Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Adventure of a Lifetime Past Review

By (Eastern Kentucky University) - abroad from 06/25/2016 to 08/06/2016 with

Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Aside from Spanish, obviously, I learned a lot about Latino cultures, about myself, and even about people from other parts of the United States. It was definitely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Everything with my housing was amazing, but I wish we had spoken more Spanish.

* Food:

A person can only eat so many plantains a day... Aside from that the food was always wonderful.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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? $150/week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If your friends go out for meals, try to buy a cheap appetizer or bring a snack from home that way you can still eat the included meal at home rather than spend extra money.

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? Beginner
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? Intermediate One
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? Start speaking Spanish with your host family from the first day, otherwise it might be easy to get in the habit of speaking English and that habit will be hard to break.

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?
  • Friends
  • Culture
  • Ability to easily travel
* What could be improved?
  • More Spanish in the home
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? SOL did a really good job of preparing me for the program. There are always going to be obstacles you figure out once there, but for me they were all obstacles that had to be dealt with, not told from the program.

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.