Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Wonderful! Wouldn't have asked for a better one! Past Review

By (Agriculture, Berea College) - abroad from 07/08/2014 to 08/09/2014 with

AIFS: San José - Universidad Veritas and Internship Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Too much to write about! Experienced a wide range of ecosystems and wildlife including watching sea turtles lay eggs on the beach and monkeys as abundant as squirrels.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

One class was ridiculously difficult and the other class was of moderate difficulty

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Most were great but communication was rough when there were administration that worked with US students that did not speak any english.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My Tica Momma was great!

* Food:

Some was great and other was not so much.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Difficulties arose when locals targets US students for theft and with scams.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Though not needed, if a strip to the doctor was needed, the student was expected to pay in full before and then be reimbursed. This is difficult when on a strict budget.

* Safety:

You just have to be smart. Do not put yourself in situations that increase your chances of being a target. We knew students that had been drugged as well as robbed at knife and gun point.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? not calculated exactly. about $100 I suppose
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save as much as you can so you can experience as much as you can while you are there.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? high school spanish
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Don't be afraid to try.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The animals and excursions
* What could be improved?
  • Communication from local program to students regarding how the grading system works.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? More spanish.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.