Find out what other students are doing abroad by following their STORIES online:
Meredith and crew in BELGIUM, GERMANY, FRANCE, NETHERLANDS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cERTYBedx0 --> Great study abroad video. Ok, so it's for Pol Sci majors but basically all of what the students share is totally applicable to YOU!
What will your STORY be?
YES, you can …. easily FIT it in
AND graduate on time! Most majors in ACES can easily go abroad for a semester and readily graduate within four years.
Earn credit to fulfill requirements in your major, take general education classes, or courses that just seem interesting to you. Open electives are required for graduation, too, you know!
Or how about going abroad for four to ten weeks during the summer? You can go as early as the summer of your freshman year – I bet you don’t have anything better to do (and you really don’t know enough about your field to do an internship yet).
There even are programs over winter break!
YES, you can …. PAY for it
- Programs vary greatly in cost! Surely there is one that will fit your budget.
- Financial aid goes abroad with you!
- Going abroad for a semester may even cost less than studying on campus!
- Lots of scholarship opportunities through ACES, I4I, campus, outside sponsors …
- Start putting money aside now! Reap lifelong benefits from this investment!
YES, you can have FUN doing it
You, too, can travel the world!
Find out how diverse and interesting this planet and its people are.
Dare to do something different!
The rewards for stepping out of your comfort zone are plentiful.
Make new friends, eat crazy food, learn new stuff, discover who you really are.
Finally get comfortable in the foreign language that you have been studying or stick with good ole' English!
Studying abroad is one of the few things that, as far as I know, has a 100% approval rating from its alumni. I have never met one single person who has gone and not a) had the best time of their life, and b) recommended it to others. Not many things have a 100% guarantee for fulfillment, but study abroad really does.
-- P. Martin
For many programs, all the details are planned for you.
AND you have benefits when you travel with a student group. For example, if I were to make a trip to South Africa by myself, I would not have experienced some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that we were able to do. Also, planning my own trip to another country seems very daunting. Whereas with a study abroad program, you don't always have to worry about looking up the cheapest flight (it's done for you) or which places to visit that will enhance your curriculum or area of study (it's done for you). PLUS, you get the bonus of traveling with a group of peers, which is exciting.
-- C. Nalezny
YES, prospective EMPLOYERS will be impressed
Add value to your education! Make yourself most attractive to prospective employers. They are always looking for graduates with a global outlook, diverse perspectives, problem solving skills, flexibility, independence, self confidence, and a broad range of experiences.
An International Experience will:
- Add value to your education
- Let you earn credits towards your degree
- Enhance your employability
- Improve your communication skills
- Help you understand world issues
- Give you access to new information, new technologies, new skills
- Let you make friends, gain a different perspective, broaden your horizon
- Be a great experience
For more information, view our new Study Abroad Overview: The Global Dimension.
Studying Abroad: Reasons and Feasibility
Many students are thrilled by the idea of studying for a semester in a foreign country. Unfortunately, most begin college with false impressions which often prevent them from pursuing the opportunity.
Language:
Even more important than practicing a foreign language, students who study abroad become experts at speaking in English with people who speak English as a second language, a valuable skill in a global economy.
Challenges:
Studying abroad presents a variety of challenges different from the kind students find on campus. New challenges exercise creativity and hone problem solving skills.
Culture:
The appreciation students gain for foreign cultures while studying abroad enables them to work better in teams from all over the world. Learning to adjust to new cultures also prepares students for nternational travel throughout their careers.
Correcting Common Misconceptions
Cost: It may cost less to study abroad for a semester than to tudy on campus for a semester. Considering tuition, fees, transportation, food, and housing, students can save over $3,000 per semester when they study abroad.
Transfer Credit: To encourage students to study abroad, we consistently approve transfer credit for major courses before your program begins. While it is best to take specifically required classes on campus, it is easy to take open electives, certain types of major classes as well as general education courses abroad. You can graduate in eight semesters.
Plan Ahead: Make an eight semester plan that allows you to take core requirements on campus without getting behind. Go to 109 Mumford Hall and ask for some information about opportunities in countries that interest you. There are programs for an academic year, a semester, summer, and winter break.
To
find out how you can add an international dimension to your education,
browse these websites or please contact Dean Bohn in 109 Mumford Hall.
There, you can also pick up various program brochures.
You are
not limited to studying abroad on programs sponsored by ACES. Courses
and credits will also transfer from programs sponsored by the campus Study Abroad Office, SAO, and some outside providers. The ACES Study
Abroad Scholarship can also be used for non-ACES programs.
