Program Reviews

I studied in Barcelona for 7 weeks this summer. I lived in an apartment with four other girls, and we all were just meeting each other for the first time. A typical day included waking up and getting ready, taking the metro to class, grabbing lunch at the cafe next to our school in between classes, and ending class around one in the afternoon. We spent the afternoons sightseeing, shopping, walking around the city, or at the beach. The nights were spent hanging out with other people from the APi program, watching futbol at the bars, and meeting new people. Barcelona was all about trying new things, new experiences, and meeting new people. Living in an apartment on our own gave us a new sense of independence and pushed me out of my comfort zone. On the weekends I explored new cities and traveled to Germany and Italy. The program also took us on weekend excursions to the beautiful island of Mallorca and Costa Brava. All in all, the program was amazing and the coordinators responded to any type of problem immediately.

I had always loved French, studied it throughout school, but I had never left the country - until I signed up with API.

Before I departed, they sent me a DETAILED information packet with travel info and advice, and specific instructions on how to navigate Charles de Gaulle Airport once I landed - which was indescribably helpful. Once I landed, I followed their directions straight to the gate where the API representative was waiting with a great big sign. She greeted all of us as we arrived and began answering questions from the first moment. We were off on the right foot.

API gave me the option of arranging me an apartment, living in their student dorms, or arranging me a homestay - I chose the latter. They placed me with a kind older woman who had lots of experience hosting foreign students - she had done it many times, and it showed. The apartment was clean, inviting, and she was a wonderful host, truly more like a mother-away-from-home. The neighborhood was perhaps not the BEST, but she and API gave me plenty of advice on how to stay safe, and I had no problems.

My courses at the Sorbonne were challenging, but rewarding, and my French absolutely skyrocketed. I went from a mumbling, unsure kid to a regular local. I was amazed at myself. My professors were no-nonsense, but nurturing, helpful, and good at their jobs.

API itself hosted sessions at their HQ in the heart of Paris, and it became a sort of central meeting-and-hangout place for us students. API led classes on Parisian etiquette, how to navigate the public transport, places to avoid, things to see, and cultural examinations of things we had noticed. They really went the extra mile to make sure we were not just students - that we felt like we LIVED there. It was the truest definition of immersion. I'm so grateful for it, even more than my classes themselves.

The API staff were the best I have ever encountered in Int'l Education. The administrative staff solved any problem we came to them with, cheerfully and quickly. The guides that led the excursions were fun-loving and energetic, but professional and focused as well. You could tell that THEY were thrilled to show us these things.

I cannot say enough about this API program. It is a huge investment of trust in a company to give them thousands of dollars, hop on a plane to the other side of the world, and hope that the company is everything it claims to be. API really is everything they claim to be. From the moment I got off the plane, to the moment months later when I got back on it, they took care of me every step of the way, and made sure that I had all the tools I needed to get everything out of the experience that I could.

Thanks to API, I now love to travel. I'm now not scared to explore the unknown. I've since been to other, faraway places, far more intimidating than Paris, France. But I never would have been able to, had API not absolutely knocked it out of the park on my first study abroad.

They are professionals, and they will show you the best sides of the world.

API definitely helped to make my experience absolutely amazing! I decided to study abroad in Barcelona and looked into various programs that I could study through. I decided on this one because it was much cheaper than many other programs and I had heard that API was a great provider.

I was able to live in an absolutely beautiful apartment in the Gothic District directly across from the Barcelona Cathedral. It was so amazing to be able to go to my living room window everyday and look out onto a gorgeous cathedral.

The API staff were extremely friendly and helpful, and were awesome people to get to know. Any questions or concerns I had they handled immediately.

Also, a huge perk to API programs is that they include excursions. I was able to go on an international excursion to Rome, and also on another weekend one to Sevilla. We also went on a few day trips and we had many cultural activities planned as well.

Overall, my experience abroad was fantastic! Barcelona is an incredible city with such a rich culture. I met so many amazing people and was able to live in a beautiful city for four months. It was definitely one of the best experiences of my life.

I had such a BLAST in Barcelona! It was such a great experience! I was welcomed by the support staff almost as soon as I arrived. They were really helpful in the initial few days with the transition. I loved my classes and actually learned a lot in them, and created relationships with my professors-one is actually a reference for me. The apartments were in nice neighborhoods and you were able to really get the Spain experience in them. I met some awesome people and really had the time of my life. Everyone should do this program!!

I loved every minute of my summer in Barcelona. Having class four days a week and free time three days a week was the perfect balance. API was extremely helpful and our trips were incredible. I stayed in an apartment in a residential area of Barcelona with one women and the living conditions were great! Our apartment was cleaned weekly and I've never tasted such fresh food! The metro was extremely easy to use and there were metro stops located conveniently all over the city. My classes were slightly challenging but extremely interesting and beneficial for my studies. My teachers were helpful and cared about our learning. There was never a dull moment in Barcelona because there are so many sights to see and places to visit! I will never forget my experience in Barcelona and the incredible services that API provided to me. It was definitely worth every penny!

Salamanca is a great city to study in. There are not a lot of english speakers, so there is always opportunities to practice spanish. It is an extremely safe city and very walkable. Also it is only 2-2 ½ hours away from Madrid. The API staff there is great. They are always there to help. I even got sick and had to miss an exam and the API onsite coordinator handled everything for me and I didn't have to worry about explaining to my professor what happened. I would highly recommend staying in a host family home.

I lived in an amazing apartment in the most adorable neighborhood (Gracia). We were right down the street from the Metro which was super easy and fun to take. We lived around many fun restaurants and plazas and even a little fresh food market. The weather was wonderful all semester, only raining twice that I can remember, and it was so fun walking down to the beach on beautiful sunny days! Barcelona has the best of both worlds, mountains, land and sea; city and parks; crazy tourism and down to earth locals. I really miss it and want to go back ASAP!

This summer I was seeking a way to be independent while experiencing something completely new. As my parents, of course, were not enthused by the idea of their child roaming free in a foreign country, I had to choose a program. Somehow I came across Aspire by API, and I am SO lucky to have chosen it. At the University of Salamanca, I was challenged to really increase my Spanish conversational skills. Taking Literature in another language was an incredible experience, and my professors welcomed me enthusiastically, answering any questions I had and slowing down the Spanish when necessary. Aspire by API provided us with great activities and the weekend trips were lots of fun for the whole group. I met a bunch of great people, and we all became close by the end. Our group leaders were lovely, and we all grew to love them as well, as they helped us immerse ourselves in Spanish culture. Salamanca is a beautiful city and I'd love to go back. We got to see Santander, Madrid, Segovia, and even Portugal on the weekends, which were incredible experiences as well. Salamanca is a place unlike anywhere else in Spain, and you are guaranteed to stay with an amazing host family if you go through Aspire by API.

Living in a Muslim country has been the most wonderful learning experience in my life. Traditions, culture, believes and even the financial system were different to the western world, which made my experience unique and exceptional. Every day I listened to the 5-preayer call wherever I was in the city or campus. I witnessed spectacular landscaping in the UAE, caravans of camels, the contrast of beach and desert, the most beautiful full moon I have ever seen, and extraordinary sunsets. I had the fortune to attend a spectacular Emirati wedding. I also witnessed several Guinness records in one single city, Dubai; such as, the biggest mall, the tallest building, the largest hotel, the fastest roller coaster, the largest fireworks display, the “palm islands” which are consider to be the 8th wonder of the world and the world’s first seven star hotel. As an International Business major this has been the best experience I could have embraced in. My program supported me to get an internship. Living in a cosmopolitan city, such as Dubai, showed me that understanding the global world is crucial to succeed in my career.

The on site API representatives were extremely helpful and a great resource to have around. The excursions we went on through API were fantastic.

Berlin was amazing and we had plenty of time to explore the city.

Wonderful experience.