USAC Reviews

I loved being able to immerse myself in a smaller community and get to know the locals. While studying in Rome or Florence would have been fun I would have been one of many Americans. The best part about Viterbo was that the only Americans in the city were our classmates. No part of the city was Americanized and I felt extremely safe within the comforting walls of the city. If you're looking for an authentic study abroad experience in Italy, go to Viterbo!!!!!!

I had an amazing time in Pau, but realistically there were some struggles and things that should and I hope are improved for future students. I loved the option to stay with a host family and the staff makes sure to pick families that want to have students and take you in as a part of their family.

Host Family Tips:
Eat supper with your family, ask them about their day, make an effort to get to know the, let them know if you won't be around, be respectful, keep your room clean, if you have a problem talk to them about it, address conflict in a mature and respectful manner.

The staff was very welcoming in Pau, but I didn't really think they were very helpful. I can understand it because they have people from all over participating, but it can still be frustrating.

Tips for Communicating with Staff:
Be specific about your questions, decide if they are the appropriate resource (it may be better to ask your host family or home university or someone that has previously been on the program), keep them informed on your weekend travels, remember they are not travel agencies.

The weather in Pau can be frustrating. It rained over 50% of the days I was there. I actually ended up keeping a journal and writing whether or not it rained each day I was there. When it starts getting cold (late October/November) the mix of cold and rain can be quite chilly and dreary.

Tips for Clothes:
Bring warm clothes, RAIN BOOTS, warm socks, umbrella, LAYERS, scarves, gloves, hat, etc.

Finally remember to enjoy yourself and to try to focus on the positives. Your experience is what you make it and usually thoughts affect how you feel. If you are upset about something it will probably affect and possible ruin your time. Remember that you have the power to decide how much you will enjoy your time. Also it can be pretty tough to meet other French students that aren't a part of the program. You have to be the one to take action to make French friends. It does help to go out and experience life in Pau to make these friends or meet people.

Studying abroad was the best 10 months of my life. I learned so much about myself, about the person who I strive to be, about others, about travel and about the world. I miss Madrid nearly every day. I can so easily recall the smells coming from the "pastelería" that I passed every day on my way to school. I remember how impacted I was by the sight of elderly women walking arm-in-arm around the neighborhood. It struck me as so unique to a culture: lifetime friends are hard to come by, yet the Spanish seem to prioritize their friendships. It taught me that family and friends truly are the source of all support and happiness. Although my time abroad was predominately incredible, there were some difficulties that I had to deal with. I struggled emotionally with some personal things going on during a few months while I was in Spain, and it was quite a struggle to get help. I approached the administration of my program expecting a list of psychologists who would help me, but they merely referred me to the program's physician. Desperate to feel better, I scheduled an appointment with the doctor. Assuming that I would receive help within a few days, it came as a complete shock when the physician made me jump through hoops to set up an appointment with a therapist (contacting my insurance, scanning and faxing documents, getting signatures and approvals, etc.). By the time I was nearly finished with the clerical work, I had already felt better without receiving help from by program or my doctor. Other than that experience, studying abroad was truly a dream. It helped me to discover that I need to actively experience life, rather than to just let life happen to me. I understand now that my time is limited and every moment really does count. Per this realization and the relationship I formed with a boy who I tutored, I now know that I aspire to be a child and adolescent therapist. The boy and I became very close throughout the 10 months that I tutored him in English, and eventually he began to open up to me about problems he was experiencing at school. For these reasons I am excited to begin my work with children and their psychological needs. I also know now that I want to volunteer for study abroad programs in order to increase knowledge of and desire to study abroad. I can only hope that other students have the opportunity to feel the passion for life and travel that I now feel thanks to studying abroad. All in all, USAC and Madrid shaped my incredible life in Spain and I could not be happier that I chose to spend 10 months creating a better sense of self, as well as a greater understanding for what the world has to offer.

I had a wonderful summer studying abroad in Brazil. USAC has a great staff and did a good job of organizing activities/events/classes given the length the program existed. I loved the host family I stayed with and lived in a beautiful neighborhood that was close to the school. I really enjoyed the classes I took as well. They were very hands on and the professors seemed to be passionate about what they were teaching. For example, for my Dance and Music class we went to a live concert to see first hand what we were learning about. I also recommend taking the Brazilian Cooking class!! The only "downfall" to the program that I did not personally experience is that the some of the classes were either too challenging with too many exams and papers or that the classes were boring/not challenging enough. I would say to evaluate your goals of studying abroad before chooses your classes-- it can really alter your experience.

I learned a lot while I was in France, passed my fluency test, and travelled all over Europe. What I didn't like was how little the program directors were willing to help you- Robina in particular. I came to her with a housing problem, and she brushed it off. This is why I rated my overall experience as 8/10 instead of 10/10. If I had had help with the housing situation, it would have been 10/10.

I had a blast down south. I was abel to experience Brazilian culture in a personal way in which I was free to explore on my own. The cultural philosophy class was epic too! I got to understand in depth the cultural differences between the US and Brazil through out history. I found that the tours, and experiences that the program offered were good half of the time, when it was more about getting involved in the culture. Sometimes it was rather touristy. The crew of students that unavoidably become your best friends turned out to be pretty rad.

The time from the moment I boarded the plane at SFO to the moment I stepped off 6 months later included the most rewarding and unique experiences I never thought I would get the chance to experience. There is just absolutely too much to express adequately in words, but I can say it was priceless. Every aspect of normal life was new during my time abroad. Day to day activities were altered, weekend plans became a must, and dietary changes were obvious as well. I lived in an apartment with two other American students for the 4 month duration of the program and then moved in with a host family for 2 more months after the program ended. Of all the experiences I had, I have to say that traveling with my roommates, staying with the host family, and exploring my home city were my favorite things. Although being in a foreign country that you don't know the language of is challenging, working through it is unbelievably rewarding and makes the experience that much better. Running into problems during travels become great stories to look back at and laugh about. Being exposed to a different world and culture, or many different worlds and cultures, really makes you aware of what's out there and makes you more curious about what else could be out there. I regret nothing about my experience and have realized from it that once you are able to take the first step into the world, to explore what is out there, you'll become addicted and won't want to stop!

If you are the kind of person who enjoys culture, this is the place to be! Ghana is full of amazing people who are willing to open up and let you into their lives, no questions asked! Ghana was more than an experience it became a lifestyle that I still miss dearly!

Living in Prague was a wonderful experience as far as viewing historical architecture and living in a large city. The academics through USAC weren't challenging and I felt like the program was geared more towards people that wanted to show up, party a ton with like minded program participants, and go home. There was a distinct lack of immersion in the local culture due to the program specific education and field trips. Participants lived only with fellow program participants (fellow U.S. college students) and went on field trips with only fellow program participants. It was difficult to immerse oneself in other cultures besides your own.

This was my first study abroad experience and it went incredibly well! I loved the city, the school, and my family! I learned so much studying in Puntarenas. My Spanish improved immensely. By living in Puntarenas we had access to the ferry. Traveling throughout Costa Rica was very easy and cheap. Overall the program is very affordable and of great quality. My only regret is not going sooner. I wish I could have stayed for a whole year!