Want to hear from a college student who studied abroad in Costa Rica? We spoke to AIFS Abroad participant Ashley from Towson University, who spent her summer studying abroad in San José.
Read on to discover how Ashley’s experience in San José with AIFS Abroad helped shape her professional future and improved her Spanish language skills!
Choosing a Study Abroad Program Destination & Term
Choosing a program destination and term can be difficult for some students (our team can help with that!). Luckily, when you choose an AIFS Abroad program, you’re in for an incredible life-changing experience—no matter where and when you go. Hear how Ashley decided on a summer program in San José:
“I chose the summer term because it was the most affordable, and I was busy with my research during the spring semester of 2025… I chose this study abroad program because I was in love with Costa Rica’s biodiversity and rich culture. I also wanted to choose a Spanish-speaking country to study the language. I recommend students who are open-minded and adventurous to participate in this program.”
Academics Abroad
When you study abroad, you get to immerse yourself in a totally new academic environment—explore the facilities of your host university, make friends with international and local students, and learn from professors with unique cultural perspectives. Hear Ashley describe her academic experience in San José:
“I attended Universidad Veritas. The university was very unique! First, when you enter, you will see a large mango tree growing in the middle of the building. Also, the roofs were metal since it rained every afternoon. You could hear the loud raindrops hitting the roof as you walked to class. Every lunch break, I only walked 5 minutes to either the sushi restaurant, the French cafe, or the grocery store.”
During her summer study abroad program, Ashley took a specialized Spanish language course for aspiring healthcare professionals. Below, she provides some more details about the class and where it met on campus:
“My class was on the third floor of the university building. It was small and there were only seven of us. My class was with people in my program (AIFS Abroad) and other programs. The class was taught entirely in Spanish and… we didn’t have any written or multiple-choice exams. All of our exams were role-played and acted out. We had to memorize lines from the doctor’s or the patient’s standpoint. Also, [some classes were held] in our usual classroom, [while others were] outside.”
Language Learning
While many AIFS Abroad programs have no language requirements, we also offer many programs that are designed for college students like Ashley who want to advance their foreign language skills. Hear Ashley explain her experience learning Spanish in Costa Rica and communicating with her host mother at her homestay:
“I came to the country with some knowledge of Spanish, but I was humbled as soon as I started talking with my host mother. However, the more I paid attention in my Spanish class and the more I talked with natives, I noticed my Spanish getting better and better the more I put myself out there.”
Not only did this program help her improve her Spanish language skills, but it also helped her decide what kind of work she wants to do in the future:
“I realized that after this experience, I would like to become more proficient in Spanish to one day be a psychologist for people in marginalized groups.”
Housing
All AIFS Abroad programs include safe and central housing. Some programs, like Ashley’s, offer the option to choose a homestay, which can be an incredible opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the local culture and language:
“I stayed [in a homestay] with [a] host mother during my study abroad program. I adored her hospitality and her kindness! I had my own room, I shared the space with two other girls, and she cooked us breakfast and dinner every single day. She also cleaned our rooms and did our laundry every Tuesday. The only challenge I had was language barriers, but everything else was perfect. I overcame the language barriers by simply using Google Translate.”
AIFS Abroad Trips & Excursions
Every AIFS Abroad program includes trips and excursions that take you to new places in your host city or country. They’re excellent opportunities to learn more about your host country and connect with other AIFS Abroad program participants. Hear about the trips and excursions Ashley attended during her summer abroad in Costa Rica:
“I went [on] the Hot Springs, Monteverde, La Fortuna, and Sarapiqui [trips with AIFS Abroad]. The most memorable moment about the hot springs was going down the slides in the pouring rain. Monteverde had beautiful scenery, and the zip lining was by far the [biggest] adrenaline rush I’ve ever felt! Especially the Tarzan rope that takes you down 30 feet. Sarapiqui was both fun and informative. We made chocolate from scratch and took a nature hike at night. We also went white water rafting in the beautiful rivers of Sarapiqui… Zip lining in Monteverde and white water rafting in Sarapiqui were experiences I will never forget.”
Personal Growth
In addition to helping you advance your degree and develop professionally, studying abroad offers the opportunity to grow as a person by expanding your worldview, learning from people with unique cultural perspectives, and becoming more independent. Hear Ashley explain how her program in Costa Rica inspired personal growth:
“I became more centered than I was before I studied abroad. I tend to be a person who was always in my head, but by being in my host country, I was able to get out of my bubble and interact with people from different backgrounds.”
Why AIFS Abroad?
From our trusted on-site support staff to our exciting program destinations, there are a million reasons to choose AIFS Abroad. As Ashley explains, getting a recommendation from her academic advisor helped her choose our program with confidence:
“I chose AIFS Abroad because I’ve always wanted to go to a tropical country like Costa Rica, but my university didn’t provide this program. My advisor suggested I apply through AIFS. She told me great things about this organization and that AIFS offers grants and scholarships for its students.”
Interested in studying abroad with AIFS Abroad like Ashley did in Costa Rica? We’d love to help you start your journey!
Here at AIFS Abroad, we know a thing or two about helping college students study abroad. Our programs come with many valuable inclusions (which really take the stress out of planning!), such as housing, cultural and social activities, trips and excursions, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more. When you choose AIFS Abroad, you’ll take comfort in knowing you’ll have support throughout your entire experience.
