CIS Abroad Blog

Why Every Student Should Study Abroad | Student Blog from Costa Rica

andrew thill headshot

Andrew Thill studies at the University of Dubuque and spent a Summer in Costa Rica with CISabroad. Before going abroad, Andrew had never been away from home for long, but he now believes every student should take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad.


Students all across the world yearn for opportunities to gain experience in their respective fields of study. With so many programs to choose from and the amount of paperwork involved, it can be daunting and intimidating.

I’m here to tell students that it is worth the time. Whether studying abroad or interning abroad is the primary objective, both will offer experience in a different language and help students gain experience in a different culture.

Despite news reportings about all of the issues going on abroad, students should not be afraid to go abroad. And students should not let the media decide where to go because going anywhere can be dangerous. Just like with any town in the world, even in the United States, there will be some crime. But if students take the necessary steps to travel safely and stay in groups, there will likely not be any issues.

As a student who has been abroad once (and will be going again in January), I was nervous for my first time abroad because it was my longest time away from home. As a commuter student, it was tough for my family and myself because I had never been away from home for more than a week. When I decided to go abroad with CISabroad, I knew it would be a life-changing adventure. Spending 8 weeks in Costa Rica was definitely something I needed.

It helped me grow as a person and develop my Spanish speaking skills, gave me confidence when traveling, and gave my friends insight on how the process works.

It was (and will be) expensive, but it is something I will remember for the rest of my life. When I decided to go abroad again, this time with a different program and in Madrid to intern, I couldn’t help but think about the cost. Thankfully the programs I selected were both really inexpensive and offered what I wanted. And with it being mandatory for my major and minors, my university had to offer me financial aid.

Studying and interning abroad is definitely intimidating, but it is worth every minute of hassle that may arise from the process. In reality, they do all the paperwork for students to make sure they are in good hands.

Andrew with CISabroad's Costa Rica Site Director Andrew with CISabroad's Costa Rica Site Director