Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Rad Past Review

By (California State University - Fullerton) - abroad from 03/24/2018 to 04/01/2018 with

CSU: Costa Rica Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worth while, wish I could've stayed longer though.

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.

Thoroughly enjoyed everything.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Great, keep it up!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was extremely nice, I just wish we got to choose our own roommates.

* Food:

Everything was delicious!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Wish I could've spent more time in Costa Rica.

* 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

It was wicked chill, loved every part about it.

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)

I'm not much of a spender. Brought $400 with me and only spend about half until the last 2 days when we went souvenir shopping.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~$15-25
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be wise with your money, don't spend like crazy. I'm a minimalist so it really wasn't hard.

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? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? NA
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? Watch novelas before you go if you have too.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • 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?
  • the people
  • the food
  • the culture
* What could be improved?
  • not much, liked it as it was
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish we had more bonding times with the girls in my group before we left so that we would already know each other.

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.