Loved every second of this study abroad experience. Past Review

By (California State University - Fullerton) - abroad from 03/26/2016 to 04/03/2016 with

Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
After this experience abroad all I want to do is travel and learn from other cultures .

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It was an amazing learning experience I learn so much about the Costa Rican culture.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The coordinators from Sol education did a great job helping the students integrate into the Costa Rican culture by encouraging us to feel like at home. They were very welcoming.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was very satisfied with the living arrangements we were located in a beautiful community. I felt really safe.

* Food:

The food was AMAZING.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The Sol education program did a wonderful job helping the student's integrate with the Costa Rican culture . We were family. We had wonderful experiences with the host families which help the students become part of this community.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Just allergies.

* Safety:

It was a very safe community . We did not feel threatened or in danger.

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

The program does its job by creating wonderful experiences on students who want to learn from another culture .

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? $300

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

It was really encourage for us to speak the foreign language in order for us to interact with out host families and create a stronger bond with them.

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
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? Download apps that can help them learn basic words .

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

  • Other
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?
  • Food
  • Spending time with host family
  • Spending time in a school and a non profit organization
* What could be improved?
  • The Costa Rican program should be more than one week
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I needed to take more comfortable clothes for the hot weather

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'