They say it’s a small world, but is it really? To many of us, the world that we live in is a small place. It consists of our family and friends, co-workers, peers and the occasional familiar face. But there is a whole world out there that isn’t small at all. In fact, it’s enormous and just waiting to be experienced.
College is going to be your first step in experiencing a new world and can offer the opportunity for even more. You don’t have to wait until you have a four-year degree under your belt to travel the world. You can study abroad and continue your education in a foreign country.
Nazareth College (N.Y.) senior Kelly LaLonde knows the benefits of going to school overseas. “Studying [abroad] was one of the most amazing learning experiences I’ve encountered,” she says. “I got to sit in on classroom discussions that furthered my worldview more than any book could. You can know so much from ‘studying,’ but it’s in experiencing that you really learn.” Here are some reasons why you may want to consider studying abroad. Culture For some of us, home doesn’t exactly provoke excitement. No disrespect to family, of course, but we want something more. Studying abroad gives you the opportunity to be taken out of your element and thrown into a different culture.
Experience How better to study the “Mona Lisa” than to see it for yourself? Where better to study the ancient Greeks than Athens? It is wonderful to study these things in a classroom, but priceless to experience them yourself. Studying abroad is more than just going to take classes somewhere other than your home school. It’s about growing and experiencing what the world has to offer.
Growth There is no denying that it can be challenging to leave your comfort zone to live in a foreign country. But that challenge will only make you stronger. Studying abroad can help you gain independence and confidence, which adds to your character.
OK, so all of that sounds good. But how can you get there? If you already know where you are going to college, you’ll need to find out all of the information for your particular school’s study abroad programs. You can obtain this information through the college or university’s Web site, handbooks, brochures, or your best bet, by talking to your advisor.
If you don’t know where you are going to school, look at the various study abroad options each of your possible schools has to offer. Some schools offer year programs while others focus on summer or semester-long programs. Here are some other things to consider when deciding on a study abroad program.
What country do you want to study in? Do you want to live in a big city or a small village? Will you need to be fluent in the language spoken there?
Once you’ve decided where you would like to go, you then need to research what the program you’re applying for requires. What does your GPA have to be? What is the cost? Are you eligible for any scholarships, grants or loans? Will you live with a host family or in a dormitory? What kind of transportation will be available? How long will you be abroad? What kind of credit will you receive?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of the concerns you will need to address, don’t panic. Take one step at a time. Your first step is to truly think about whether or not studying abroad is right for you. It provides wonderful experiences and offers great opportunities, but that does not mean that it’s right for everyone. Just remember that it’s not such a small world after all.
Katie Fischette is a junior at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y.
