Program Reviews

It was a great program. Academics were great, Granada is a beautiful city with plenty to do and very accessible to a number of places to travel to. This expeience helped me learn so much about spanish culture and explore new places and try new things. I would try to bring lighter clothes if you go to granada because it is a warm climate and does not get very cold, a mistake I made because I thought it would get colder in December.

I had a great experience from the start. My program directors were a great help and very knowledgeable. The homestay was perfect and the family was very welcoming. I enjoyed everything the program had to offer and more. I think the best part of my experience was being able to immerse myself into a new culture and learn a new language. I recommend this program to anyone who is curious about a spanish study abroad program. SOL Education is a great program and is there every step of the way.

Spending the past couple months in Granda have been a great learning experience and have shaped me into a new person for the better. My Spanish has gotten a lot better and I know feel more confident to talk with native speakers. I have a greater understanding of the world and other cultures. Instead of just seeing pictures and hearing about them, I got to go see it and live there. I loved being able to travel and see different parts of the country I was living in than I normally might not have gone to. I saw so many things and places that I never even knew exsisted.

Overall great abroad experience. Sol did a great job of making us feel included in everything they offered us. I definitely felt immersed into the program, especially considering I did not know a lot of Spanish entering into the program. Now, I can hold a conversation and understand most things! It was an incredible experience that I will never regret. I made great lifelong friends as well from around the country that I would have never met.

The SOL abroad program in Costa Rica is phenomenal.
The Staff: The program directors are amazing. They offer 24/7 support for anything from homesickness to difficult schoolwork to travel recommendations to the flu. They are personally invested in making sure that the students have what they need and that they get everything they can out of the program.
The Students: While I'm sure this varies depending on the group, my particular bunch of students got along great. The students come from all over the Unites States. As the directors put it, each student is a unique ingredient in the "SOL soup." This program brings together people with different experiences and backgrounds, and gives them the space to explore this new culture together.
The Country: Costa Rica is unlike any place on earth. The people are warm and welcoming, and "Pura Vida" ("Pure Life") is not just a catch phrase: it truly is their way of living. For a $20 round trip ticket, you can travel anywhere in the country, going from vibrant city streets to virgin rain forests to sleepy beach towns in under an hour. Costa Rica is a place of infinite exploration, and everything is easily accessible and often extremely affordable (especially if you don't mind staying in hostels).
The Excursions: SOL picks a variety of excursions and cultural activities that presents the students with the best of the country. The activities and trips are well organized, and they are enriching experiences for all those that chose to participate. The directors ensure that the students have all of the necessary knowledge needed to gain everything they can from each outing (a testament to their devotion to the experience of the students).

The classes were fun and I learned a good amount of Spanish and about the culture, but they were not very organized and there were some issues with one of the teachers who had a bad attitude and personal problems. The class was not structured very well because many teachers were going on vacation in August and the students were not told how they were being graded and what their exam was like. But, the main teacher I had was very fun and energetic and I enjoyed my time in class. We would get off topic a lot and I think they could work on the structure and organization, especially in the month of August where in Spain they go on vacation.
The classes were fun and I learned a good amount of Spanish and about the culture, but they were not very organized and there were some issues with one of the teachers who had a bad attitude and personal problems. The class was not structured very well because many teachers were going on vacation in August and the students were not told how they were being graded and what their exam was like. But, the main teacher I had was very fun and energetic and I enjoyed my time in class. We would get off topic a lot and I think they could work on the structure and organization, especially in the month of August where in Spain they go on vacation.

Our on site directors Edu and Herman were wonderful! Edu was particularly helpful and readily available. She was very sweet and caring and was always checking up with us!

I loved our host family! Everything was great about the family and the apartment aside for the fact that it was very very hot and the air conditioning in our room in particular was not working and the fan did not do much to combat the heat. That is the only thing that made our stay uncomfortable- everything else was great.

My study abroad experience with SOL education abroad was an adventure of a lifetime! All of my directors were amazing and provided us with a bunch of opportunities to maximize our experience. My host family was very welcoming and made me feel like part of their wonderful family. I made some really great friends that I still keep in touch with and plan to forever. Not only were the classes fun and engaging, but the excursions allowed us to see and experience so much of Costa Rica. Saying goodbye to the directors, my host family, new friends, and Costa Rica was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I will never forget my summer abroad with SOL!

I only went for one month but learned a lot, the education provided at the university is great and very immersive and all the group excursions really do teach you about the culture of Oaxaca. You're given a lot of free time to explore the city and hang out with the other students. The high school director, Yeyo, is a good leader and really laid back, by the end of the trip everyone almost felt like family. If you have the opportunity I would defiantly recommend going.

SOL did an amazing job in delivering a program with a focus in Child & Adolescent Development. Eva was very patient and considerate of our requests.
-The experiences with Saul in la Central de Abastos and el "Diablito de los Libros" was one of the highlights. Perhaps in the future our students can take part in the activities that they conduct with the children in el Mercado.
-CANICA was also a perfect fit for our students teaching their activities. It would have been great if there were more kids present, but we understand that attendance is lower in the summer vacation.
-All the tours and cultural experiences where great.
-Monte Alban is a great way to start the program, the tour guide was very detailed and knowledgeable.
-The lecture with the anthropologist was very informative and ideal for our groups interests.
-This time around we were lucky that all our students understood Spanish. It was comforting to see that if needed all activities could be conducted in English.

I participated in a five week program in Granada, Spain. The program was well organized and the directors were extremely helpful. They were ready to answer any questions and concerns at all hour of the day. The transition into this new culture and place was very easy because they provided me with the tools and information to help me succeed. The university was in the center of the city and was full of helpful and intelligent professors. I loved that my program was full of activities and excursions every single day. They weren't required, but I didn't miss a single activity because they were always fun and exciting. I also have to give them an A+ on helping me immerse myself into a new culture and learn a lot about the rich history of Granada.