Study Abroad

While many students think of language study when they think of studying outside of the United States, a great number of programs are tailored to students who only speak English. Accommodations vary between university dorms, local apartments, and host-family stays for a more immersive language experience. Planned excursions are typically offered to allow participants to explore the country or region more fully.

Why Take Part?

In an increasingly global society, studying abroad offers you a chance to expand your knowledge of the world and gain valuable cultural understanding. Global study is an excellent resume builder, especially in terms of the skills and experiences you can take away from it.

Attending school in another country also offers untold opportunities for personal growth. You can learn helpful skills for adapting to new situations, and it can offer an intriguing perspective on being the outsider. Depending on the location, you can also gain an entirely new outlook on life in the United States and the Western world in general.

If you're a language student, there's nothing quite like an immersion experience to improve your speaking and listening skills. You also can't beat learning about a culture or history while living in the midst of it. You can read about the Renaissance in class and then explore the art and architecture of the period on the weekends. However, any subject, from chemistry to fashion design, can be enhanced by stepping outside of your comfort zone and learning in a new environment.

Finding Opportunities

The easiest way to take part in an international educational experience is to register through your school. First, you'll need to find the department at your college responsible for international experiences. It may be quite clearly labeled the Study Abroad Office, or it may have a more general name like the Center for International Programs. There, you can talk to an advisor, pick up brochures on potential programs and sign up for informational meetings.

If your school doesn't offer any foreign study programs, you can also check out the offerings of other universities, as they will often allow guest students to fill available spots in international courses. Finally, organizations such as CIEE and International Studies Abroad devote themselves to providing courses in other countries. There are also a number of directories available online, like GoAbroad.com. However, you should use caution when dealing with for-profit agencies as they may not have your best educational interests in mind.

Before You Sign Up

There are a few questions you should be sure to ask about any international experience before signing up:

• What are the program costs and what is included? You usually have to secure your own airfare, but programs vary on how tuition and fees are calculated.
• What graduation requirements will the courses fulfill? While the experience will be enriching in its own right, you don't want to waste money on credits that won't help you graduate. If you're not attending a program hosted by your own university, it's especially important to make sure the courses will transfer to your degree program.
• What language skills, if any, are required?
• Are there any prerequisites? If you need to take any introductory courses, it's your responsibility to fit them into your schedule before your study abroad experience.
• Can financial aid and scholarships be applied to program costs?
• What kind of orientation and support services are available?
• What happens if a trip is canceled? Cancellations are rare, but if a rebel insurgency suddenly happens in the capital city of your study destination, or there's an outbreak of bird flu in the region, it may be deemed too dangerous to continue the program. Will your entire payment be refunded, or will you lose a deposit? Can you transfer to a similar program?

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