Costa Rica 2024

For program information and fundraising/scholarship workshops, attend the following meetings.

• Saturday, December 2, 2023: Mandatory in person pre-departure meeting at 10 a.m. in CI 159

You can also join meetings without registering by clicking on this direct Zoom link.

Click here to watch a recording of our Costa Rica meeting.

Financial Aid

Students may also apply for loans during the fall semester for use in the winter.

Check with Citrus College Financial Aid for the final day to apply for loans (usually around April).

Students are eligible for the tuition waiver during the summer intersession.

Scholarship

In order to minimize your reliance on financial aid/loans be sure to budget, plan, fundraise, and apply to as many scholarships as possible.

Review our "Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay" worksheet. Be certain make an appointment with your study abroad advisor, writing center, or faculty for essay review and assistance.

The Gilman scholarship awards Pell Grant eligible students (required) a maximum of $5,000 per program (usually $2,000-$3,000).
Deadline: Thursday October 5, 2023
View the Gilman overview presentation slides as a PDF file.

Your college's financial aid web page will likely have information about internal and external scholarships. Citrus College's internal scholarships open in the spring and close in May.

Additional scholarship resources and links are available for viewing in a spreadsheet format.

Click here to download the slides from our Funding Your Study Abroad presentation. (PDF file)

Academics and Eligibility Requirements

This program allows you to study in Costa Rica while enrolled in a Citrus College course. The course is UC and CSU transferable.

Students from any college or university can participate in our study abroad programs as long as they meet the following eligibility requirements: a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and about 12 units of previous college level course work at an accredited college. First semester students may be accommodated if their campus coordinator approves a progress report. Students must be at least 18-years-old by the program start date.

If you are a student veteran, be sure to check in with the Veteran Success Center or contact director Maria Buffo at (626) 852-6457.

Personal

Study abroad is a transformative, life-changing experience that will broaden students understanding of themselves and the world. There are numerous tangible benefits to study abroad alumni including: increased self-confidence, improved GPA, lower unemployment rates, and higher starting salaries.

Check out UC Merced's What Statistics Show about Study Abroad Students page for more information.

The Costa Rica AIFS program fee is $4,475 based on an enrollment of 20 or more participants.

See the timeline and fee schedule document for details.

• October 13, 2023 : Enrollment deposit deadline
  *The link to pay the deposit will be sent to students, who meet eligibility requirements.
  
  
• November 17, 2023: Entire balance is due
  
  
• December 3, 2023 : Mandatory pre-departure meeting at 10 a.m. in CI 159

Email kwinslow@aifs.com and provide withdrawal intent.

John Morris
Study Abroad Specialist, Citrus College
studyabroad@citruscollege.edu
(626) 914-8560