CIEE Tropical Ecology + Conservation in Monteverde

I think this is a great program for a specific type of person, who wants a little more of a specific program than many others, as well as providing more guidance. I was very drawn to it because of the specific ecology focus that I didn't see many other places.

Specifically the Monteverde site is super great! It’s a supper nice campus that is immersed in nature which I love. There are also a ton of resources around campus to make us feel at home. It’s also super amazing that we have food provided for us!

The field trips are AMAZING. They are what make this program so so fun and exciting. The academics are rigorous, yet they also find a way to incorporate these incredible field trips while still making them academic. Each field trip was perfect and so unique to each other. They were timed incredibly, the food was great, everything was great. - Bungalows are very nice, beds are comfy - Hangout spaces are incredible, rec room, library, field. - Food is good - Nature is amazing - ALL staff are so nice and welcoming

The professors were the highlight of my experience along with the field trips. I really enjoyed classes and all the knowledge I gained during my time here. I personally think I am going to be doing another CIEE abroad experience before I graduate college next spring. I loved being here and I would do it all over again if it were possible.

The ecology & conservation program would be a great growth experience for anybody interested in nature even tangibly. It was very well organized and the staff was very responsive to all the needs and accommodations

I have had a great experience in Monteverde with CIEE. The housing and campus are comfortable and the staff are very friendly. I have learned so much in the classes and our professors are extremely knowledgeable.

There are so many perks that come with the education. The field trips are extremely fun and already paid for, the facilities and buildings are extremely nice, the food is great, it is super beautiful, it is a good balance of academics and free time. They offer a lot of opportunities like the van into town several times a week which is super helpful, as it is expensive to get a taxi into town. I would have rarely gone into town if transport wasn't provided. I met some really great people here that I feel I will be connected to after the program, including the professors who were extremely warm and kind. I feel like I had a large family during study abroad, the campus isolation can be hard at times, but it makes the community really close. It feels like all of the staff really care about your experience and well-being. This is the most fun and packed semester I've ever had.

All the activities were thoroughly planned out and I learned a lot during my stay. The professors were willing to cater to our own interests in learning and dive deeper into topics that interested us specifically.

It was an amazing experience that I got even more out of than I expected! The campus is very beautiful and well maintained, I especially loved every field trip, I feel that I learned so much on these trips. I also liked the ability to independently travel off campus and the transportation to Santa Elena. I felt supported by the staff, and felt happy that many spent the time to get to know us. I felt very connected to the other students and I learned a lot about the topics I came here to learn about, and I gained a new perspective on everything and feel inspired by the support and encouragement given by my instructors. I liked the workload amount that allowed me to learn a lot but also allowed me time to experience the country. I liked the events that were put on for students such as the Halloween masquerade. I think it was a great experience and would recommend it to anyone! I'm sad that I have to leave and hope to return one day.

I would be very likely to recommend this program to a friend because it truly has been an incredible experience. I've learned so much and made so many friends. I couldn't ask for a better study abroad program.

The staff was incredible! They really made my experience great. I loved the sense of camaraderie that formed with all the people in my program and the sustainability program. The campus is absolutely beautiful and I loved being here. I loved my classes and learned SO MUCH! The field trips were definitely the most incredible part of the program and I gained so much from learning in the field.

This program changed me in the most wonderful of ways, and I got to meet people that will be in my life long after it ends. Everything necessary for an awesome time was provided and I wish I could go back and relive this semester 10000 times.

This semester in CIEE Monteverde was quite frankly the best semester I've had yet. This program does an incredible job at teaching ecology in a fun, hands-on, and deeply meaningful way. During my 3 years of studying Biology in my home university, I never felt as connected to the topics and species I was learning about as I did while being here. Getting to see species with my own eyes and design projects on the topics and systems we discussed in class reinvigorated my love for ecology and helped me remember why I fell in love with this subject in the first place. Being surrounded by equally passionate ecology students and having the chance to share my excitement and love for biology made this experience even more meaningful, as I had never been in a space like that before. This program, though, would not be the same without its incredibly professors and staff, who always made us feel loved, cared for, and welcome. I will always treasure all of the laughs and good times I shared with the staff on campus.

I learned so much about tropical ecology, and I had a lot of fun while doing it. This program gave me everything I wanted out of a study abroad program. I would absolutely recommend it to future students.

I would be likely to refer this program to a friend because of the beautiful location and the wildlife. I did not like the lack of full-body mirrors in the houses, the pillows were difficult to sleep on.

I can't speak on behalf of other programs but CIEE Monteverde was a great experience for me. There were a few issues with communication on the administrative level but the professors and my peers were amazing and I loved my time here and all our trips as well as academic content.

It was a great experience and I really feel like it was worth coming, thank you CIEE! I enjoyed almost every aspect, I only wish it had been easier to travel/ our group went to the coast at one point.

This was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants an engaging learning experience with truly thoughtful instructors and staff. Thanks again CIEE!!

I would recommend CIEE Study Abroad to any of my friends who are excited about an intense program where classes are still challenging and there is an emphasis of being outdoors. The professors and staff are incredible, the facilities are beautiful, and there was still an ability to experience and travel to parts of Costa Rica even during a pandemic. The reason why I would not recommend this program to everyone is due to the fast-paced nature of the program, which may be difficult for people who struggle to stay on top of things.

I felt CIEE did a very good job responding well to pandemic restrictions and safety while still maintaining many parts of the normal study abroad experience. I also appreciate the fact that they employ all or mostly academics, program cooridinators, and staff from the country of study.

This experience changed my life, and I made best friends for life here. That said, you get out of study abroad what you put into it, so I say you have to say yes to every opportunity and try your best to step out of your comfort zone.

I had great experiences on this program and I felt it was very all encompassing in cultural and biological immersion. The homestay experience was very helpful in improving Spanish speaking abilities but, I wish we could have had a little more time to spend with our homestay families (for example having Sunday's off so we could spend a day with our families instead of working all the time). This program is also not for students who are not hardworking, it will keep you very busy so, I would not recommend this program to students looking for an "easy" study abroad.

I thought the program was very fun but it can also be difficult to learn outside of a classroom environment. I really liked the places that we traveled to and I would love to be able to return some day. Some of the hikes were a lot more difficult than I expected so depending on the physical shape of my peer, I would maybe not recommend the program.

This has been an incredible experience for me. Not only have I had the time of my life, but I've learned more here in just three months than I have in the rest of my three years in college. It has helped me find my passion, and let me know that I am on the right track. I wish It didn't have to end.

The professors and program leaders are extremely knowledgeable in their subjects and are very organized. I felt that I learned a lot and experience many amazing things on the trip, but never felt scared or poorly-cared for.

I cannot imagine a better way to immerse oneself in the study of ecology. I will emphatically recommend this program to anyone back at my college who is interested in studying abroad and loves biology

I thought the program was very fun but it can also be difficult to learn outside of a classroom environment. I really liked the places that we traveled to and I would love to be able to return some day. Some of the hikes were a lot more difficult than I expected so depending on the physical shape of my peer, I would maybe not recommend the program.

I had great experiences on this program and I felt it was very all-encompassing in cultural and biological immersion. The homestay experience was very helpful in improving Spanish speaking abilities but, I wish we could have had a little more time to spend with our homestay families (for example having Sunday's off so we could spend a day with our families instead of working all the time). This program is also not for students who are not hardworking, it will keep you very busy so, I would not recommend this program to students looking for an "easy" study abroad.

I cannot imagine a better way to immerse oneself in the study of ecology. I will emphatically recommend this program to anyone back at my college who is interested in studying abroad and loves biology.

The professors and program leaders are extremely knowledgeable in their subjects and are very organized. I felt that I learned a lot and experience many amazing things on the trip, but never felt scared or poorly-cared for.

This experience changed my life, and I made best friends for life here. That said, you get out of study abroad what you put into it, so I say you have to say yes to every opportunity and try your best to step out of your comfort zone.

This has been an incredible experience for me. Not only have I had the time of my life, but I've learned more here in just three months than I have in the rest of my three years in college. It has helped me find my passion, and let me know that I am on the right track. I wish It didn't have to end.

I went through the program living in the present and enjoyed feeling consistently productive and adventurous almost everyday. I did more fun and exciting things this semester than I have ever done back home or even in my entire life, in some cases. I chose this program because I wanted to be out in the field and from what I read online, it seemed like it was well worth it. Well, it resulted in being a learning experience I could not have ever imagined. The things we got to do during the two two-week field trips were jam packed with activities while traveling around the country. You get to do things that can only be done with close connections, that the uniqueness of those experiences makes you greatly appreciate the program (a bit vague here, but trust me surprises are well worth it!). The bonds you make with your peers and professors/TAs were very strong and comforting. I am pleased with all the wildlife I got to see and waking up next to a cloud forest wasn't too shabby! The country is truly beautiful and Monteverde feels like a second home. I think the program does a good job in incorporating many cool experiences as it has had many years with the same program coordinator to build a study abroad program that is one of a kind.