Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Costa Rica: Tropical Medicine and Global Health - Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) Past Review

By (Spanish Language and Literature., Wellesley College) for

Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes, LOVED IT; Would recommend it to anyone with the same academic interests.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Duke University / Organization for Tropical Studies
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Lots of work

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

d

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was happy with my hom estay, it was nice.

* Food:

I don't eat pork, so there was always a vegetarian option when pork was around. Food was good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I went to Bocas Del Torro Panama during my 1 week break. I LOVED it. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to explore the Caribbean/have a good time

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

d

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? d

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Upper Division Spanish
Language acquisition improvement?

There was a Spanish course which was GREAT. However, outside of Spanish class I mostly only spent time with my peers from America, so I didn't really improve my spanish as much as an immersion program would have done so. But I did come out speaking better Spanish than when I went in...and my 3 week Spanish home stay really helped as well.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
  • Dorm
  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Host Family
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Professors
  • Country
  • Academics
* What could be improved?
  • More free time
  • Classes only 5 instead of 6 days a week
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Just take a lot of books (lots of down time on buses and while traveling). Take movies to watch alone and with friends (lots of down time in the dorms) and be ready to be around lots of people ALL the time. Not very much privacy/alone time on this trip. So if you're a very private person and don't like be around people all the time, don't choose this program.