USAC Reviews

It's difficult to explain to others how my semester abroad in England went. From someone who has been stuck in her hometown for 21 years, any location would have been a nice change. But if I could go back and choose again, Brighton would have been selected without any hesitation.

While it may have been better to be housed closer into town, I grew to love the bus rides. I rarely ever used public transportation at home, but the bus system here seemed pretty efficient. It was a pain to pay for bus fares, but you can easily compare it to the amount you spend on a car, gas and insurance.

As for academics, the "modules" I took were relatively easier than the ones I took at home. I kind of had a freebie semester, but for my flatmates, it was difficult for them to get classes they needed for their major. HOWEVER, I recall USAC letting us know beforehand that this location should only be chosen if the student has flexibility in class selections.

Brighton reminds me a lot of San Francisco. It's gloomy and diverse... it's a student town! There's ALWAYS something going on, no matter what day of the week it is. If pubs, pebble beaches, cute little shops, and concerts aren't your thing, London is only an hour train ride away. And then from London, your destinations are (almost) unlimited. Hello Europe!

Now that I am back in the States, there is not a single day that goes by where I don't think of Brighton and all the friends and memories I made there. If anything, I wish someone warned me about this four-months-and-going homesick feeling I have for marvelous Brighton...

I hate to sound cheesy but honestly, it's hard to put into words the amount of love I have for the memories I made through this program.
San Sebastian is the perfect balance of social enetertainment and nature and everywhere you look you're surrounded by beauty. The locals are treasures in themselves, constantly out walking and laughing with each other, not to mention that I never saw one local out in sweats or looking anything other than a well put together Spaniard. The locals can be quite intimadating at first but once you give them the chance you'll see that they're very accepting and caring (unless you ride a bike/board outside of the bike line, don't do that). But that reminds me, there are bike paths and bike racks located almost anywhere around the city, making for easy commutes full of incredible scenery. Even if you don't bike or board, everything is within walking distance and their public transportation is amazing.
If you're honestly considering studying in Spain, without a doubt, San Sebastian should be the clear choice.

This is one of the best programs. You go to class than right after go to the beach, get ice cream or just hang out with friends. The classes are awesome because they are small and more personal. The trips you get to take with the program are great.

I loved the staff who worked at USAC. They helped me through a lot! Costa Rica was the best experience and it only makes me want to travel more! This was my first time out of the U.S. And it was perfect! The town is located in a great traveling area and has a lot of buses to go all over Costa Rica. Puntarenas isn't considered a beautiful spot if you go there with no expectations or comparing it to the states it is an amazing spot! I would hang out with my friends by the beach everyday! My host family was perfect and made me feel like I was one of their own children!

I went to Stirling last fall and it was absolutely the best semester I've ever had. The courses are really well taught and the campus/city/country is beyond beautiful. It was a bit unbelievable to have a lake on campus & a mountain right next door, so lovely! There are paths all around to walk and the city of Stirling itself is awesome as well! It's really easy to get around as the bus system is on point, they really cater to students. Stirling is a perfect mix of country & city, that's a key factor that made me choose it over a bigger city like Edinburgh, plus, you're only a short train ride away from Edinburgh AND Glasgow, so it's a win-win. There is great shopping, coffee, nightlife, and history in Stirling, I would recommend everyone go there! My favorite place downtown was The Burgh, a lovely local cafe with great coffee & a great vibe. Anyway, if you love nature, Stirling's for you, and if you love city, they've got that too. Just go! You won't regret it.

If you want to eat McDonalds and speak English, do not come to Puntarenas. During all my travels around Costa Rica (which Puntarenas's central location makes very convenient) I did not go to one city that was as authentically Costa Rican as Puntarenas. It is one of those little gems that has seemingly escaped the rampant Americanization that has hit the rest of Costa Rica. You will find few English speakers and no McDonalds in the city, but what you will find is a rich local culture and miles and miles of beautiful beach. If you want to guarantee that you'll learn Spanish, I couldn't recommend Puntarenas any more highly. There is no way no not interact with locals and I would say 90% of the program made local friends with whom we all continue to keep in touch with.

If you want to learn Spanish and feel like a local, then choose Puntarenas.

I am not the typical college student. I am in my mid 30's. There were not many older Students at the school as there are in the states. In fact, I didn't meet one. I chose this program because of it's affordability which I assume is important to most college students. Chiang Mai reminded me of New York or Toronto's Chinatown district, but larger. It was very modern and "Western." I could get any good or service I get at home. Mexican food, electronics, etc. There only thing I had to hunt for was shaving cream, but I found it eventually. I was impressed by the University hospital, despite being very busy, they did a good job. I can't think of any other compliments at this time. I have complaints, but I was there just before Thailand's recent coup and political turmoil, rumors of the impending changes where probably circulating. That being said, I didn't feel very welcome. The Thai's reputation for hospitality and the land of smiles was not lived up to. English wasn't as understood as my research had led me to believe. Nor was there as much demand to learn or improve students english skills as I expected. Finally, as the semester was nearing the halfway point, accounting contacted me from the states to inform me they had not yet received my financial aid. The finances were supposed to have already been taken care of before I even left the US. It all got taken care of rather easily, but it really aggravated me that that happened.

A day in the life of a non-Spanish Speaking American in Puntarenas Costa Rica, was never easy. Think critically about what battles you want to choose living in a foreign country. The first step of thinking about a study abroad program is exciting and romantic. But ask yourself: Do you want to go head-first into a world where every aspect of your life is completely new? Or do you want to ease into an abroad experience by being surrounded by at least some things you are comfortable with? Think about your future-self and what they will want in their abroad experience. I would have benefitted greatly if I chose to ease into living abroad.

The Gold Coast is the ideal location for any study abroad student looking to explore all that Australia has to offer. From nightlife to beaches to academic settings, the Gold Coast provided it all. The opportunity to travel is also very present: whether it be renting a car and driving down to Byron Bay or booking a flight from Goldy to Sydney for the weekend, student travel is very common and VERY easy.

Studying abroad in Madrid was the best decision of my college career. I'm studying Spanish at Loyola University Chicago, and my Spanish experience rounded out my education in the best way. I felt truly immersed in such a beautiful culture; I think the biggest gift was my Spanish host family. Amelia, my host mom, felt like family by the end of my semester. It would recommend the program to anybody!