Study Abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica with WorldStrides

This summer, I had the privilege of studying abroad and participating in a service-learning program through International Studies Abroad by WorldStrides. As a first-generation student, studying abroad was never something I had seriously considered, nor did I see it as an option in my academic career. However, after stumbling across a flyer on my university campus, I knew I wanted to explore the opportunity. I had the chance to study in San José, Costa Rica, from June to July. As a civil engineering and Spanish major, I wanted to enhance my professional skills and expand my network, which is why I chose Costa Rica. I enrolled in a Spanish course at Universidad Veritas, which was unlike any course I had taken back in the U.S. Instead of traditional exams, the course focused on research presentations, essays, and discussions. The knowledge we gained in class was reflected in our essays and presentations, which replaced the need for exams. I would definitely encourage any prospective student who is uncertain about studying abroad to take the leap. The staff and students at Universidad Veritas were welcoming and supportive, creating a positive atmosphere throughout the campus. ISA offered amazing excursions that deepened my understanding of Costa Rica's culture and geographical landscape. The ISA guides and tour leaders were incredible, teaching us about the history, traditional dishes, plants, animals, and more. Every excursion was a fun learning experience and a chance to capture hundreds of beautiful photos. My host family truly made me feel at home. They were the kindest, sweetest people I have ever met and ensured that my roommates and I felt comfortable and safe every single day. They were thoughtful about our meals, often asking for our breakfast and dinner preferences, and even bought us our favorite seasonal fruits. My host mom exceeded all my expectations, and she became an important part of my experience. Not only did I meet amazing people, visit beautiful places, and try delicious food, but I also experienced significant personal growth. By the end of the trip, I realized I had become more independent and confident, even planning solo trips without feeling like an outsider. Self-discovery was an unexpected but valuable aspect of my study abroad experience. If you're considering studying abroad but are unsure, this is your sign to go for it. The program coordinators in Costa Rica were some of the sweetest and most supportive people I have ever encountered.

I absolutely loved my study abroad experience with ISA in San Jose, Costa Rica. I went on amazing snorkeling and whale-watching trips for my marine biology courses, got to explore many volcanoes and waterfalls, and was immersed in the Latin American culture through Spanish courses, my homestay, and lots of cultural activities. I learned how to cook traditional dishes, got to participate in tropical dance classes, and learned about the history of Costa Rica while traveling with ISA. Wouldn't change a minute of my journey!

This was one of the worst experiences I had abroad. Everything was a poor experience. Academics were bad, living situation was even worse, food was bad, and I got VERY sick multiple times. Don’t recommend San Jose for study abroad

Studying abroad can be new and difficult to process, especially far away from home. Being apart of the ISA group in Costa Rica was a blessing in which I got to meet other students across the country and created a whole new meaning of friendships for me, To this day I still talk to several of the peers I met while studying abroad. Another aspect that helped was my host family, there was not one day that my host mom did not care about my well-being and it felt nice to have someone take care of me while being away from my actual home, I also still talk to my host mom and miss being around her. I highly recommend studying in Costa Rica, especially during the spring semester!

This was a great opportunity to study at another university. The classes were active and well put together. The student organized activities were minimal, but there were several self-driven activities available in the community where we experienced the country more fully.

In Coasta Rica I experienced things that I never thought I would. All of Coasta Rica is filled with natural wonders and beautiful wildlife. I feel so lucky to have been able to see waterfalls, sloths and sea turtles. I will never forget my time there and I feel very lucky to have gone. ISA set up excursions for my group that showed us the country and prepared us for our time there.

I absolutely loved my time studying in Costa Rica! I was able to explore the country almost every weekend and meet great people through the program! I loved being in the city because it allowed me to meet locals who I will never forget. A couple of my classes had field trips to nature reserves as well as to Caño Island which was definitely the highlight of my stay. I stayed with the best host family, they were so welcoming and my Mama Tica made delicious breakfasts and dinners each day. Getting to practice my Spanish was nice especially since Ticos are so patient and kind!

Before studying abroad I studied Spanish for some seven years. Nothing could have prepared me for all the challenges of studying abroad. It was challenging but ISA gave me all the resources I needed to succeed and get everything out of the experience that I wanted and more! My host family and I built an amazing relationship and we still talk to this day. I am actually flying to see them soon. This experience was a blessing and ISA was the program to go through. When there was an issue with my debit card the program directors made me their top priority and helped me navigate the issue and they were so friendly. I can honestly say that studying abroad with ISA gave me all the opportunities I had wanted.

"Por favor, no comas de la despensa" was my first introduction to my host family, a phrase that emphasized the importance of respecting house rules ("no eating direct from the pantry") and cultural nuances. I quickly understood the context and rules of my host mom's family. It was a non-stop learning experience for the next several weeks. My experiences in Costa Rica further enriched my understanding and respect for living among Ticos. I navigated daily life, sharing meals and participating in daily chores, all the while striving to learn the local language and culture. The "pura vida" spirit was contagious, and I was welcomed into their world with open arms. My host mom, in particular, taught me the value of patience, respect and cultural exchange, one day at a time. These experiences informed me how to be sensitive to cultural norms and show respect while having fun learning a foreign culture. It was transformative learning at Veritas University and I truly learned how to navigate in a foreign land and culture. It is a trip I can never forget and will someday return for new extended learning. Thank you ISA and the most helpful counselors.

ISA’s program, staff, and activities made my trip amazing. This 4 week program made “school” everyday feel like a blessing! I learned so much and ISA made sure we had plenty of opportunities to explore the country as well. 10/10 experience with cultural experiences and Spanish language emersion. So much fun

My experience in Heredia, Costa Rica was life-changing and I would do it all over again if I could. I stayed with a host family which was the best decision. I got to taste home cooked traditional meals rather than eating out all the time. There is something special about a hot home cooked meal and Spanish conversations with host families that makes study abroad unique. I have gained so much confidence in my Spanish speaking skills as well as in myself. Traveling and discovering on your own takes you out of your comfort zone and lets you enjoy more.

I absolutely loved my time abroad. ISA did such a great job of being there for us, but also giving us freedom to explore and do what we wanted! It was so helpful to have all the resources and community that they provided. 10/10 would recommend studying abroad in San Jose with ISA!!

I loved the process of studying abroad with ISA starting from applying, getting credits approved, being in Costa Rica, and even coming back. Applying was easy by doing it online and ISA's employees consistently checked in on me while I was deciding. Their options for Spanish-speaking countries with classes that would transfer back to my school were great. Other options from other programs kept me from studying abroad with them. Being in Costa Rica was also the most fun summer I've had. I learned so much about the culture because of the cultural activities ISA had for us. We walked to the Jade Museum in San Jose, and I thought that was a nice touch because that's probably how locals get there (because it was so close, unless they had a car). I also did service-learning, which helped me get to know other locals from different backgrounds. When I returned to the US, I even chose to become a Global Ambassador so that I can speak about my study abroad experience with my fellow students and convince them to go with ISA!

I absolutely loved Costa Rica! I would definitely recommend this program! I would go to the ISA office almost daily because the ladies in the office were so welcoming and accommodating that I made friends with them. I was in intermediate Spanish which was not difficult but somewhat challenging. I wasn't honestly overly fond of the classroom but when you are there, the classroom is not the best place to learn Spanish anyway: the people are. If you really want to learn Spanish, then I would highly recommend that you make friends with the Ticos and not with Americans. Then use the classroom to facilitate what you learn from speaking with constantly with locals. With that being said, I didn't follow that advice very well. I made very good friends with other American students there with me and we spoke too much English (which was not my plan), but I forged friendships that were so tight that I still speak with most of them regularly almost two years later. I I had a host family that I loved and we became so close that they even too me to a family reunion and later included me in their Father's Day family photo. I also liked that ISA provided two excursions and left the rest of the weekends open. This way I was able to be lead in the first two weekends to get my bearings in the country and then my friends and I could plan our own trips after that (which were not very expensive at all). Overall I can easily say that I had a 5-star experience!

In the three short months I was in this program, I had the time of my life and benefitted in different ways. I advanced in my Spanish-speaking skills so much more than I could have ever done in the U.S. because of the immersion and necessity to use the language in daily life. I also gained new perspectives on life being in a completely different culture than I was used to, which made me more open-minded and has helped shaped who I am as a person today. Overall, I seized every opportunity I could while abroad and had some of the best experiences of my life that I will never forget.

I studied in San Jose, Costa Rica Fall 2013. I took intensive Spanish classes in the morning and electives in English in the afternoon. The university I attended was very small, which I liked, because it was easy to get around campus and I was able to meet people. On the weekends I was able to travel to the beach and other places like Monteverde. The ISA onsite staff is a great resource for ISA students. I had to go to the hospital while I was there and a staff member accompanied me to the hospital and made sure I was okay. There were also excursions that are included in the price of the programs that are really fun because you get to see the beautiful sites of the country as well as get to know the other students in your program. As well as taking classes, I did an internship at a local children's hospital. It was an amazing opportunity because I was able to learn about the healthcare system and interact with the community. I am a Health Promotion and Education major so it was hard for me to find classes that transferred back to my major abroad. ALL of my classes went to my major requirements or general education credits. Overall, it was all that I wanted in a study abroad. I got to meet so many great people, learn about the culture and the Spanish language, and get credit for the experience!

I went to Costa Rica on a complete whim. I chose my program randomly and ISA's Costa Rica Heredia program was the hands down absolute best experience I could have ever dreamed about. I loved the classes and my professors. The directors are absolutely amazing... They end up as your good friends at the end of your trip. Also, Heredia is a smaller town so I always felt completely safe and it's a short bus ride to San José for travel across the country on weekends. The excursions were great and I always came back feeling refreshed and wanting to explore Costa Rica more. My host family became like my own family and I absolutely adored them; honestly, I can't wait to go back and visit them. I would recommend this program to every single person I meet, especially if they want to improve their Spanish!

If you're a an adventure seeker, Costa Rica is a great place to Study Abroad. ISA offers many excursions to Costa Rica's beaches, cities and neighboring countries. Play with monkeys, see incredible sunsets and learn what Pura Vida is all about.

Studying abroad in Heredia was the best adventure thus far of my life. I did not know signing up that I would soon experience and meet the most influential people of my life. The staff could not have been better nor could the host families. I miss Heredia everyday and dream of returning. The school (LaU) had all the amenities any student could ask for. The teaching staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. The weekend excursions only made us students want to get out and explore the rest of the country. The excursions were very diverse. I would have stayed a full year if my studies allowed.

I loved Costa Rica and the program I went through. They were very accommodating and helpful with everything and culture immersion.