Past Review
By Andrew K (Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology., Tulane University) for
Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS): San Jose - Tropical Biology on a Changing Planet
Yes, the OTS Tropical Biology program expanded my horizons and outlook on life and the impact I have on the planet. I learned a great deal about the research process of the tropical ecologist and saw amazing plants and animals in the Costa Rican jungle.
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Fall 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Although the course is difficult and time-consuming, I really learned a lot about the fauna and flora of Costa Rica and the impacts actions around the globe have on the tropics. The course is truly an eye-opener and you will learn and see alot! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Program administration abroad not very nice and helpful to students, but only limited contact with them is needed. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Space sometimes cramped. Bathrooms at some stations are co-ed. |
| * Food: |
Food overall very good. Home-cooked and Costa Rican cuisine. Healthy and vegetarian options always available. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Many of the people on the program will become some of your best friends, although as is to be expected, people can get a bit cliquey. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Program staff very helpful and attentive if students feel ill. I did not feel threatened ever, but would not walk alone at night in San Jose. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $5 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do not bring too much cash because program expenses cover almost all housing and meals. Do bring cash for some meals in San Jose and Fall/Spring Break, especially if you plan on sharing a beach villa with people. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
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Other Program Information
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Do it! But don't expect to relax very much. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Fundamentals of Tropical Biology |
| Course Department: | BIO-134 |
| Instructor: | M. Garcia, E. Deinert, and S. Letcher |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Course provides the student with an overview of biological processes and tropical ecosystems. Covers a great deal about tropical plant families and insect taxonomy. Students also keep a field notebook for each site visited. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No, but check with your biology department to see if course will transfer for credit. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Field Research in Tropical Biology |
| Course Department: | BIO-134L |
| Instructor: | M. Garcia, E. Deinert, and S. Letcher |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Students design their own independent research projects (work in a group of 1-3 students) and write scientific papers about their results and implications. Students learn how to run statistical analyses of results. Great exposure for those interested in biological sciences. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No, but check with your biology department to see if course will transfer for credit. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Environmental Science and Policy of Tropics |
| Course Department: | ENV-129 |
| Instructor: | E. Deinert, M. Garcia and S. Letcher |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Students learn about environmental impacts of actions around the globe on tropical ecosystems. National park system and Costa Rican policies toward deforestation also discussed. Course culminates in a carbon footprint reduction exercise. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No, but check with your relevant department to see if course will transfer for credit. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Culture and Language of Costa Rica |
| Course Department: | SP-62 |
| Instructor: | Costa Rica Language Academy, San Jose |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Students are placed into appropriate level of Spanish instruction based on questionnaire and interview before start of course, which takes place for approximately 3 weeks in the middle of the semester. Students learn the Spanish language, local idioms, and Costa Rican culture through classroom discussion. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No, but check with your Spanish department to see if course will transfer for credit. |
