Program Reviews

Future students need to know that you get more benefits from the program with the longer that you stay! You'll miss your family and friends a lot, but the experience here is so worth it. The people you meet and the places you see are incomparable to anything in the US. It really has been a life-altering experience for me, and I would stay a whole year if my major allowed me to!

"DO IT! It has been one of the best times of my life. I have learned so much Spanish and loved every second I've spent here in Costa Rica. I am very sad to leave on Saturday. I will definitely return to Costa Rica to live at some point in my life, and it's all thanks to SOL!"

This really was one the best decisions I have made. My Spanish improved greatly as I was immediately immersed into the culture and its people, in and out of the classroom. Every staff person, at all sites, are very helpful and eager to contribute to make your experience wonderful. You receive a great education, that tends to your level and interests, while you are also shown the best of what the country and its people have to offer. Not to mention the lifelong friendships made with those I still visit in the States and abroad, and even returned to Costa Rica to work and live after graduation.

During all 4 weeks I was in Costa Rica, I did not have one day where I didn't want to be there. I loved every second of every minute I was there and I couldn't have been placed in a better host family. I had no problems getting around the city, the excursions on the weekends were full of excitement, and the staff/professors treat everyone like family.

Even in three weeks I felt my host family turned into my family. I have loved talking and getting to know them. You will learn more outside of the classroom than you ever expected. You are being immersed in a totally different culture than in the United States and it is so much fun to learn about and experience. Costa Rica is a great country with great people and this program gives you the opportunity to explore the country, the culture, and the language. I highly recommend this program because it combines academics both in and out of the classroom.

I stayed six weeks abroad in Costa Rica with Sol and wow it's just so hard to break it all down in a short amount of space. I loved every part of it. The classes were intense but ended at noon, allowing us the whole day to explore the country. Costa Rica is the place to study Spanish. The people are people of service always willing to help a foreigner because they want to leave you with a good impression and come back. The nature and the excursions are like no other. The variety of micro-ecosytems is quite impressive and the beaches, rain forests, and other sights are beautiful. The staff is great too. They were quick to know our names and we were so close. By the end Jessenia, Janiva, and Rodrigo became friends I wish to see again soon.(this seperates SOL from bigger providers). My favorite aspect was my host-family. Every day is an adventure. My mama tica's meals were to die for and my tico dad was an amazing talker that ran every morning with me. My tico brother would stayed up with me and bring me with his friends to his soccer games and my tica sister would show me around the city with her friends. My spanish would not have improved the way it did here if I did not go. You have to be immersed to learn the fulness of the language and this is the program that does so.

I have grown so much here and have fallen in love with the nature
and culture! Really try to experience a "pura vida" attitude and be
open to everything and everyone because you don't know what you'll
get out of it. It's the experience of a life time. The directors are
so fun and helpful! Every day was enjoyable. Though this will be an experience out of your comfort zone, I always felt comfortable
because of the people. I have grown so much and genuinely loved
everything I have done here. The culture, the people, the nature,
everything is so beautiful and through Sol I was able to experience
it all!

Going to Costa Rica with Sol was one of the best academic choices I have made in college. The regional directors made the application process very simple and straightforward. The price is great compared to other programs I researched, especially for all of the amazing excursions that are included. The information I was given before I left made the trip a lot less stressful because I had been told exactly what to expect. It was my first time to fly alone, and I had no problems at all.
From the time I reached the airport in San Jose, I felt that the local staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. I never had to worry about anything because I knew they had everything taken care of.
Each morning (M-F) you go to class for 3 hours with a 15 minute break in the middle. Most afternoons for the first 3 weeks you have a cultural activity of some kind (cooking class, dance class, museum trip, city tours, etc.) On the first 3 weekends you go on an excursion with your directors that is included in the cost.
The best part of the trip was living with a host family. It is hands down the best way to practice your Spanish while learning about the culture. I learned a lot from my host mom and her grandson during the time i spent with them. You will make a lot of great friends from around the US while you are there, but you will also gain a second family if you make it a priority to form a relationship with your hosts.

Leaving the US for the first time was hard, but I am one for adventure so I was up for it. I never imagined my six weeks in Costa Rica would have influenced my life as much as it has. Within a six week time frame, I fell in love with the people, culture and food in Costa Rica. The adventures and memories never stopped and were always new on a daily basis. During the weekends, I went zip-lining, white water rafting, snorkeling, bungee-jumping, hiking along volcanoes and much much more. I lived with strangers that have become my second family. I had classes with fellow Americans who became my support group. I lived Pura Vida for six weeks. This trip was possibly the best decision I have ever made in my life. My life has changed in the sense that I now have a huge desire to travel more and see more of the world. I strongly recommend studying abroad to everyone, and a great and affordable way to do so is with Sol Education Abroad.

I had a fantastic time during my abroad experience in Costa Rica. Our program directors were incredible people that gave us the best experience possible. The opportunity to have so much free time and experience the country, the local scene, and practicing Spanish with locals was invaluable. The country was absolutely beautiful and spending our weekends surrounding ourselves with nature is something I will never forget. I could not possibly have enjoyed my time abroad more.