USAC Reviews

Beware that you will have trouble finding easy access to any help. I had to go to the ER because the counseling center at Yonsei was not open, and even after I told them my necessity, no one budged. I admit that I already came with some mental issues that I had, up to that point, completely under control. That said, when it got worse, I tried calling everyone I could only to be pretty much told that I am on my own. I went to the hospital multiple times to treat my condition, and each time I asked for someone to escort me, and that never happened. I went by myself each time, despite stressing how physically weak I felt and just how unsure I was if I was going to be able to make it to the hospital. The last straw was having a Korean psychiatrist tell me that he would not up the dosage of my drug (despite the fact that my psychiatrist in the US said that was okay) and told me to go home to the US. I got no explanation as to his reasoning, and he basically shoved me out of the door immediately after to get to his next patients. Yonsei Severence is a wonderful hospital for strictly physical problems, but again, do not expect any help from them in terms of mental disorders. The same goes for the staff of Yonsei University's counseling center and Office of International Affairs as well as USAC. Before studying abroad, seriously look into the school you will be attending and the program through which you are doing it. Make sure you ALWAYS! have access to someone in case of emergencies.

Luneburg is the cutest little medieval town! It's one of the safest cities I've ever lived in. The classes are great and there are tons of opportunities to speak to Germans to improve your skills. I never had a class in German before going and by the time I left I was carrying on long winded conversations with the locals. One of the best parts is as a student you get free train travel anywhere in the state. I went somewhere new every weekend for free.

I had my passport stolen in Belgium and the staff was so helpful and supportive. I had to go to the US embassy in Berlin to get a new one and they set up everything for me.

Christmas in Germany is so so so fun! If you're only going for a semester, I definitely recommend the fall one!

You feel like you're living in a fairy tale with the stoned Charles bridge leading to the castle. The people may keep to themselves a bit, but after a few drinks of their beer that they love so much, they are super friendly. And the prices are unbeatable! Since the Czech Republic is not on the euro, a meal that costs $6 is considered expensive. Don't forget to eat their delicious gulas and trdlenik.

It has been 4 years since I studied abroad in Torino. When deciding to go to Torino I had no idea the effect it would have had on my life. The city of Torino is magical and completely gorgeous. It gives you a full immersion into Italian life. I lived there for a year and was always finding things to do and reasons why I loved the city. Plus, the friends I made and were able to experience it all with will last a lifetime. It couldn't of all happened without the support of the USAC Torino staff. They really made it feel like a new home, and I really felt like they could answer any question I had. The program also offers conversation tutoring with Italian students if you want to improve your language skills. One of my favorite parts about Torino is the location. It is an hour by train from the Alps making it easy to go snowboarding during the winter. Getting around Europe was also easily accessible. I would recommend spending the majority of your time in Torino though, and to really take the city. The 9 months I spent in Europe were invaluable and I cherish all of the memories.

I can't recommend this program enough. The city is beautiful and has a great beach and a lot of fun things to do. The program directors truly care about their students and not only set up fun excursions to different cities but also help you make friends with Spaniards (through an intercambio program), set up paid positions tutoring English at local schools and with families, and are quick to respond if you need any help. My housing accommodations were perfect, I could not have asked for a better location or nicer apartment. Teaching English at two local schools was such a cool experience and I would highly recommend that. The nightlife in Alicante is great, almost every club is free to get into (something I did not find in other Spanish cities) and people party all night. I took a sailing class and it was a blast, one of the best things I did while abroad. Other classes were very easy. There is an international airport in Alicante with relatively cheap flights to other cities in Europe, along with a bus and train station. I found it very easy to travel but also nice to stay and enjoy Alicante. The program is small and you will get to know almost everyone. I can't say enough good things about USAC or Alicante, I would HIGHLY recommend this program.

After an unfortunate event in Napoli for the weekend we had to head back to Viterbo earlier than expected. We decided to take a certain train out, realizing we got back too later to make our connecting train. We decided that, in order to make the right connection we had to get on a different train. We didn't have to right ticket and were taking a gamble. We got off in a town called Orte and realized that there was no train connecting but a bus, that was about to leave in 3 minutes. We sprinted to the stop and realized that we wouldn't make it. Thankfully the bus broke down giving us plenty of time for the new one to arrive. The new bus was about half way to Viterbo when it started spewing black smoke. The driver didn't stop, and kept plucking along, we ended up with a line of angry drivers behind us. At one point the driver stopped and hit some things near the engine and started driving again. We finally made it back at almost 11:00pm. And the 6 of us got pizza and wine to celebrate our crazy, eventful day.

I had the time of my life studying abroad in Alicante, Spain through USAC. The city was the perfect size for me. There was plenty to do there without traveling, but it was also very well-connected and easy to get to other places. The beach is beautiful, the neighborhoods are safe and the people are friendly. Universidad de Alicante was a 25 minute tram ride away, and I really liked all of my professors. It's easy to make Spanish friends if you sign up for the Intercambio program, which gets you in touch with Spanish students who want to improve their English. It's a great way to meet locals, improve your Spanish and help someone with their English all at the same time. The USAC staff was incredibly helpful. They sorted everything out when I lost the keys to my apartment at 5 am on a Sunday and even helped me get tickets to a Real Madrid game. I can't recommend this program enough.

One of my favorite things about my time in Alicante was that the USAC staff provides you with so many opportunities and fun adventures like tutoring kids in English or the hiking, running, or film clubs. They also take the time to find ways to show you areas around Alicante itself, and they make a day trip out of it filled with hiking at a beautiful spot. Then they surprised us with a huge picnic at the top, and took us to the beach afterward for the rest of the day. It was especially awesome because you KNEW that the staff cares about their students and really wanted us to get the best out of our experience in Spain.

Italy is charming- it is a slower pace of life, the people are friendly, and the cobble stone streets make perfect Instagram pictures. I expected to travel Europe, but Italy left too much to see in 4 short months- though I left the country a few times, I just wanted to explore Italy. I could tell you about all the famous landmarks in Italy and what they looked like in person- Leaning Tower of Pisa really does lean, and nothing compares to the hillside towns of Cinque Terre.
Though the landmarks are stunning and the history unfathomable, Viterbo is all about culture. The food, the architecture, and the people are unmatched in Viterbo. If you want Italian Culture, go to Viterbo. Also, if you want the best gelato ever, go to Viterbo.

Studying abroad with USAC in Bilbao/Getxo was the best time of my life. I loved living on the beach in Getxo and being able to take the metro into the city of Bilbao for school. This city is one of a kind, and each person you meet is too. I lived with a local family, and that improved my Spanish ten fold!