Take classes in Florence or Sorrento, Italy. Exquisite culture!

ASA (Academic Studies Abroad) is a family-owned business that offers many opportunities for students to go abroad. ASA was my program provider while I was studying in Florence, Italy this past semester and they made my experience so much more memorable. ASA emphasizes cultural immersion; we were provided diverse opportunities to engage with the culture through the program whether it was cooking classes, pottery painting, or even going on overnight weekend trips with ASA! Their unconditional support, which included pre-departure orientation, on-site assistance, and guidance on academic and personal matters, was so helpful during this big transition of my life. One thing I value is safety; ASA prioritizes student safety and well-being and is equipped to handle any issues that may arise during the program. ASA's team has experienced professionals, and their expertise ensures that students receive everything they need while on their abroad journey. They are passionate about education and the benefits of studying abroad and their enthusiasm and dedication to helping students succeed are evident in their work and interactions. I highly recommend ASA if you want the best study abroad experience.

I went on a semester abroad in Florence, Italy through ASA's program. Getting there was the most daunting and challenging part but ASA's staff was so helpful and prompt at respodning to my many questions about obtaining a visa, housing, and pretty much everything else lol. Once I got to Florence, it was all so new and exciting and it felt good to know that we had all of the staff from ASA there with us to support us throughout the semester as, at times, it could get overwhelming being in a new country. They offered many activities before classes started which included things like cooking classes and tours which helped me make some new friends, meet people, and learn about my new city without looking like a lost and confused tourist. I had the best roomates and everyone I met in my program was super fun. My roomates and I ended up making a few more friends that we ultimately traveled with the whole time we were abroad. It was super easy to travel if you did your research so definitely do because the oppurtunities are endless! I made a class schdeule for myslef to only have class on Mondays and Tuesdays so I could travel the rest of the week. They were long days of classes but so worth it. We went to many countries like Portugal, Spain, Greece, France, and even Africa! Going places in Italy was super easy too. ASA provided a couple trips with the program to different places within Italy. These trips were nice as we were able to stay in hotels and have group activites and dinners allowing us to meet more people-although we my group may have given up on one of our activities and decided to just eat together in a restaurant until it was over- but that was just another memory made! Overall the experience was something I will never forget and even with the hardships- and there are some, especially being homesick- it was important that I took in every moment of my semester which I think I did very well. The classes were also made fun by allowing different things such as cooking labs and outdoor activites too. I had a chocolate class and one day we made truffles which were amazing! I highly reccomend doing a semster abroad in Italy and with ASA. Its a smaller program so more attention to give to individuals and everyone is super super nice and helpful.

ASA couldn't have been a more helpful and supportive program! The program offers so many opportunities in enhancing the abroad experience, and I'm so glad I chose them on my study abroad journey. From the application process, where I started from square 1 and was constantly asking for help, to fulfilling my days in Florence, Italy, the ASA staff was there for me. I would tell future participants that the staff truly cares about their students and provides so much help and insight.

My favorite memory was climbing the Duomo with ASA--just one of the many activities included in your tuition! I passed by the historic monument each day, yet never had the ability to climb the steps to the top. In April, the first weekend of sunshine (because the spring I was there was greeted with rain!!), ASA provided us a ticket to climb the Duomo. To see the city from that height was incredible!

If I hadn't stumbled upon the acronym ASA, I would not be the person typing this review. I would not be as curious, hungry and driven as I now am. I aspire to see as much of this beautiful world as I can, and with ASA I was able to travel to 11 countries, including my host country, Italy. After experiencing the semester of a lifetime and making the most amazing friends who have similar aspirations in life and the same eagerness to travel to new places and meet new people, I look forward to all of the adventures to come. ASA is an organization that provides each student with so much support from the time you fill out the application to as soon as you step off the plane in your host country and all throughout your semester abroad. The individuals who work for ASA are passionate about their job and care so much about students, their well-being and their experience. I don't know who I would be or where I would be if I had selected another provider to study abroad with, but I sure am grateful I chose ASA :)

Going abroad with ASA was so easy. The staff is friendly and easy to contact, the planned trips are fun and the housing is perfect. The company is small but has representatives on every campus they work with and are available through email anytime. Overseas there are location directors to guide you around the city and take you on a couple of weekend trips, Chiara is excellent! The weekend trips planned for when I was abroad were Rome and Venice, which were perfect because I might not have gone to either of those locations on my own. We also had a few program gatherings local to Florence to check out museums and do a gelato crawl. Housing is in the city center minutes from nearly every monument, museum and all the best restaurants. ASA was the perfect fit for my abroad experience.

This program was such a perfect fit for my study abroad experience. Chiara was an amazing 'abroad mom' and makes everyone feel so comfortable! My apartment was right in the middle of the city and close to everything I needed. The university was perfect. It had multiple locations therefore students had to explore the city more which I loved. The excursions for ASA were great. I would not have figured out Rome without Chiara and it definitely got the group excited to travel since we went so early on. I would do it again in a second and wish I had another opportunity to go abroad with ASA!

Studying abroad in Florence was a beyond amazing experience that words cannot describe. Florence brought a whole new perspective to my life that has forever changed me. As a hospitality management major, I learned more from the local business owners of Florence than I will ever in a college classroom. Their hospitality is overwhelming and they knew how to make you feel at home even in a foreign country where I did not know the language. My friends and I returned to the same businesses almost daily because we liked the familiarity of the place and how the owners slowly became to know our orders and names. It's nice to have somewhere to go where you feel welcome when being thousands of miles away from where you have felt welcome your whole life. These businesses have been loved and cared for by these families for generations and I just wished that America had the same outlook on small family businesses as Florence did. I will now, almost always choose a family run business before I step into a chain restaurant. Thank you Florence for your amazing, family-oriented atmosphere and I hope some of your gracious hospitality has worn off on me.

My time in the beautiful city of Florence was by far the best time of my life! I got to live in an apartment perfectly located in the historical center and fully immerse myself in the Italian culture. Although the academics were not traditionally challenging, I got the chance to learn in a personal and flexible environment learning things I would not have in a classroom in the states. A large part of my extremely positive experience came from our site director Chiara. She was incredibly kind, enthusiastic and seemed genuinely interested in getting to know us and making sure we had a wonderful time. We even began to call her our "Italian mom." ASA was extremely helpful and supportive throughout the entire process from application to boarding my plane to go home. I would highly recommend the program as well as the general study abroad experience. It truly changed me as a person and how I look at the world. I have a thirst to explore more of the world and to experience other cultures. I greatly miss Firenze and hope to one day return to my favorite city in the world!