Information Systems Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica

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!

I was feeling rather excited for the experience I knew I was in for, but was unsure how being in a new country speaking a language that I am not great at, and having very little idea of what to expect, getting to Costa Rica was super awesome, but slightly daunting. I decided to run at everything head on, taking opportunities presented to us as foreign students and making the most of my time there. I learned how to be in a new and foreign place, while meeting sweet people and seeing amazing things.

To say I had an amazing time in Costa Rica with CEA CAPA would be an understatement. I learned so much about myself through my time here. I was worried about going due to my minority status, but the staff and my host family truly made me feel at home. The cea capa staff were in constant contact with us at all times, even before we arrived to San Jose. They threw me a celebration on my birthday and made us feel like a part of a family. Whatever I needed, whether it was academic, health, or emotional support, they made me feel comfortable and supported.

CEA responded to this reviewMay 16, 2024

Hi Zoe! Thanks for taking the time to review about your experience in Costa Rica. So glad you felt part of a family and felt support through your host family and CEA CAPA staff!

I didn’t speak Spanish and I stood out because I was a minority so I was quite nervous upon arriving. When I got there I was welcomed immensely by my host family. She was above and beyond, taking us out to eat, serving lunch meals even when it wasn’t requiring, and quite literally catering to our every need. The people are so friendly and my Spanish improved drastically. They helped me immerse myself into their culture and taught me so many new things and life lessons, it’s an experience I’ll never forget.

CEA responded to this reviewMarch 21, 2024

Hi Dylan! Your study abroad experience in San Jose sounds amazing. So glad you felt welcomed and learned a lot. Host families are so special!

I had a great experience. I learned a lot about the culture in the Netherlands as well as the surrounding counties. I made connections with friends that will last a lifetime. I would highly recommend this program!!!

Tremendous staff. Environment is like none other and they accommodate well. For Seville, the city has been tremendous and CIEE gives you a proper introduction to this magnificent city. Whether an intern or a student during one of the sessions, you can get along with everyone and overcome the anxieties of a new city

I would be very likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because this program gives you many opportunities to explore the city you are in as well as the surrounding areas. All of the employees are very kind people who will be their to uplift and support the students who are abroad.

If you are thinking about studying abroad I highly suggest Costa Rica! The safest country I have ever been to and the most affordable. As a young black woman, I was nervous about studying abroad but I had no issues here! Make sure to pack a rain coat as it does rain a lot, but it is worth it to be surrounded by beautiful greenery and wonderful people! Costa Rica Pura Vida!

I have had a great experience, it is organized and comes at a good cost. The staff on-site is very supportive and helpful (as well as Brooke in Portland), but we had an emergency situation and the Portland higher-ups didn't handle it well, nor did anyone answer the emergency number provided to us.

I studied abroad with CEA in Costa Rica in the Spring of 2018. My program was 3-months long and was an incredible experience. I was able to stay with a host family, travel the country, and take relevant classes for my degree and minors. There was a wide variety of course options that were super interesting and were unique to Costa Rica. I took classes such as Tropical Ecology and Ecological Photography. I met people from across the U.S. that I still keep in contact with today. The support I received from CEA while in San Jose was amazing. We had access to the CEA offices there, where we would work on projects, hang out with friends, and cook lunch. My Spanish abilities also improved immensely while I was there and helped me become more comfortable speaking it conversationally. Overall, I wouldn't change my experience at all. Costa Rica is an beautiful country and CEA will help you experience it.

CEA responded to this reviewDecember 12, 2019

Thank you for your review, Savanna! Your thorough review and reflection will help guide future CEA students when researching their own study abroad programs. Be sure to stop by and say hello the next time you find yourself in Costa Rica, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

I feel that CIEE tries to have activities for us and I really do feel that I am learning a lot here. Also everyone here seems really nice and I feel that though we are different a lot of the students seem to have the same mindset and its a good chance to network.

I have tried a million times to express how much I enjoyed my semester abroad, but I never can do it justice. Prague has a very special place in my heart and I'd move there permanently in a heart beat. Before choosing programs, I knew nothing about the Czech Republic and my mind was set on going to Aix-en-Provence. While I'm sure I would have enjoyed my time there, I now know that Prague was a far more amazing experience than anywhere else I could've gone. I studied abroad as a first semester senior, so if I couldn't take at least three classes that would count for my major, I couldn't go. CEA was amazing at helping me through the entire beginning process, and I was able to get the classes I needed for my Business Administration/Management major. I took Human Resource Management, Corporate Finance, and Business Ethics (plus an amazing Czech language and culture course that I highly recommend). The school is beautiful and always filled with students, it's connected to Prague's oldest garden, that is otherwise tricky to find (there's peacocks running free that sometimes come up to classrooms). The school is right next to several tram stops and a metro stop. It's very central and simple to get to. I had an amazing apartment that was the most ideal situation I could've had. I had one other roommate who I didn't know but is now my best friend. The kitchen comes with all the cooking tools you need and we had so much space, we only used about a sixteenth of it. Our neighbors were also CEA students and the apartments are generally extremely secure. Normally there's a locked gate before you even enter your apartment building. The tram I took to school was only a 3 minute walk away and was right under the absolutely stunning National Theater. Prague always has people out and about at all hours and I never felt unsafe (the crime rate is incredibly low). CEA has guards walking around to apartments to make sure all is well and no one is breaking quiet hour rules (a common thing across Europe). Transportation has made Prague a wonderful city; you can get anywhere. The train station and airport can be easily reached by tram/metro/bus. CEA gives you the tools to get a transportation pass that works on all of these and is pretty cheap. CEA also offered excursions that you should definitely take advantage of (and bonus they're free! they even feed you). CEA also has events you can attend and has pastries and fruit available pretty much all the time. The staff encourage you to come in and get to know them. They even hosted a Thanksgiving meal (with a Czech twist) to help with not being home for the holiday. When in Prague you only see about a third of the city. What I mean by this is that for every building you see, you're only seeing one third of it. Buildings go underground and have secret courtyards you wouldn't see unless you go in. Definitely check out the bars because they're well known for this. There's farmer's markets all of the city (my favorite is along the Vlatava on Saturdays). Czechs are very friendly and casual. They're family oriented and have fun interests (mushroom picking is a big thing). I had the time of my life and 100% wish I could relive that semester. I'm also really glad I chose CEA because they were so friendly, helpful, and organized.

CEA responded to this reviewSeptember 25, 2019

Anna, this is music to our ears! We are so grateful to hear your kind words and positive experience with CEA. Your detailed review and advice will serve as a guide for future students when researching their own study abroad experiences! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors, and don’t forget to stop by the next time you’re in Prague to say hello!

CIEE is very well-staffed and they do everything they can to make sure you have the best experience possible. Everyone is friendly, the rules and guidelines are laid out for you, and the excursions CIEE plans are a blast!!

This has been the best summer of my life. Everything about CIEE has blown me away. Virginia Niera has been an extremely attentive and helpful program director. She and Antonio Romero were both quick to offer help with any issues I might have. The professors, Amador Fernandez and Antonio Rodriguez, taught with enthusiasm and care. Each class genuinely excited and intrigued me. They graded fairly and truly cared about students understanding and learning. We took informative, fun, and interesting trips. They were all well-planned and extremely enjoyable. The tour guides we had, Adrian and Alicia, were knowledgable and made the tours very meaningful. The trip to Morocco really opened my eyes to other cultures and ways of life. Finally, my homestay could not have been better. I really got close to my host family, and I felt like I had a place in Seville where I could be totally comfortable. I have already recommended this program to two of my friends, and I plan to encourage more to do it if they w

My study abroad experience was one of the most amazing opportunities of my life! I was able to dive right into a different culture. I learned so much about the Costa Rican culture and was able to fully take advantage of my time in this beautiful country. I traveled so much each weekend and enjoyed all of the food and awesome scenery!

CEA responded to this reviewApril 09, 2019

Cailyn, we are so happy to hear your time in Costa Rica was a success – and such a memorable time for you! We agree – the food and scenery are incredible! We wish you all the best and appreciate your thoughtful review

My first experience abroad and I love it here. I feel that CIEE tries to have activities for us and I really do feel that I am learning a lot here. Also everyone here seems really nice and I feel that though we are different a lot of the students seem to have the same mindset and its a good chance to network.

Study abroad is something that everyone needs to be apart o at least once in their lifetime, and CIEE was a great way to do it. I think I would recommend this because we’re given a place to reside in a foreign country with people who have no problem helping you at the drop of a pen. The CIEE community becomes your family and makes you feel like you’re at home and always offer things to do for free or at least help to make your study abroad experience as great as it can. It’s also nice that you can choose from different programs and either be a student for half and an intern for the other half, be an open campus student and stay for an entire semester, or every 6 weeks choose a new home. It’s an amazing experience for a reasonable price but an opportunity and of a lifetime.

In college, I am majoring in International Studies and double majoring in International Business and Sociology. Upon studying abroad, I didn’t know exactly which route I wanted to take with my career upon graduating. So, I decided to intern while studying International Business abroad. At the spark of this program, I had a passion for Environmental Ethics and Global Agriculture but didn’t know how I could link it to my other passion being International Studies. Luckily, the Czech NGO internship that CEA matched fit me perfectly. Within the internship, I was one of the main student fundraisers, but they also invited me to some of their colleague’s climate change, forestry, and entrepreneurship conferences. Without studying abroad and being in such a constant learning environment, I wouldn’t have accomplished and be as confident as I am within my sector as I am now. Upon leaving the program, I am intern for a Congressman and his district office as well as become an advocacy intern for an anti-genocide company within South Sudan that is based in my hometown.

CEA responded to this reviewJune 19, 2018

Alexis, we are so pleased you were able to explore a variety of career paths within our Prague internship program. Thank you for sharing your story and best of luck with your career! - CEA