Alumni testimonials
Botswana: University Immersion in Southern Africa More testimonials »
The ACM Botswana program presented me with an array of experiences which, from the phenomenal to the mundane, challenged my understanding of development, Africa, people, and myself. I appreciated equally opportunities to meet current and former presidents and listen to federal budget presentations and the opportunities to ride khombis and to work side by side with Batswana women discussing and laughing about clients and husbands in mixed English and Setswana. I alternately cherished and struggled with the slow pace of life, the subtle, roundabout conversations, and the overwhelming heat, but through these transformations confronted serious questions about research, international development, my involvement in different communities, the political and social systems of my own country, and the intricacies of friendship. It was an extraordinary journey.
—Laura Eberly, Botswana, Spring 2008
Brazil: Semester Exchange Programs More testimonials »
My experience in Brazil was unforgettable. My host family was great and everyone I met was extremely receptive. Living in Brazil made me a better person and gave me a new outlook on the world. I would do it again given the opportunity.
—Warren Takashima, Brazil Exchange, Spring 2007
Chicago Programs: Business, Entrepreneurship, & Society More testimonials »
I really enjoyed having the opportunity to work and study in Chicago on the BES program. It was the perfect combination of real-world working experience, city living, and academia. The program gave me exposure to not only business, but also to arts, cultural, and urban studies in Chicago. It gave me a unique and holistic view of the many issues facing our society today.
—Rakhi Voria, Chicago Business, Entrepreneurship, & Society, Fall 2009
The Chicago Arts program was definitely the best decision of my college experience. I have grown more in my major and skills than during my previous years at school because I finally discovered what kind of artist I want to be. Through the two internships (one for the semester and one for the summer) that I found here, I am learning what direction I want to take after I leave college and I have gained contacts that will help to follow that path. And I have gained the experience of city life and fallen in love with Chicago, where I will most certainly be returning to after I graduate.
—Katie Spencer, Chicago Arts, Spring 2010
My Chicago Urban Studies semester was a wonderful learning experience. I not only grew academically, but more importantly, this experience helped me to grow personally. The Urban Studies program exposed me to many different social issues and organizations, provided me with valuable information, and great connections. Overall, my ACM Chicago experience was a very positive and beneficial one.
—Hillary Jensen, Chicago Urban Studies, Spring 2010
Costa Rica: Field Research in the Environment, Social Sciences, & Humanities More testimonials »
My ACM Field Research experience in Costa Rica was amazing and unforgettable! I will always appreciate and love the personal relationships I developed with people in the program and the host families. Additionally, this program gave me the invaluable opportunity for professional growth in both a foreign language and independent research. Costa Rica is not only amazingly beautiful and ecologically diverse, but it also has an amazing history and culture. I wish I could go back and study there all over again!
—Lacey Ramirez, Costa Rica, Spring 2004
Costa Rica: Language, Society, & the Environment More testimonials »
After my study abroad experience, Costa Rica is no longer a small foreign country on the world map. Instead it is a place that I experienced firsthand. I had the privilege of being a part of Costa Rican culture and society and learned from it every step of the way. Every day I learned new words through experiences (as opposed to vocabulary lists), observed natural and cultural beauty, and had a chance to apply what I was learning in Spanish class through natural conversations with native speakers. Studying abroad for me was more than just traveling or living in a foreign country. It was a highly valuable learning experience acquired from day-by-day adventures of experiencing Costa Rica, that encouraged me to test my limits and connect to the world that surrounds me.
—Karen Skadow, Costa Rica, Fall 2007
Florence: Arts, Humanities, & Culture More testimonials »
The obvious reason I chose to study in Florence, being an Art History major, was that it was the birthplace of the Renaissance. What I didn't realize is that Florence is also the best place to study life. No day is average, and neither is any classroom session. Learning to share the city with hundreds of other American students was a challenge, but it made those times when we had built up the courage to talk with local Italian students all the more exhilarating. You will learn to love your host family, even though your Italian mom will show affection different from your other mom. You will learn to love the food and gelato, and most likely, you already do. You will learn to love the long walks to Disegno, because it gives you a chance to walk the less traveled cobblestone streets. You will learn to love Linguaviva (especially Aula 3), as your home away from home. You will learn to love the bustling San Lorenzo Market, because it'll give you a chance to perfect your bargaining skills. You will learn to love taking day trips on the weekends, because the hill towns around Florence are breathtaking. And finally, you'll realize you fell in love with Florence the moment you saw the Duomo from the airplane window.
—Giulia Hines, Florence, Fall 2009
India: Culture, Traditions, & Globalization More testimonials »
Although spending five months in Pune, India was one of the most challenging things I have ever done, it was also one of the most fulfilling. India is a place where intense beauty and sadness are both intertwined and inseparable to an extreme that I have yet to see anywhere else. I felt such a sense of empowerment and success when I became able to navigate the streets of Pune by myself, or when I could hold a conversation in Marathi with my host mother or a rickshaw driver. Those little things caused me to gain a much broader understanding of the world.
—Katie Blanchard, India, Fall 2008
On the Japan Study program, I learned to become extremely independent. Being in a foreign country, where you're basically on your own, forces you to grow up quickly. I was no longer able to depend on my mother or father to get me out of binds, and having this self-sufficient trait is something that would have taken a lot longer for me to acquire had I not participated in Japan Study. Not to mention, my Japanese is amazing now.
—Laura Woodland, Japan Study, 2007-08
London & Florence: Arts in Context More testimonials »
I chose the ACM London & Florence program because it offered the unique opportunity of exploring two places and cultures in-depth and living two very different lifestyles over the course of a single semester. My time in London taught me to appreciate the inexhaustible excitement of England's capital – from navigating the Tube and exploring a myriad of museums and art galleries to examining how history, politics, architecture, and art have shaped the city's cultural identity. Sharing a London flat with fellow students and making my own meals provided an invigorating detachment from campus life and taught me the thrill of true independence. In the beautiful city of Florence, I was able to witness firsthand the artistic and historical legacy of the Italian Renaissance while wandering the cobblestone streets and taking trips to Siena, Rome, and Venice. I learned the intricacies of the Italian language from gelato vendors, fruit stands at the central market, and intimate conversations with my host family over homemade pasta and tiramisu. In a way that I could not have expected, these two experiences provided me with a deeper understanding of myself, the people and places around me, the value of the arts and engaged educational experiences, and the indescribable adventure of traveling, studying, and living abroad.
—Laura Linder-Scholer, London & Florence, Spring 2010
Mexico Summer Program: Service Learning & Language Immersion More testimonials »
My experience in Mexico was incredible and I’ve been missing it since I stepped foot on the airplane back to the U.S. Watching the World Cup games with 35-50 soccer-obsessed Mexicans was of the most unforgettable things I’ve ever done. All of the Mexicans that I met were enthusiastic, fun-loving, open, and kind. I’d take the first chance that arose and fly right back to Mexico City. ¡Viva México!
—Grace Robia, Mexico, Summer 2010
Newberry Seminar: Research in the Humanities More testimonials »
The ACM Newberry program was an excellent preparation for making the transition from undergraduate to graduate scholar. Not only were the seminar discussions excellent, the intimate training from archivists and work opportunities in Newberry departments introduced us to the broader academic network of professional scholars and gave us an advantage in applying to graduate schools. Even now, as a PhD Candidate in History at the University of Arizona, I am using skills learned at the Newberry Library to facilitate research at national repositories. Any ACM student considering graduate study should definitely seek the opportunity to participate in the Newberry Seminar in the Humanities.
—Katrina Jagodinsky, Newberry Seminar in the Humanities, Fall 2001
The Oak Ridge Science Semester was an extremely positive and motivating experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to experience the scientific community first-hand. Not only did I work with incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely helpful people, but I was able to see what a career in science can really be like. I was given the opportunity to develop my own research project, a daunting but exciting proposition for an undergraduate. I was even able to present my work at a national conference. No other research experience has prepared me so completely for graduate work.
—Arron Wolk, Oak Ridge Science Semester, Fall 2007
Tanzania: Ecology & Human Origins More testimonials »
I choose to study abroad through the ACM Tanzania program because it was such a diverse program, where we lived in dorms, tents on a field site, and homestays. We also had the opportunity to conduct our own independent research project. While camping on the African savanna, I learned valuable lessons about my own interests and independent research in general. You can study anything from ecology to health studies. Tanzania is an amazing country, and if you want to visit east Africa and are at all interested in anthropology, language, or ecology, this program is amazing.
—Jessie Pechmann, Tanzania, Fall 2007