Tropical biology & conservation in Costa Rica made me realize the importance of preserving earth Past Review
By Shemi B (ecology & evolutionary, Tulane University) for
Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS): San Jose - Tropical Biology on a Changing Planet
Definitely.
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. |
The program was very cool, we learned things in the classroom then observed them in the field. You are constantly outdoors, a major plus. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Costa Ricans are friendly people and very accommodating. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Food was delicious for the most part. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | very little, $20 per two weeks, except in San Jose or when buying gifts for family. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | None really, students only have to be able to spend money for travel or plans during break. Otherwise no spending of money is necessary. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 204 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
We lived in a homestay and had 5 hours a day of intense Spanish for 3 weeks in San Jose. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It is awesome and I highly recommend it. It is a lot of work, but in the end, the experience is totally worth it. |
Comments
The Tulane Study Abroad office is accommodating and accessible to where we try to help students help themselves. In the packet there is a sheet with the names and contact info for students on their particular program as well as students who have been on the program alumni. And every semester there is a dinner sponsed by OTS where students interested in or going on an OTS program as well as alumni are invited.
deleted-1489833873deleted-1488902850Tulane May 10, 2011
