If you know anyone currently attending college, you might recall hearing about their time in Italy or about their roommate who just returned from a three-month trip to China. Are these students throwing caution to the wind and hitting pause on their studies to travel the world? Or is there more to the study abroad idea?
Though it can seem that way, they are actually participating in one of the most unique opportunities offered in college: the study abroad program. But what if you don’t speak the language? Where do you even start? If you’re curious about studying abroad, we offer some advice to help you navigate the process and find a trip that fits your lifestyle.
[bibblio style=”bib–row-3 bib–hover bib–white-label bib–font-arial bib–default bib–size-16 bib–shine” query_string_params=”eyJ1dG1fc291cmNlIjoiQmliYmxpbyIsInV0bV9tZWRpdW0iOiJNb2R1bGUiLCJ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24iOiJSZWNvbW1lbmRhdGlvbnMifQ==” recommendation_type=”optimised”]
What is study abroad?
There are basically two types of study abroad programs: those affiliated with your institution and those facilitated by third-party providers. We will be focusing on the former, though the advice generally still applies to third-party trips. The main benefit of choosing a program through your college is the ease of transferring credits. Because your institution is running the trip, you are essentially taking classes at your school, just in another country.
This means the credits you earn will apply to graduation with very little (if any) difficulty, and your studies will progress without interruption. These programs are run by faculty from your school, often in partnership with a local university in your host country and they can be thematically related to the location. For example, a study abroad trip through a fashion program might take you to Paris to study high fashion up-close, while a trip for marine biology students might bring you to the coast of southern Chile.
How do I get involved?
Most schools that offer study abroad programs have an office that administers student trips. If not, departments such as Student Life, Foreign Languages or Multicultural Studies most likely manage the trips. You can contact one of these departments at your school to obtain a list of upcoming trips; as well as details like duration, location, and any student requirements, such as prerequisite courses or language ability.
This last one is important–if you don’t have experience in a foreign language, make sure that the trip you’re interested in is in your native tongue! Students typically need to apply for study abroad programs and if you lack the language proficiency, you probably won’t be accepted. It’s essential to look at the specific details for any given trip before you apply.
Is study abroad right for me?
Because of the success and popularity of study abroad programs, schools nationwide are opening up a wider variety of trips. If you’ve never traveled internationally before or you haven’t even declared a major yet, think about this: some schools offer a “new student only” study abroad option. These trips usually involve larger groups, offer additional supervision and provide general education courses that can satisfy electives.
Duration is another factor to consider. The most popular times to study abroad are during the summer and winter recesses; as you can use the opportunity to take a mini-vacation while also getting ahead in your coursework. However, these trips come at an additional cost. If you study abroad for an entire semester, most schools will apply the cost of your tuition toward the program. Of course, this means you won’t need to dip into your personal funds.
Hero (Top) Feature Image: lightpoet/Adobe Stock
Additional Images (in order) Courtesy:
davis/Adobe Stock
loreanto/Adobe Stock
Christian Delbert/Adobe Stock
Anthony Muccio is a former college admissions professional and education researcher currently advising students one-on-one with his private practice. After years working at large state and small private schools, he decided to spend time focusing on helping unique learners reach their full potential.
