Verto Education - Start College in Turrialba, Costa Rica

This program is a very affordable program with scholarships. This is also a great opportunity if you are looking to study abroad in a smaller community. Turrialba and the CATIE campus are very nice however can sometimes can feel a bit secluded as the ocean is about a 3-hour bus ride and San Jose is about 2-3 hours as well. There are opportunities for independent travel which is really exciting but just know that using the bus system can be difficult at first. As well as if you expect luxurious travel (such as not taking the bus or staying in hotels over hostels) be aware it will be expensive. Students who enjoy being outdoors will find CATIE to be a really beautiful campus and the trip that are planned such as white water rafting and the trip to Panama are very fun. Overall if you are a person who is here for the experience who wants to explore natural settings and small towns this program is for you.

Starting college in Costa Rica was the best choice I've ever made and I am so grateful for my experience and for Verto. I was unsure what I would do when I graduated high school and took a leap of faith in going to Costa Rica. I didn't know much about the program but I wanted to earn credits abroad and I got so much out of my time in Turrialba. Shortly after arriving, I knew I wanted to do another semester with Verto. Living on campus with all the Verto students and staff meant we had such a strong community. The excursions were incredible, I had the chance to go all over the country and even to Panama as part of the program, not including independent travel. The classes and professors were top-tier, and I genuinely learned so much even without trying. So many of our classes were held outside of the classroom which made everything so much more memorable. I will cherish my time in Costa Rica for the rest of my life and I truly can't recommend it enough.

Choosing the Costa Rica location with Verto Education honestly had to be one of the best times of my life! I was able to meet new friends, see different sites, and experience another culture while also earning college credit. It’s because of Verto that I was able to have a memorable first year of college and that I had the best experiences to cherish. Also, Verto has a list of partner colleges as well ad college counselors who will support you in whatever path you take during your experience and after you finish the program. Highly recommend choosing Verto Education to start off your first year of college!

My time in Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica with Verto Education was well spent doing various activities. Not only did I earn 12 college credits during my semester in Costa Rica, but I also went to some incredible places, such as the Aquiares Coffee & Community, Bocas del Toro in Panama, and local events in the town of Turrialba such as the local Christmas concert to receive toy donations for the local orphanage.

I also want to note that the Verto Education staff are very, very helpful while students are abroad. Not only are they approachable, but they are beyond ready to help you with anything you may need. They are enthusiastic about their work and are ready to help you regarding your academics or life abroad at any time.

I, among all alumni, recommend Verto Education to those who are wanting to push themselves out of their comfort zones. The program is a life-changing educational journey where you are able to experience so many new things along the way. It’s once in a lifetime that you get the chance to do something like this, so apply and take that chance!

I decided to study abroad with Verto Education for my first year of college. During my first semester, I traveled to Turrialba, Costa Rica and spent almost 4 months there learning and growing. I made life long friends, traveled to new cities weekly, conquered 2 new countries (Costa Rica and Panama), saw things I had never seen before (waterfalls, volcanoes, the jungle, sloths, monkeys, native birds), and took great classes with amazing professors.
I recommend Verto Education Costa Rica location for anyone who wants a life changing experience full of growth, adventure, and happiness. It's a great way to be fully immersed in a new culture and learn a lot about yourself as well as the world you live in.

Prior to my semester with Verto, I had never left the United States alone. So naturally, I had tons of questions and concerns regarding packing, safety, and of course the kind of education I would be receiving. Verto staff worked with me prior to my departure and answered every question I could think of, and provided me with ample information to make me feel prepared and excited for my journey. Upon arrival, we had a week of orientation to help us adapt to the culture shock, learn about our courses, and tour the town that we would be calling “home” for the next 3 and a half months. All of my professors were fantastic people with good hearts that went the extra mile in every way to ensure that we understood the subject and also how to apply it to real life. The hands-on and immersive learning style fit me extremely well and I definitely retained more information from my courses than I ever did in a traditional classroom setting in high school. The excursions that we went on with Verto such as our trip to Panama, canyoning, white water rafting, hiking the local volcano and cloud forest, were all led very well and I felt that I was in good hands the entire time. The end of the semester brought some of the hardest goodbyes that I’ve ever had to make. My roommates had become family, and the SLC’s felt like parents. The locals I met along the way were the most welcoming and friendly people I’d ever met, and as eager as I was to see my family back home, I never wanted to leave Turrialba. I think everyone should be able to study abroad at least once in their life, and I was fortunate enough to choose Verto to help me get there.

I absolutely loved studying abroad in Costa Rica with Verto Education. If you love nature and are passionate about environmental science, this is definitely the place to be. One of my favorite things was going on hikes to see amazing waterfalls, and I also had a great time white water rafting on the Pacuare River. One of the most rewarding experiences was planting 1,000 trees in the Pacuare River Basin with the RAFA organization. Overall I had an amazing experience and I met some of the most amazing people I think I will ever meet.

I want to start out by saying verto has a lot of support to offer, which I thought was amazing compared to other colleges. Although there have been some bumps in the road with housing, and food. But i understand everything has it’s ups and downs and I have to say verto’s faculty staff has handled it very well. I have made so many connections here when it comes to future colleges and opportunities. This program gives you the opportunity to travel while getting a degree.I recommend anyone to Verto, this experience has been life-changing.