USAC India: Bengaluru- Culture, Society, Global Perspectives

This program was packed full of classes and lots of travel to see amazing things. When it came to the living situation on campus I will say it could be improved but I’m not mad as I didn’t have to share and I got to have free time. I do wish there was more known around the campus as there were several places I wasn’t able to go much later in the trip since I didn’t know abt it. The people were one of the best parts of the trip and I felt like I was able to be myself fully.

I had a fantastic semester with USAC in Bengaluru. The program is well organized and the staff are absolutely amazing and more than willing to help you with anything. I enjoyed the classes and learned valuable and applicable information from excellent professors. The apartment accommodation was so nice and in a great area. My time in India was incredible and helped me grow as a person. India is a beautifully complex society and navigating through it challenged me to look at my life and how I want to spend it. It helped open my eyes to what I find most important. Learning about the many facets of Indian culture and society helped broaden my perspective and understanding of this world. Another plus of the program is that there is ample time to travel around India and the resident director will always give great advice. I was able to trek in the Himalayas, visit the Taj Mahal, explore ancient temples in Hampi, and chill on the beautiful beaches of Goa. India is extremely diverse and anyone can find a great adventure. Living in India you learn how to be flexible and adaptable. The culture is extremely different from the West, which makes it the perfect environment to grow personally and become aware of your cultural biases. India definitely is not the easiest place to live, but if you come with an open heart and a willingness to grow you will have the time of your life.

Living in India can be very challenging and the way you work through and perceive the challenges is what will determine what type of experience you have. If you are an applicant searching for something deeper, something that will test your problem-solving skills and independence, this is the perfect program to choose. India is incomparable to any other country or culture. It has one of the most preserved cultures in the world which helped me understand the importance of respecting the differences between humans and it challenged the judgmental and ignorant parts of me. Living in India for four months lent me the perspective of what it felt like to have all eyes on me at all times which is a feeling I'll never forget. I would highly recommend studying abroad through USAC. Their services are professional and their communication is excellent. I felt fully prepared to move. The most challenging part of my preparation was applying for my visa. It is an extremely tedious process and making one mistake can set you back. I would recommend gathering your materials far in advance for a stress-free experience. In India, you can choose from living in an apartment or living on campus. I chose the apartment and it was clean and safe, however, it was a 30 minute uber/rickshaw from campus and a 40-minute walk. My classes were excellent, challenging and helped me understand what I was seeing every day in India as well as the history and culture. Smriti and Ms. Seema are incredible advisors and they became more like family to me. Overall, I would definitely recommend studying abroad in India through USAC and even more, I would recommend staying for a full semester.