May Term Biology 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.

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 thoroughly enjoyed my experience studying abroad with API. It was a unique opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture, meet people from different backgrounds, and expand my academic and personal horizons. Seville proved to be an ideal location for this experience—rich in history, vibrant in spirit, and full of charm. The city offered an incredible blend of food, attractions, and welcoming locals that made my time there truly memorable. Academically, the courses I took introduced me to subjects I might not have explored otherwise, such as the history of winemaking and Andalusian culture. These topics deepened my appreciation for the region and broadened my global perspective. While my overall experience was overwhelmingly positive, the housing situation presented some challenges. My accommodation was significantly smaller than other available options, and unfortunately, the building was not equipped to handle the unusually high levels of rainfall—reportedly the most Spain has experienced in over 50 years. As a result, the roof began to sag and eventually leaked through the walls and ceilings on multiple floors. The water damage led to warped floorboards and damaged built-ins. When I brought these issues to the attention of the building manager, I was told the unit had dried and no further action would be taken. Since only two weeks remained in the program, I informed API and my program advisors in hopes that the matter would be addressed for future participants. Despite this setback, my study abroad experience was incredibly rewarding, and I would strongly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to pursue international education. It’s an experience that fosters personal growth, cultural understanding, and lifelong memories.

I chose AIFS Abroad because I wanted a program where I felt supported every step of the way, and that’s exactly what I got. I studied in Barcelona, Spain during the Spring semester of 2024. From the moment I applied, the staff made everything so smooth, from helping me with housing to answering all my questions before I left. Once I got there, I felt like I always had someone to turn to, whether it was my AIFS roommate, the staff, or the resources they provided me. That support made adjusting to a new country a lot less overwhelming. Living in Barcelona was incredible. I stayed in a homestay, which immersed me in the culture even more, especially since one of my goals is to become fluent in Spanish. I took classes that connected to my interests and joined excursions that helped me experience the city beyond the classroom. Some of my best memories came from just hanging out with friends I made in the program, whether it was getting lost in the Gothic Quarter, trying tapas together after class, or going on our own weekend trip outside of the country. It felt like we built our own little community abroad. This experience changed me in ways I didn’t expect. It was truly transformative. I became more confident in myself, learned how to adapt in unfamiliar situations, and started seeing new possibilities for my future. Studying abroad with AIFS wasn’t just about traveling; it was about growing. I’d recommend AIFS Abroad to anyone who wants to challenge themselves, travel, and truly immerse themselves in something new.

This experience has been a wonderful introduction to Belize. The individuals we met and the presentations we heard were passionate about Belize and patient with us to share their experiences and culture with us. And our guides were wonderful and kind.

Our experience with Loop Abroad/CELA was so impactful. The staff made our experience an easy one, being flexible and creative in providing the best possible experience for what was (for many of our students) their first time in a new country.

Our Belize trip provided our university students an incredible cultural experience. The hospitality, culture, conversations, and community visits were hands down one of a kind. We loved our time and I am excited to return.

The trip was wonderful. The staff are incredibly informative and made the experience local and informative. They were always so helpful and really brought the energy everytime we worked with them. I'm so grateful to have had them on the trip.

Before this trip I didn't know about education abroad. Everything from the places to the people was amazing! I feel so prepared for my graduate school and possible work abroad. This experience will stay with me forever.

I had no idea how much Belize had to offer. I've learned so much and I never had to worry about my safety. They were so good at being flexible when the unexpected came. If you get the chance, sign up with CELA Belize

This was my first time studying abroad and I felt so safe and cared for. I could tell that everyone cared about my education and my love for this country. Belize is beautiful and changed my perspective of the world.

CELA provided me with the opportunity of a lifetime. As a second generation Carribean myself, this trip gave me the chance to explore, compare, and contrast my own experience with those of the indigenous peoples. Through cultural exploration, I was able to leave with a greater understanding of our relation to the land, and food and community as pedagogy. This trip changed my life.

This trip was honestly so eye-opening. I got to see and experience things I never imagined. I made an amazing group of friends and memories that will last a lifetime. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to explore different cultures.

This study abroad program was truly amazing. The staff was great which made the experience so much better and welcoming. I love the connections I made with the people who were with me on this trip and how we all were able to learn and see things from first hand. I loved how we were able to see and talk to people who were from here and gave us great information and were very welcoming toward us.

I am so happy I did a study abroad program. I've never been out of the country before, but this program did a fantastic job injuring I was safe and enjoying myself. I 100% would do this again and recommend it to anyone who is thinking about studying abroad.

This has been an amazing experience. I truly enjoyed Belize and the culture. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone looking to learn and forge strong bonds. It was a great opportunity that I'll always appreciate.