Study Abroad Report

Katie Stewart

Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas (INCAE), Costa Rica

Attended Spring Term 2004

Academic experiences at the partner school

  • general academic structure;classes taken/ how they compare to courses here

Class selections are limited. More limited if you have a preference between classes taught in Spanish or English. I took four classes each module (there are two modules in each semester). The school heavily utilizes a case base method of teaching. Participation is required and weighted heavily as part of your evaluation. Group work projects were utilized in almost every class. The students are generally very competitive (Roughly ten percent are cut the first year of the program; Everything is graded on a curve).

  • advising

As an exchange student, I received no advising from the administration at INCAE. There are no programs in place for exchange students. There was an individual assigned as a coordinator for exchange students but made no special arrangements and all contact/questions had to be initiated by me. As exchange students, we were promised peer mentors but didn’t receive them. In my experience, fellow students turned out to be very helpful regarding any questions and doubts I had about the school.

  • surprises/comparison with academic environment in the U.S.

The overall environment is very different from that of Carlson. All students live on campus and do not work therefore, it is expected that school is your priority. The course content is comparable as far as level of difficulty however, the amount of work expected is much higher than Carlson. Expect very long nights. If you are interested in learning, this is a great program, if you are interested in having a lot of free time, this is not a program I would choose.

The environment is very much a small campus. There are roughly 150 students, student body is composed of about 80% males and 20% females. Campus is secluded from the rest of town but has all necessary amenities … laundry services, bank, small convenient store, pool, tennis courts, study rooms, etc. The entrance to campus is guarded and security is always around so there is a general sense of safety.

Logistics at the partner school:

  • Orientation/Arrival

I arrived at the same time as the seminar students from Carlson and therefore, was coincidentally included in their first day orientation activities. We were taken for a brief tour around San Jose and given very basic information about the workings of the school and campus. Aside from that, we were left on our own and generally learned to figure things out on our own.

  • Housing

All students live on campus. There are houses for married couples and different housing areas for single students. Girls and guys live separately. Generally, students live in a bungalow with up to seven other students. A small kitchen, livingroom and dining/study area are shared with members of the house. Each room includes a bathroom and is shared by two students (unless you are lucky enough to have your own room). Bungalows are all within walking distance to the administration buildings and classrooms. Daily maid service is provided to all houses.

  • Meals

Meals are cafeteria style and are generally okay, although remember, it is produced in bulk. Lunch is one standard choice and dinner usually includes two options as well as a fruit plate option. Expect a lot of rice, beans, and chicken. Regular students have to buy the meal packages but we were allowed to buy our lunch tickets individually. I would recommend trying to buy tickets from fellow students. They usually have more than they will use for the semester and will sell them to you are a reasonable price (cheaper than what the school will sell them for).

  • Transportation

Few people have cars on campus so taxi’s are usually the choice method of transportation. Relatively inexpensive as well. Classmates with vehicles are always an option as well. Buses are exceptionally cheap but will generally take a bit longer to reach your local destination and you have to be willing to tackle the bus schedules. However, buses are a relatively cheap and quick way to travel longer distances such as to the coasts and beaches.

Host Country Culture
  1. What were some surprises or insights you had into the culture of your host country/school?

The amount of time that needed to be dedicated to studying was a surprise for me. The program will require a lot of your time and I found, I was expected to perform at the same level of regular students. Regarding culture: I recommend learning to be flexible. Last minute correspondences/assignments and ever changing schedules are common. However, even if it seems like things won’t come together, they eventually do. My recommendation is to learn to go with the flow and be relaxed about your schedule because it is difficult to plan and inevitably will change.

  1. Did you have the chance to learn a second language? Why or why not?

It is beneficial to know a Spanish when you arrive but not a necessity. Most students know English with proficiency and all professors that I met spoke English. In my opinion, you may improve your language abilities but you will not be immersed enough to really learn a second language.

Social life:

  1. How would you rate your integration with other students from the host university?

I would rate student integration very high. The school has a total of roughly 150 students, with each year including about 75 students. Living on campus, taking classes, and socializing through other activities (campus parties, soccer games, etc), you will get to know your fellow classmates quickly.

  1. With other international students?

There were a total of four exchange students at INCAE the semester I was there. It was very easy to get to know them as well. Almost all students there were considered ‘international students’ as they came from a variety of other countries.

  1. What were some of the best ways you found to make friends and meet people at the host university?

I found it generally easy to meet people. Make it a point to get to know your housemates and other classmates through conversation and participating in social activities.

  1. What kinds of after-hours and weekend activities would you recommend for other students?

There are a multitude of on campus parties organized by students. There is almost always something going on during the weekends and it is generally easy to find something to do and other students to explore the city with. There is a travel agent on campus that you can utilize for ideas and to book activities anytime. I found it difficult to leave for the weekends but you can make it work if you try.

  1. If you traveled with your family, how was their integration into the host community? Did you find any particularly helpful resources for them?

The oncampus travel agent can assist with planning, reservations, car rentals, etc. Visitors can stay on campus. If you have room in your house, they can stay with you or they may rent houses on campus for $20 per night.

Other:

  1. Budgeting: how much would you recommend students take with them? How much would you say would be the monthly living expenses in the city you lived in including rent/food/misc. expenses?

One housing and food is paid for, I found additional expenses pretty reasonable. The biggest expenses will come if you plan to try to travel away from campus for the weekends. Otherwise, taxi’s are relatively cheap and I found weekend activities around the area are less expense than similar activities in the States.

  1. Do you have suggestions on the types of students who would be well suited to this program?

If you are interested in really learning a lot and delving into studies, then I would recommend going. If you are expecting an easy semester with a lot of travel opportunities, I would rethink this program.

  1. Did you need a visa to enter the country? If so, how did you apply for one and how long did it take to receive?

As a US citizen, you do not need a VISA to enter the country however, you will need one for the duration of the time you are studying. You can get the VISA after you arrive. The process will require a half day trip to San Jose.

  1. What recommendations would you give to other CSOM students going on this program (to bring, to wear, etc.)?

Bring pants and long sleeve shirts. Though it is tropical and warm, the evenings do get chilly and the classrooms are generally freezing with the air conditioning. I found that most days I wore jeans and a tank top and brought somethinglong sleeve for the classroom. Bring sheets that will fit a twin size bed. You may want to bring two sets so that when one is in the laundry, you will have something to cover your mattress.

If you would be willing to be contacted by prospective students to this program, please let us know how we can reach you! Your preferred e-mail (for student contacts), and address/phone (for our office) would be much appreciated!

Please return your report (preferably as an e-mail attachment) to:

Janelle Wenzel, International Programs

Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

321 19th Avenue South, Ste. 4-104

Minneapolis, MN 55455