Despite the great reviews of Winter Term in Costa Rica, the semester-long program faces a surprisingly low number of applicants.

The study abroad program in San Jose, Costa Rica, is the schools most advertised program. The brochure for Costa Rica in the Isabella Cannon Centre clearly stands out: a photograph on the cover shows a flowing river, immaculate palm trees reaching for the sky and a majestic volcano aching to erupt.

But despite the beauty of the surroundings, the number of applicants to the semester program in Costa Rica is much lower than those of other programs. Some students have their own ideas why.

While I absolutely loved my Winter Term experience, I cannot imagine doing it for a semester, junior Cassandra Hickey said.

Experienced in studying abroad, Hickey has completed two programs: a Winter Term course in Costa Rica during 2006 and a semester in Spain last fall.

Comparing the two, she said that there is a huge difference in the lifestyles [] due to the complete opposite levels of income. San Jose, and the area where the Elon program is, is not extremely built up or wealthy.

Language is another difficulty. Junior Julie Kenneally, who studied in Costa Rica during Winter Term 2006, explained that although her classes were taught in English, some may struggle to communicate with host families and civilians.

[That] turns a lot of people off, Kenneally said.

The program is available fall, winter and spring semesters. Courses offered include general studies, business, political science and environmental science, taught by Costa Rican professors in English, meaning that a background in Spanish is not required.

Overall, studying abroad introduces students to people and cultures from areas around the world.

My favorite part was the home stay, said sophomore Becca Watts, who studied in Costa Rica for Winter Term 2007.

Throughout January, the students lived with host families.

It was a nice feeling to come home at the end of the day or after a weekend trip, Watts said.

Weekend excursions during the semester-long program include visits to Monteverde Cloud Forest, Arenal Volcano, hot springs, waterfalls, coffee plantations and even to Panama and Nicaragua. Like the Winter Term program, students stay with host families in San Jose.

Good feedback from Elon students who do study in Costa Rica for a semester will ensure that the Costa Rica program begins to gain the same number of applicants as some of the other semester-long programs.

Reporter: Emily Silva - 02/22/07