USAC Reviews

San Sebastian is phenomenal. I loved learning about a mix of Spanish and Basque culture. I really enjoyed the TABC program, teaching was one of the highlights of my experience. The staff there is incredible, always looking out for their students making adjustments as needed! I definitely recommend the cuisine course as well as surfing!

My time in USAC was such a phenomenal experience. Their staff truly cares about the students and did a phenomenal job coming up with field trips for us to attend and other cultural events. I will never forget visiting Kutna Hora- what an experience.
I loved the Czech food but be prepared to gain some weight! There was a ton of history and as long as you stay in certain areas, the city is extremely safe. Try to learn a few Czech phrases before you go as the locals really appreciate it! And don't miss the Easter Marekts

I went to Pau, France for about 5 weeks during the summer of 2013 through USAC. I took many years of French in high school and wanted to be able to use some of what I learned in real world applications. I had also never been to Europe before and thought this would be a great place to visit for the first time.

Pau is a town of about 100,000 close to the Basque country in Southern France. It's quaint and quintessentially French--a lot of the customs are still observed in Pau, such as closing shops down on Sunday, that you probably won't find in a big city like Paris. Moreover, if you're looking to practice your French, Pau would be a great city since not a lot of people automatically speak English back to you. Even though it's a small town, there's still a downtown with bars, museums, restaurants and shops, so you won't get bored, especially if you're there for a short period of time.

The program directors were great--they addressed all of our concerns in a timely manner. The course instructors were very good as well--they were local French professors who taught foreign students. I definitely felt that my French improved greatly after my month abroad.

Pau is close to bigger cities such as Toulouse and Bordeaux--only about 2 hours away by train. The city is also close to beaches on the Atlantic ocean as well as the resort city of San Sebastian, Spain, and the program includes enough free time to visit all of these places. The optional Paris tour was great too--got to see all the major sites in just a few days.

India is such an interesting place- so many colors, smells, people, religions, traffic, food....it really is a place where chaos is order. The people are so friendly and it's such an amazing place to take it all in. Jacob at USAC is fantastic and takes great pride in what he does. It's an amazing and unique experience that everyone should take advantage of.

Costa Rica is such an amazing country with wonderful people. The USAC Puntarenas team loves what they do and wants everyone to make the most of their experience. I learned a lot of Spanish and traveled throughout the country all while meeting great new friends. I would highly recommend studying abroad and USAC makes it so fun and easy.

Studying abroad with USAC changed my perspective on life and my future goals. I met so many amazing new friends, learned the Spanish language, and explored within Spain and throughout Europe. I truly learned more about who I wanted to be and got out of my comfort zone. The staff and professors are amazing people who love what they do and make the experience unforgettable. I would highly recommend USAC and Alicante!

Puntarenas is unique from USAC programs in Costa Rica because it truly immerses you in authentic Costa Rica. Many of the families who live in Puntarenas have lived there for decades, and it is reasonably un-Americanized in comparison to big cities like San Jose. Though things like the water shutting off occasionally, and the lack of a/c was difficult, it was part of the experience of studying abroad in a developing country and was to be expected. Though my host family and I could only communicate on a basic level, they treated me as their own and called me their daughter. The locals are friendly and Tico's have some cool traditions that are kept alive in Puntarenas. USAC helped integrate us into the community with volunteer opportunities that were once in a lifetime opportunities. USAC set me up to volunteer at the Marine center where I got to feed and be up close and personal with injured sea turtles. I would not trade my study abroad experience in Puntarenas with USAC for anything.

This was such great program and I would do it again if I could. Lueneburg as a little town in the state of Niedersachsen. Even though it is a smaller city, there is always something to do. And if you prefer big cities, Hamburg is a thirty minute train ride away. And the best thing is that it is free! You are given a student transportation card that lets you ride regional trains and buses for free! So you're able to spend a day in Bremen, Hannover, and many more without spending money on transportation.

The German tracks are intensive but not too time consuming. Typically you go to class Monday - Thursday and have tests on Friday morning about every other week.

Housing really depends on what section of the city you get. There are dorms next to the University, near the city center (30 min walk to campus) and some that are far (William-Watt-Straße is one that I remember).

Such amazing staff to help every step of the way! Patricia is so helpful with academics and even travel help.

Great apartments and housing help, roommate matching was really successful.

Such a wonderful city! Best 6 months of my life

Bilbao has it all. The school is located in downtown Bilbao near the famous Guggenheim museum and just a metro stop or two away from the Athletic Stadium. There are tons of bars, restaurants, and shops lining the streets.

20 minutes away from the city center, you can find local surf shops and ride waves without facing too much of a crowd. This beach also has amazing hikes overlooking the sea, or if you go into Getxo, overlooking the Bilbao and the surrounding areas.

Teaching English in Bilbao is among my favorite memories. I had students ranging in age from 6 years all the way up to 17. This experience is hands down what set me on my path to become a teacher. The skills I learned and the opportunity I had defined my future. It was a phenomenal way to learn about the culture while also teaching them my own.

I also had the opportunity to volunteer with a local girl that recently received a cochlear implant. The nice thing about your time abroad is it's your time. You can spend it however you would like and this was a very rewarding experience for me.

Bilbao is an insanely beautiful and clean city. My favorite part about it is the random plazas and parks built into the downtown areas. One minute you're surrounded by tall buildings and stores and the next, you're in front of beautiful fountains with benches and Free WiFi.