Ecological Paradise with Adventure, Easy Classes, and Community September 02, 2025
By Eliza L (Environmental Studies and Peace and Justice Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/27/2025 to 05/09/2025 with
The School for Field Studies / SFS: Costa Rica – Ecological Resilience Studies
I got to travel a lot and learn what it is like to study in a different country! It was totally worthwhile!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
You learn tangible skills and get the opportunity to travel through so many Costa Rica ecosystems! The classes were a lot easier than at my home institution, and the lab resources are limited. However, the work load was perfect for allowing travel and mostly-free weekends! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administrators were helpful with student needs! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I shared a room with two roommates and enjoyed their company! My room had no AC, but the beds were comfortable. The showers are cold, but its hot enough outside that it is not a problem. |
| * Food: |
The food was home made and DELICIOUS!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt integrated into the culture of the school, but because it was all American students, there wasn't as much of an opportunity to get to know Costa Rican culture or even practice Spanish. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health issues were addressed promptly! |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe to walk around! There are snakes and insects, but they did not pose any serious safety concern (and we were taught what to look out for). |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved the program! The staff and professors were awesome, and the students were great too. And being in Costa Rica was out of this world! So beautiful! Classes were easy (I don't know if I learned ALL that much....) but the light workload allowed for travel and immersion! |
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) |
Costa Rica was cheap! I chose to use money for travel (and it cost a lot for transportation to places), but that was a choice. If I didn't chose to travel, I could have survived on much less. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Use ubers, not taxis! And take cash out in larger quantities so you don't get charged. |
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 |
I wish there had been more encouragement of the language! |
| 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? | SPAN 202 |
| 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? | Go out and don't be embarrassed to PRACTICE! |
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? | Know some places you want to visit ahead of time because you will have weekends to go travel! |
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. |
