Sol Education Abroad - Best Choice and Best Value for Motivated Students Past Review
By Emily H (Architecture., Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) - abroad from 05/31/2014 to 07/12/2014 with
Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica
I have always thought that I would want to live abroad or do missions work for at least a year, and this experience has absolutely affirmed that. There are so many opportunities just in this small city to help people, and what you can learn in the classroom is incomparable to the cultural immersion experience. I'm not an extrovert by any means, so I never expected to make as many friends as fast as I did. We're all strangers when we arrive, but every aspect of the program, from classes to cultural activities, is designed to foster a social atmosphere with your fellow ""Sol-mates."" One of the hardest things about studying abroad that I've heard from other students is the social aspect, but I can honestly say that I'm friends with every Sol student. We have a ton of fun together outside of the classroom, and I can't imagine being in a foreign country without a group of students to hang out and explore with.
Review Photos
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 am accustomed to a very rigorous curriculum, but I was pleasantly surprised by the emphasis placed on learning through experiencing the culture along with traditional methods rather than having to have my nose in a textbook every minute. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The cultural barrier is always the most frightening part of any new place, but I was overwhelmed by how excited nearly every Tico I met was that I was working on learning their language and culture. The locals were helpful and far friendlier than I expected. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I get tonsil infections fairly regularly, and when I started to not feel well, my program directors immediately made me a clinic appointment for the same day and accompanied me to the doctor. The clinic in Heredia had technology comparable to or beyond that of the doctor I normally see at home, and familiar antibiotics were prescribed very quickly. The healthcare staff made sure I understood what they were saying and the visit went very smoothly. |
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| 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) |
Almost all expenses after arriving were voluntary (e.g. souvenirs, eating out, shopping). |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | The only money I spent on food was in going out with friends or traveling out of town for the weekend. Cab fare and public transit costs averaged about $10-20 a week, but with a decent amount of traveling. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Traveling in groups is always cheaper, whether it's in a cab across town or to the beach for the weekend. Many hotels and bus companies offer discounts for larger groups. |
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? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Senior-level advanced Spanish linguistics |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | The easiest way to practice is to converse with your host family over meals, as you would with your family at home. Locals were also very helpful and encouraging, so don't be afraid to ask for directions or clarifications. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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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? | STAY LONGER. Once you arrive, you will definitely want to stay longer than you thought you would. You can live in a comfortable American home and speak English for the rest of your life, so get in a couple more weeks abroad. Put down the iPhone. There's so much more to experience in being in a foreign country and with a group of all new people than what you can find on Instagram or Facebook. There are way better things to do than wifi password caching and comparing the number of likes on a photo. Spend less time taking pictures of your life and more time living it. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
