednesday night my friends and I went downtown to the pubs for karaoke, a döner, and a beer. I felt safe enough to walk or bike back every night.

The town is absolutely beautiful- cobblestone streets, decorated rooftops and three huge cathedrals. They have a farmers market with meats, cheeses and fruit every weekend, and bookstores, bakeries, or restaurants on every corner. A short train ride away is Hamburg, and the student ticket we get as part of the USAC program makes travelling to the bigger city (and all of Lower Saxony) free.

The courses USAC offered were a bit insulated from the main school, but still offered a good chance to learn German. I also took a course on Germany under the Third Reich, which had field trips to several locations of note around Lüneburg and gave me a new perspective on the war and German culture.

I absolutely recommend this program to anyone interested in learning German, living somewhere beautiful, or just wanting an adventure. You won't regret it.

Madrid is an amazing city. There's so much to do and it has an incredible nightlife. It's in close proximity to a number of little towns like Toledo and Segovia which are great day trips. It's also super cheap to fly out of.

As a STEM major, I didn't think I'd ever have the opportunity to study abroad while still graduating on time. Not only was I able to have the amazing opportunity to do so, I was also fortunate enough to do it in one of the most amazing cities ever. Praha is a city with an incredibly rich history and a vibrant culture. I can remember spending many nights walking through the city and just admiring the architecture or going to the numerous bars and enjoying drinks and conversation with my fellow USAC students.