A Summer to Remember, For Sure August 28, 2025
By A student (Environmental Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/09/2025 to 08/02/2025 with
CIEE: Monteverde - Summer Tropical Ecology and Conservation
I learned a lot about my own ability to work with and get along with other people that I may not have much in common with, as well as how to be more independent.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned a lot on this program, but the classes themselves weren't super hard, which let me focus on actually gaining something from the experience rather than just my grades. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All of the faculty and staff on the CIEE campus were wonderful, responsive, and knowledgeable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
It will be more bland than you expect, but is always hot and filling, which is good for the amount of exercise you will be doing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Not a lot of participation in local culture, I wish there was more interaction with the community integrated into the program itself. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The area is quite safe, and most of the people are quite nice. Young women should be cautious, but it is not particularly bad compared to most cities in the US. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
This program was great, and I really enjoyed my time there, but in hindsight, I would have enjoyed a program with a bit more structure and possibly in a less remote area with fewer American high schoolers. |
Finances
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* 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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
If you don't want to, you don't need to spend any money while you're there other than transportation to the airport at the end of the program. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 40$ |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 30 level/3rd semester college level language course |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A more comprehensive packing list, especially for the specific weather and travel conditions I was going to be exposed to. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
