Unforgettable! Past Review
By jen h (Wildlife Ecology, University of Maine at Orono) - abroad from 07/03/2012 to 08/03/2012 with
USAC Costa Rica: San Ramón - Life Sciences, Spanish Language, and Culture
I had an eye opening experience both from the classes and the culture
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. |
Not too much information, but they didn't "dumb things down" either |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Couldn't have asked for a better host mom! |
* Food: |
The food alone is worth coming to Costa Rica for! |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
To truly integrate yourself, it's up to YOU. You are provided with plenty of opportunities to take advantage of |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Always had a bandaid when needed |
* Safety: |
It's as safe as anywhere, just don't do anything foolish like walking alone at night, because although San Ramon is a safe place, you can get into trouble anywhere if you put yourself at risk. Just use common sense |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Things are cheap, so its easy to be free with your money. Just be careful |
* Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
* Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30 for food, movies, drinks,etc |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make a budget and stick to it, because everything is pretty cheap it's easy to spend more money than you intended to |
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 |
Very much encouraged you, but no one got mad at you for speaking English either |
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | College German (not helpful in a Spanish speaking country) |
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? | Learn the basics BEFORE you go! |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | That my water proof camera wasn't really water proof |
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. |
Individual Course Reviews
Course Name/Rating: |
Tropical marine biology |
Course Department: | Biology |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | English |
Comments: | Very interesting, educational and eye opening |
Credit Transfer Issues: |
Course Name/Rating: |
Latin Dance |
Course Department: | |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | Spanish |
Comments: | Challenging but fun |
Credit Transfer Issues: |