May Term Agriculture Study Abroad Programs

Altogether, I had a great time. We got to see so much and I believe the pacing of the program was great, spending the right amount of time at each location. La Fortuna was my favorite! Traveling in a large group brought up trouble with waiting on students, health issues, etc. but I still think they were able to make the most of it. Having a flexible schedule and being open to adjustments definitely helps. Our guide Rodrigo and our bus drivers were the best!

I really enjoyed this experience. My review is based off of a free trip less expenses such as food and transportation, as I received scholarships for this course. I do know that many students paid upwards of $7,000 on this study abroad trip, which I do find to be a bit much. Considering we were staying in $80 / night hotels with non-working lights, mediocre amenities, and bad air conditioning and bedding coupled with the scarcity of included meals, the figure should have been more around $3,000 without airfare cost. I do not understand how the cost was so high for what was received. I also found living in the dorms with random Costa Rican people to be fun, but a bit restrictive. The morning meals were literally eggs, a piece of bread, and really bad coffee. I was also staying in a really small bunk bed which was uncomfortable. Staying in an affordable hotel would have been better. Next time I recommend the school book out Ester’s Place which is closer to the tech campus and run by a lovely lady who has many rooms available in her home hotel. She also had a much better breakfast and the cost was only $65 / night per person. I stayed here my first night flying in on the 12th and wish I could have gone back but due to restrictions I was not allowed. My family of four at the time in 2019 went on an all inclusive cruise to Italy, Spain, and France for under $10,000 with included meals, drinks , stay, etc. So this trip being $7,000 + for just ONE PERSON is a bit crazy. Regardless, the activities were awesome and for me, price was not an issue as stated before. So, my review without price factored was it was amazing. Great tour guide Rodrigo was so knowledgeable and a very nice guy. He took us to authentic places and not just generic touristy places. I enjoyed seeing the stark contrast in sustainability initiatives between exotic resorts, quasi-governmental organizations, and design firms. I truly did get a wonderful experience with understanding how firms work and the metric process used to gather sustainability info, as well as how to tell if a company may be kind of BS-ing the situation with their sustainability initiatives, or holding themselves accountable. I loved the zip line tour and the coffee and cocoa bean tour. The history tours around the towns was cool, but truly was not necessary. I feel we could have just had an informational PDF sent to us instead of touring these relatively boring historical landmarks. Activities are always more fun than learning about history. I think it would have been much more effective to fly into Liberia, tour the beach and Penninsula Papagayo’s HOA office, then make our way back to San Jose and visit firms, then fly out of SJO. The amount of time driving was frustrating. Or, instead, we would just fly into SJO and tour the Caribbean side of things and skip the western side of Costa Rica altogether. This way the time could be allocated more effectively. I also wish the professors would have split us into groups so we could have gotten to know everyone. There were certain folks I never really got to have conversations with because the groups would naturally clique and we never had forced exposure to each other. Overall it was a wonderful trip and, with a few adjustments I know the next one will be awesome as well!

Coming to TTU Costa Rica was an amazing experience and allowed me to try lots of new and unique things. Rodrigo was the absolute best and the entire trip wouldn't have been half as great and smooth without him! Gonna miss him back in the states, thank you so much for an amazing time!

My Canada study visa experience was smooth and well-guided. The team provided clear information, timely support, and professional assistance throughout the process. I’m grateful for their guidance and highly recommend their services.

BrainEdge GoAbroad offers expert study abroad guidance with transparent counseling, scholarship support, and smooth visa processing. Highly professional and reliable service. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable, professional, and result-oriented study abroad guidance.

I felt supported throughout the program, and it was a great way to experience Peruvian culture. The housing location and free water were extremely helpful. Key tips: bring a hat, rain jacket, and sunscreen. A constructive note: managing food allergies (like my gluten allergy due to soy sauce in some Peruvian dishes) would have been very difficult without the assistance of a Spanish-speaking, gluten-free student. Overall, a genuinely valuable travel experience.

The directors were incredibly kind and helpful, actively encouraging us to speak Spanish and immerse ourselves in the culture. They made a great effort to ensure we met Peruvian people. A key benefit was connecting with students in my major and learning about Peruvian life. I highly recommend this program for studying abroad. A tip: Go to the beach and Paracas if you get the chance! Overcoming the challenge of speaking Spanish was worth it.

Cesar and Rodrigo were amazing! Cesar was extremely kind and helpful, and Rodrigo was fantastic, spending time with the group and making us comfortable. The biggest challenge was the language barrier, but it wasn't a major issue, as I was able to manage ordering and essential communication. The best benefit was the friendships made. I highly recommend Arcos for study abroad students. Live in the moment and enjoy the trip!

This program offers truly enriching experiences, including the opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture, language, and customs. I significantly improved my Spanish skills, allowing for basic conversations with native speakers. I highly recommend this program to prospective students. Tip: research attractions and seize every opportunity in Peru! Remember to bring toilet paper!

The Arcos directors were very nice and dedicated, caring for every participant. The housing was good, though the eggs looked slightly unusual. Be sure to bring your own toilet paper to Cusco and find altitude sickness pills. Altitude sickness was a challenge, but I valued the benefit of seeing my family again. This was a meaningful academic and cultural experience.

Cesar was very helpful, particularly when I felt sick en route to the airport. Rodrigo provided excellent advice and treated us like friends; the whole group thoroughly enjoyed his input and attitude. I highly recommend this experience for the new environment and great friendships you will make. Just be aware of the weather and consider using waterproof bags.

Arcos provided a perfect, immersive study abroad experience. The directors were excellent, even joining us on unscheduled events like the beach trip. While the language barrier was challenging at times, I strongly recommend reviewing Spanish beforehand. The program offered wonderful benefits, including meeting new friends and connecting with the local people.

I highly recommend this program! The Arcos directors Cesar and Rodrigo are fantastic. The biggest challenge was getting acclimated to Cusco, but the benefits of cultural immersion and learning more Spanish were invaluable, plus I earned course credit. I confidently recommend this for students seeking academic and personal growth. Tip: pack a laundry bag!

The directors were always helpful and excited to share their knowledge of Peruvian culture. I recommend this program! Be open to new opportunities. While the language barrier was initially challenging, it became easier over time. The benefits included making new friends and gaining more knowledge.

Arcos Learning Abroad in Peru is a truly amazing program! Both of my Arcos directors were great, and I have no complaints, only great memories. My main challenge was minor altitude sickness, but it wasn't bad. The benefits are countless—I recommend future students apply. Go!

Highly recommended! Step out of your comfort zone; most people are in the same boat. While the lack of downtime can be challenging, it is mostly a once in a lifetime learning experience abroad resulting in a new appreciation for a different way of life and new friendships.

I highly recommend the Arcos Learning abroad program in Peru for students interested in studying abroad—it truly is an enriching and life-changing opportunity in a very cool and interesting South American country that you might not otherwise have a chance to visit.

During my time abroad I learned more about the world, myself and what i'm capable of than ever before. This was by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done and not a day goes by where I don't miss it. Ive made the best friends I could ever ask for, had some of the best food in my life, seen the most beautiful architecture and learned so much history about other regions its amazed me. I learned how to navigate new environments all on my own in countries where English was not a first language. Ive grown so much independently and mentally from this and will take it with me in my future success! For anyone that is on the fence about going abroad I strongly encourage that you won't regret it, the worst part about abroad for me was having to leave a place that I quickly called home!

I loved Lima and this program was well-rounded. I think it was coordinated to allow us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture. I appreciated that aspect very much. I will say that because this is a group study abroad, it is difficult to find time to do solo exploring. As someone who is naturally more introverted, I would have also loved to have more time to explore on my own. Nonetheless, I had a great time and I hope to see this program evolve to meet the needs of future groups.

I was nervous for my first time abroad. I didn't know what to expect, yet my experience still exceeded my expectations. I felt supported, safe, and informed every step of the way. My program set me up for academic, personal, and cultural exploration. From the classroom to excursions, from the food to the people, I learned and experienced so much during my time abroad.