By Abby S.

Published Aug. 28, 2024

Being able to study abroad is definitely a once in a lifetime experience and I am forever grateful that this has been my second study abroad experience! Studying nursing abroad is also a once in a lifetime experience. There is so much to learn and it was so fun to compare the U.S. healthcare system…

By Kathryn P.

Published Aug. 27, 2024

Studying community and public health in Costa Rica was an amazing time! Our program was jam packed with activities and clinical experiences. Learning about the Costa Rican health care system and comparing it to the U.S. health care system was very interesting. We attended a lecture where we learned about the system from a doctor,…

By Meg R.

Published Aug. 13, 2024

Entering a new country for the first time is always a bit nerve-racking. But in Costa Rica, their "Pura Vida" lifestyle immediately welcomes you to their beautiful country. In my 10 days in Costa Rica, I received a crash course on how life works in San Jose. Firstly, Tico Time is real. Costa Ricans refer…

Published Jan. 25, 2024

Going to Costa Rica was my first time out of the country. I don’t think I had many presumptions about the people or lifestyle before being immersed in this two week journey. Before, I think my scope of the world was limited to what I knew which was only the U.S. Going on this study…

By Gregory R.

Published Jan. 17, 2024

For my first time traveling internationally, I had a great time in Costa Rica. The program I was on focused on community service and working with the environment. We performed tasks such as removing trash from the beach, painting the volunteer house and watching over the sea turtle nests. These tasks were not hard to…

By Lily B.

Published Aug. 19, 2023

https://flic.kr/p/2piDfdb Our class outside of our host school. My love for Costa Rica, traveling, desire to study abroad, and interest in international social work led me to the Comparative Criminal and Juvenile Justice ten day study abroad program– something I had been interested in since I started the MSW program at Mizzou. This was a…

By Bre A.

Published Aug. 9, 2023

I had the opportunity to study abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica with the university's Department of Social Work. While there I was introduced to a new culture, language and legal system that greatly differed from the U.S. I visited the only rehabilitation center for women in the entire country, a foster home for infants…

By Destiny M.

Published June 13, 2023

During my final year at the University of Missouri, I had the amazing opportunity to further my understanding of the criminal justice system through a comparative study abroad program that focused on the differences between the U.S. and Costa Rica. A group of like-minded individuals, committed to pursuing careers for the betterment of society, were…

By Sarah T.

Published March 29, 2023

My study abroad in Costa Rica is less than three months: January 7 to March 30. This timing allowed for my family and boyfriend to visit during their spring breaks, which was also the end of my stay. My sister and I at Jacó beach! I was fortunate to have my 14-year-old sister and mom…

By Sarah T.

Published Feb. 24, 2023

People are quick to highlight the positives of studying abroad, but in reality, it’s a learning curve. I am incredibly grateful to have this experience, and I love Costa Rica, but homesickness is real, expectations aren’t always met and there are cultural differences. My host mom and roommate at a HUGE farmers market! After the…