Spring Break Physical Therapy Study Abroad Programs

I studied abroad to learn the course content, strengthen my Spanish, and hopefully gain an understanding of another culture. I did get to learn from my courses and practice my Spanish, but I also learned so much more than I expected about the geography, environment, and culture. My program was only five weeks, but the knowledge and understanding that I gained will be with me for the rest of my life. The experiences and friendships that I gained were priceless I cannot speak highly enough of my "Mama Tica", LCI Veritas, my roommates, and most importantly, the AIFS staff that made it all possible. While I was in Costa Rica I posted multiple videos about my experiences on my TikTok @syd.evallen

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!

AIFS CR, helped me des over parts of myself I never would have imagined. Creating life long connections, memories that I’ll never be able to put into words, and a sense of belonging that I will carry with me. The team at AIFS CR made my experience that much better. If you’re in between programs or looking for some change I highly, highly recommend AIFS CR!

I have never traveled outside the country and I am beyond blessed to have gotten the opportunity to! I would 10/10 recommend and do it again! I miss everyone I met and all the friends, but I always get excited to share my travels because it has so far been the best thing I’ve done in my 23 years ! PURA VIDAAA

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.

As a pre-dental student, my two weeks in Larisa were a once in a lifetime experience. I accumulated over 50 hours of shadowing hours, oversaw multiple different procedures and even was able to assist with a few. The dentist I shadowed was absolutely amazing and Stavros is quite a character and a joy to work with and talk to. He made the whole process smooth from my acceptance into the program, to transportation to and from the airport, and my living arrangements. The others in the program with me were great and we became good friends. The city of Larisa is absolutely spectacular and gave me a very authentic Greek experience! The locals were all so friendly and I rarely struggled with a language barrier and met so many different types of people that I’m still connected with. Overall my experience was something I will remember and talk about for the rest of my life and I couldn’t recommend this experience more to anyone who is interested in traveling and a career in medicine of any kind!

Studying abroad has been one of the best decisions I have made for myself, and it wouldn't have been possible without AIFS. I studied abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica, during the summer of 2025, and I attended Universidad Veritas. There, I only took one class called "Intermediate level Spanish for health professions." My reasons for studying abroad were to practice my Spanish speaking skills, immerse myself in a new culture, and learn about the rich, beautiful country. I stayed with a host mother during my stay and went on weekend excursions to Monte Verde, La Fortuna, and Sarapiqui. I was able to cultivate new friendships and relationships with the students in my program, my host family, professors, and natives. Throughout my application process, departure, and duration of the program, I had staff members such as Karla Caballo, Jade Green, and Lucy Bisselle to assist me. I’d recommend AIFS Abroad to anyone looking for self-exploration and adventure.

AIFS Costa Rica gave me the best study abroad experience I could ask for! The staff were super friendly and outgoing, making sure that we were taken care of and adjusting to our new environment. They offered many different excursions and activities that immersed students into the culture and community, as well as tips and tricks for navigating the country. AIFS made me feel at home in a foreign country, and I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life.

I was so nervous about traveling alone, but this program made it so easy! Stavros had everything set up perfectly, and the moment I got to Greece, I felt at home. The rotations were super hands-on, the doctors were awesome, and the food? I could eat Greek food forever. If you can, take the 2-week program—trust me, it’s worth it. Stavros is the best, always there to support us.

I can’t believe how much I learned in just one week! Over 20 hours of shadowing top surgeons, seeing some crazy surgeries, and exploring a whole new country? Best experience ever. The city tour was a great way to unwind, and Greek food is officially my new favorite cuisine. HUGE shoutout to Stavros for making it all happen!

If you’re pre-med, JUST DO IT. This fellowship gave me so much clinical experience, and the hands-on learning was unreal. The city of Larissa is beautiful, the people are super friendly, and the food? Absolute perfection. I made the best memories in just a week. Thank you, Stavros, for everything.

This program was packed with hours of rotations, and let me tell you—Greece is SERIOUS about medicine. The hospital had the best equipment, the surgeons were amazing teachers, and I learned so much. The city tour was a blast, and the food was so good (I miss gyros already). Highly recommend!

This program was a game-changer! One week, so much hands-on learning, and the surgeons actually explained everything. The city tour was a vibe, and the group dinners? Chef’s kiss. Greece is stunning, and I already want to go back. Stavros made everything seamless, and I’m so grateful for this experience.

I was kinda nervous flying all the way from Cali, but the second I landed, I felt at home. Greek hospitality is something else. The rotations in neurosurgery, internal med, and anesthesia? SO good. The doctors actually cared about teaching us. The excursions were straight-up unreal (Meteora looks like something out of a fantasy movie). If you’re thinking about this program, DO IT.

Coming from NYC, I expected this trip to be cool, but it completely blew my mind! The hospital was insanely clean, the staff was super kind, and the rotations (shoutout to general surgery, ortho, and emergency medicine) were crazy good. Also, the Greek food? Unreal. The excursions to Meteora and the Aegean coast made me feel like I was in a movie. So worth it!

We had a fantastic time and learned so much. The teaching and service were excellent. We are coming back again. We had a life changing experience! During this trip we me so many wonderful people. The city is lovely and the country is full of wonderful animals and natural vistas. Doug and Di

This was a life changing experience! I had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings and help others. It was amazing to witness the impact we made while there. I got to see the world in a different perspective by building connections with the people of Dominica. I grew my occupational therapy skills through hands-on experiences. We also had the opportunity to learn about the culture and explore the town. This was a meaningful and eye opening experience that will stay with me forever.