Program Reviews

It was the best experience of my life! You grow up and learn so many things about yourself and the world. Navigating a new country and others that you visit is not only fun and challenging but also prepares you for life as a professional. The housing was amazing with a wonderful view, also having Croatian students just down the street was great benefit! The college was in a beautiful monastery rich with history. A unique dynamic that I don't get at my college at home is that you can walk around this ancient walled city and find a unknown locals cafe for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I think the most fun part was learning the culture and some of the language, there also comes benefits with learning the language as many restaurants and bars give discounts if you order in Croatian.

I studied abroad during my junior year, having taken French throughout all four years of high school and several semesters of college. I was your classic Francophile. Thought I knew my stuff. I was sure I was going to be able to instantly, effortlessly communicate my thoughts to the locals in their native tongue. I was wrong.

What I found when I arrived in Grenoble was that I didn't know half as much as I thought I did. Day after day, I struggled: stringing my thoughts into coherent sentences, recalling all the vocabulary words I had learned over the years, making sure my adjectives agreed with my nouns. It was like learning to walk again, but with my tongue instead of my legs. During my first few weeks, it's safe to say that I was completely drained by the time the sun went down as a result of all the mental gymnastics I was performing throughout the day.

But I also quickly found that I had an amazing support system to help me with these daily exercises. Every aspect of the program set me up for success, from my amazing host family (including two host brothers who were my age), to the on-site Resident Directors who took us around the country and explained the ins and outs of French culture, to the knowledgeable university faculty. It wasn't long before I stopped walking and started sprinting.

By the end of my semester abroad I had learned a lot about life in France, and even more about myself. I couldn't have done it without all the behind-the-scenes preparations made by API to ensure that the program was so comprehensive, and of such high quality.

If you're interested in studying in a location that's a little off the beaten path, but is guaranteed to challenge you and improve your fluency in French, go to Grenoble.

API Barcelona was phenomenal throughout my entire stay there. They took care of housing, academics and a surprisingly vast amount of local, cultural activities and weekend trips. Everything is conveniently located and they do a great job at getting you situated in Barcelona once you arrive. I can't recommend a program more than this one, and I met a ton of friends that had plenty of complaints about their respective programs, none with mine!

This was one of the best experiences of my life and it was made possible through API. The support they provided, the housing I was given, and the activities they planned were incredible, just to name a few. I was connected with amazing people from all over the country, and got to know everyone in the program really well. I got to live in an amazing city while improving my Spanish and earning academic credit. If you are considering API or this program, do it! You won't regret it.

I had lived overseas before, but only when I was young and with my family. This was my first time going by myself, I prepared myself as much as I could by learning about cultural shock and re-entry shock and of course I had ups and downs while overseas. This experience changed me, it opened my eyes and gave me more confidence in who I was and who I wanted to be. I chose to go with a host family to give me the full experience and they became like my family there, I still keep in touch with my host mom today, almost 6 years later. My Spanish improved immensely because I made myself go outside my comfort zone, but I truly believe that is the only way to grow. I made friends, whom I still keep in contact with today. I even was able to return to Bilbao last year and stayed with my host mom again, it felt like going home.

Nothing can properly describe my time studying abroad at the University of Limerick, Ireland. Mariah was an absolute joy to work with. The program provider helped me immensely with all of the documentation beforehand. I decided last minute to join (about two months before my departure) and they helped me every step of the way. I still, over a year later, think about Ireland often, and I am still in contact with my Irish roommates and fellow Americans. I even have visited two other API alumni since my return. I am figuring out how I will make my way back to Ireland again soon. I highly recommend anyone even considering going to Ireland to look into this program and have the best semester of their life!

API's study abroad program at LdM in Florence is truly remarkable. I went in the summer of 2015 for a month and studied Italian and it was hands down the most incredible month of my life. Florence is absolutely the most amazing city in Italy, and probably in all of Europe. On top of that, the social scene there is great for college students, you will always run into people from all over the country that you would have never had the opportunity to meet without API. API put me in an ideal apartment, just a block from the Duomo, and 15 steps from Edoardo (the best gelato in Florence). API allows you to live with people from different universities and different backgrounds, and these people will become your closest friends on this trip. The opportunity to travel with your roommates on the weekends and go out and have a good time with them is the best part.
This program allowed me to meet some amazing people, see some amazing things, and have memories that will last a lifetime. This is hands down the best program available, Florence is a beautiful, inspiring place, you will never regret the decision to go.

Studying abroad in Budapest with API was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made.

I did not know much about Hungary prior to my arrival, but the API program staff in Budapest helped me get acclimated and where there to help with any questions or concerns that I had. Budapest is a beautiful city with a lot to do. The API programs planned awesome excursions, and gave a lot of suggestions for things to do in the city without the group.

I highly suggest studying through API's Corvinus University program!

I was passionate to work in a developing country to help students learn English, the language that connects us all. The staff at API were equally passionate about helping me get to Vietnam and embark on the adventure that would change my life. I immediately fell in love with my students and the people in Vinh. The country has become my second home, and API made the connection between me and this wonderful place.

I studied abroad in London, and I decided to really create a life for myself when I was abroad. I wanted to take part in my experience, not just be a tourist. UAL offers a freshers fair for newcomers, and I attended and met the football club. I was hesitant to join, but one of my course mates was also on the team. She encouraged me to come to a training session and joined the team. It took them two weeks to break the habit of me calling it soccer, but by the time I did, they had become my family in London.
I spent my last night in London with this team. The entire night I knew I needed to get back to my flat to pack, but I just could not leave them. These girls became my best friends. I stayed so late that I actually overslept and missed my flight home. I eventually got back home safely but miss those people every day. Going to London with API, choosing that school and meeting that time is the best decision I ever made.