A Student Guide to Study Abroad (Chapter 1-3)

A Student Guide to Study Abroad (Chapter 1-3)

Table of contents:

Chapter 1

These are Global Times

As you have no doubt noticed, globalization is everywhere and the professional world that awaits you upon graduation is becoming increasingly interconnected. In addition, technology continues to advance by leaps and bounds. Not surprisingly then, employers increasingly seek workers who have both cross-cultural competence and cutting-edge technical skills, 21st century skills that, unfortunately, are still not an integral part of the K–12 U.S. education system. What’s worse, you may not have had the opportunity to acquire or practice these skills in college. So what’s a student to do to prepare for the global marketplace? One of the best ways is to study abroad.

Studying abroad expands your personal horizons while opening up a world of personal and professional opportunities. Students who are true global thinkers may already be planning to study abroad. For those who are just getting curious about the big world out there, studying and interning abroad are well worth exploring. One of the most important life skills you’ll gain from studying abroad is cross-cultural aptitude, the ability to appreciate different cultures and solve problems while operating in an environment different from what you’re used to. You will find that cross-cultural competency matters as much in the communities where we live as in the offices in which we work. Globalization means that wherever we live, we are likely to share our schools, communities, neighborhoods, clubs and faiths with people from increasingly diverse backgrounds.

Study abroad also enables you to further your language skills, especially if you opt for true immersion-where everything is done in the target language-and study or do an internship abroad for a significant length of time. Studies show that at least one semester is required to advance significantly, and exponential progress can be made in one year (Davidson, 2010). The benefits of truly mastering a second language are self-evident. Not only can you communicate more closely with speakers of that language, you can also better understand that culture, since language and culture are invariably intertwined. Conversing in another language can help you connect with locals on their level, and you may even find yourself thinking or dreaming in their language. Even if you don’t speak another language fluently, just being around others who do will open your mind.

Studies also show that learning a foreign language makes you smarter and improves your proficiency in your mother tongue. Neuroscience continues to reveal how language learning shapes memories, perceptions, and basic thought patterns (NEA Research, 2007). The quote traditionally attributed to Charlemagne sums it up best: “To have a second language is to have a second soul.”

Whatever you think personally about the desirability of globalization, everyone agrees that it is here to stay, and all of us-especially you as students-will do well to accept and embrace it. Employers certainly already have. As a driver of career success, global experience is destined to continue moving from “nice” to “must-have” in today’s marketplace. Many would say that it is there already.

Global Competition for Jobs and Necessary Preparation

A half century ago, American businesses were the undisputed kings of the international business hill, a position that they had “inherited” largely as a consequence of having won World War II. Today, however, there can be no denying that they face fierce competition from an increasing number of global rivals. One major report makes clear the now-critical need for a globally sophisticated workforce: “Globalization is driving the demand for a U.S. workforce that possesses knowledge of other countries and cultures and is competent in languages other than English… Most of the growth potential for U.S. businesses lies in overseas markets [while] our own markets are facing greater competition from foreign-owned firms, many of which manufacture products on U.S. soil” (Kibler & Philipose).The U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense have promoted and developed programs to encourage language learning and international study. The U.S. Department of Education recently issued a policy on Succeeding Globally Through International Education and Engagement, and noted that the department “wants to ensure that more American students have the skills to compete in a global workplace, and not just build up ‘deep, deep expertise’ among a small group of graduates in foreign languages or cultures” (U.S. Department of Education, 2012). To date, however, such calls to better prepare the rising generation of American workers have not been followed up by much action or K–12 curriculum changes.

But changes are coming. PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts that by 2050, the E7 (China, India, Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey) will be more than 50 percent largerthan the G7 countries (the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan) when measured by GDP at market exchange rates.

The National Intelligence Council’s “Global Trends Report” projects that China will surpass the United States as the world’s largest economy by 2030 (National Intelligence Council, 2012), but other reports show China doing so a decade earlier by 2020. The media is already widely reporting on American graduates heading to India and China to find work; you may even know someone who has done so or plan to do so yourself. Unfortunately, those jobs may soon evaporate since both those countries are investing heavily in their educational systems while the United States remains mired in political debates about ours. This is frightening when you consider that your competition has grown from just American students to students from Beijing or Bangalore (Bikson & Law, 1994; Committee for Economic Development, 2006; Molony & Sowter, 2011). Today’s constants seem to include both ever-closer global integration and ever-accelerating change. But are today’s graduates prepared to handle the challenges that globalization poses? Do you feel prepared to compete on a global scale?

Right now, the competition appears to be getting tougher for American graduates as not enough of them possess the skills and aptitudes required by global organizations. Such deficiencies could hamper your ability to find a job when you graduate. One executive quoted in a Rand Institute study called American students “strong technically” but cross-culturally “shortchanged” and “linguistically deprived.”

Another said “if I wanted to recruit people who are both technically skilled and culturally aware, I wouldn’t even waste my time looking on American college campuses” (cited in Committee for Economic Development, 2006).

The ability to work across cultures is no longer a nice-to-have skill set for elite executives; every year it becomes more essential to finding any job at all. A machine operator at a plant in Topeka that exports widgets to Mumbai needs to know how to interact effectively when Indian customers visit. A nurse’s aide at a Houston hospital that serves a large Hispanic community has to communicate with family members in ways that encourage rather than discourage patient compliance with doctor’s orders. A farmer in western Pennsylvania can open up potentially rich new revenue streams by understanding exactly what qualities in American ginseng will appeal to the Korean market. The examples go on and on.

A recent Forbes Insight survey found that more than one-third of the executives surveyed plan to hire more foreign nationals in the coming years for executive positions in the United States (Forbes Insights, 2011). A McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) study found that worldwide, 40 percent of job growth in advanced market economies like the United States in the coming decades is likely to go to foreign nationals. And while some Americans are finding jobs abroad, those without global skills and experience will find they have fewer and fewer opportunities. One survey of more than 10,000 HR and recruiting personnel worldwide found that most insist that job candidates have international study experience, especially at the executive level. The MGI study found that more than 20 million Americans without postsecondary education or specialized training may find no jobs at all in the years to come (Madgavkar et al, 2012).

International skills are not only needed in business settings. Above all, learning another language and culture reminds Americans that we are not alone. We share the world and its problems, and we cannot solve them all on our own. Global problems require the global exchange of knowledge to forge solutions through international dialogue and collaboration. Study abroad enables today’s students- future leaders from all backgrounds and in all sectors-to gain access to international experiences that will help prepare them to be global citizens. Learning how to interact with people from other countries and cultures will be essential for those who wish to address a host of urgent topics and issues-from climate change and renewable energy to terrorism and interfaith dialogue-that are essential to advancing peace and prosperity for all. Whether you wish to work in business, government, academia or in the not-for-profit sector, the skills you gain will help you to be more effective and successful.

FROM A BUSINESS LEADER

As a 35-year-old, I believe that my generation is the last one to be able to use global experience as a differentiator. Globalization has now become a requirement to compete and succeed.

Adam L. Michaels, principal, Booz and Company.

Savvy Students Know They Need More

By now, the alarm bells may have begun to go off in your mind. Your ability to work globally and cross-culturally may make the difference between a satisfying career of progressive successes, and a struggle to succeed. Thankfully, though, studies show that younger Americans like you are already embracing the necessity of global awareness. According to a September 2012 study of 18- to 24-year-old American high school graduates, commissioned by the education nonprofit World Savvy with support from the International Baccalaureate Organization, young people want to learn more about global topics:

  • 80 percent of those surveyed believe that jobs are becoming increasingly international in nature.
  • 60 percent say they would be better employees if they had a betterunderstanding of different world cultures.
  • 86 percent agree that a solid foundation in world history and events is crucial in coming up with solutions to the problems of the world today.
  • Nearly 90 percent believe that developments abroad can have significant implications on the U.S. economy.
  • 79 percent say that it is important in today’s world to be comfortable interacting with people of different cultural backgrounds, a percentage essentially equal to the perceived importance of writing skills (78 percent), technical skills (76 percent) and math skills (77 percent).

Respondents noted, however, that global issues are not routinely discussed in school:

  • While the vast majority of respondents see the importance of global literacy, 48 percent actively disagree with the statement that their 6th–12th grade education provided instruction that helped them understand the roots of those global issues that affect their lives today.
  • 63 percent indicated that they did not discuss world events in their high school classes.
  • Only a little more than half (54 percent) think that their high school teachers incorporated a global perspective into their curricula.

Several major U.S. government programs help students gain international experience: the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program and the Fulbright U. S. Student Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Boren Scholarships and Fellowships sponsored by the National Security Education Program. For more on the Gilman, Fulbright and Boren programs, see Chapter 4.

Developing a Global Mindset

So perhaps you haven’t been taught everything you need to know yet. The good news is that you still have time to help yourself. Regardless of where you are currently on the continuum of global awareness, study abroad can help you develop that all-important global mindset. Ask academics, business professionals or government officials to describe “global mindset” and most will offer a similar definition: the ability to work successfully across cultures (though not necessarily in another country). Experts disagree, however, as to what makes one person better prepared than another and whether or not a global mindset can actually be taught. Having a global mindset requires not only possessing the technical skills necessary for operating successfully in an international environment, but also the personal skills necessary for applying these effectively.

At the most basic level, having a global mindset means having the skills that are proven to work cross-culturally. Although these traits appear to be inherent in some people, they also can be learned. So if you’re serious about going global, start practicing these skills in personal and professional situations now. You’ll find that while these skills will inevitably prove to be critical to success abroad, they can also help you succeed here at home. In the global marketplace, technical skills are necessary but not sufficient. As a 21st century global worker-in addition to your technical or industry skills-you will need cultural sensitivity, the ability to interpret situations, information and facts while being an empathetic and diplomatic team player, and a passionate curiosity that lets you enjoy the cultural diversity you live within to bring out the best in you and your colleagues. Such skills may prove to be an important way to differentiate yourself professionally. And study abroad is one very important component of this preparation.

FROM A STUDENT

In Panama, I learned a lot about coral reef ecosystems. But I also learned that many important scientific research findings never reach a broad audience. Yet, interacting with Panamanians at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Galeta Marine Laboratory and  with  the  community  through  its  active  program  of  marine

education forced me to find concrete connections between the public and my academic research. The Fulbright Program encourages its participants to engage in cross-cultural exchange and direct involvement with local communities. This focus taught me how to bridge the gap between local Panamanians and academics so that their communities could benefit from the valuable scientific research generated in their country.

Maya de Vrie s, University of California, Berkele y. Awarded a Fulbright to Panama.

Global Times Require Global Study

In order to prepare you to meet the demands of the increasingly global marketplace upon graduation, studying abroad should be an essential component of many undergraduate degrees-and mandatory for MBAs. Today’s students need as much international exposure as they can get, but what can students do when they are first starting out? It can be difficult to convince employers of your ability to think globally if you don’t have international experience.

Studying abroad is a smart way to establish your international credentials, and more and more American students are spending a portion of their college years abroad. The Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, which is produced in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, reports that U.S. study abroad has more than tripled in the past two decades.

But the number is still far too low. American students studying abroad still represent a small proportion of total enrollment in U.S. higher education. About 14 percent of American students receiving bachelor’s degrees have studied abroad at some point during their undergraduate programs, and more community colleges are offering study abroad options as well. Still, only about one percent of U.S. students are studying abroad during a single academic year-less than 300,000 out of the more than nearly 20 million American students enrolled in U.S. higher education. The upside, at least for now, is that if you study abroad you are part of the special group that can offer some degree of international experience upon graduation. This can help you stand out when looking for a job.

Despite an increase in the overall number of students taking part in study abroad, the proportion of African-American, Hispanic, and Native American students in the study abroad population has remained virtually the same over the past decade. About 78 percent of study abroad students are white, according to the latest Open Doors report, although whites represent 62 percent of enrollment in higher education. Asian Americans represent 8 percent of study abroad students, which is close to their actual proportion of all college students. However, African-American students comprise 14 percent of the college population, but only 5 percent of study abroad students. Hispanic students make up 13 percent of all those enrolled in U.S. higher education, but only 7 percent of those who study abroad.

GLOBAL MINDSET INVENTORY (GMI)

Much of the ongoing research on global mindset is being led by Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona. Its rigorous, scientific study of the drivers of expat success has shown that a global mindset crosses professions and countries. In its report, Conceptualizing and Measuring Global Mindset®: Development of the Global Mindset Inventory (Hough & Bullough, 2011), the Thunderbird Global Mindset Institute’s team identifies the three components of a global mindset:

  • Intellectual capital: Defined as knowledge of global industry and competitors and measured by knowledge of global business savvy, cognitive complexity, and cosmopolitan outlook. Do you have both the knowledge of global industries and the ability to understand complex global issues to get the job done?
  • Social capital: Involves building trusting relationships and is measured by intercultural empathy, interpersonal impact, diplomacy. Do you have the ability to work well with colleagues who are different from you in order to inspire productivity?
  • Psychological capital: Reflects and is measured by one’s passion for diversity, quest for adventure, and self-assurance. Deep down, are you curious about the world enough to explore and respect other cultures, and to interact and collaborate with them?

When it comes to traveling overseas, many students focus on the reasons not to go. According to college administrators, concern about affordability tops the list of reasons students decide not to study abroad. But additional barriers include fear of racism, worries about delayed graduation, and few role models-either family or faculty-who have traveled abroad. Most administrators agree that increasing racial and ethnic diversity in study abroad will require an effort to persuade students that going abroad is both possible and necessary.

Since 2001, congress has helped address the disparity with the federally funded Gilman International Scholarship Program, which provides study abroad funds for low-income Pell Grant recipients. Among last year’s Gilman scholars, 54 percent reported ethnicities other than white/non-Hispanic, compared to 21 percent of the national study abroad population as reported in Open Doors. African-American students and Hispanic students were represented among Gilman scholars in proportions that were much more reflective of their representation in the total U.S. higher education population.

FROM A STUDENT

I began the process to apply for the Gilman Scholarship because I really needed the financial support for travel expenses and living abroad. As I learned more about it, I liked the program in particular because it forced me to make decisions that integrated my goals with my country and program of choice. This ultimately gave more meaning to my study abroad experience in terms of my own personal, academic, and professional development. As a result, my study abroad semester was not only an amazing cross-cultural experience, but also a strong basis for my chosen career path in global health.

Isabelle Feldhaus, University of Southern California. Studied abroad as a Gilman Scholar in South Africa.

FROM AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION LEADER

During my years advising minority students about studying abroad, I shared a perspective that applies no matter what a student’s ethnic or socioeconomic background may be. In a society that is technologically interdependent and interconnected, the ability to connect with people who are different (and think differently) from you, and learn from the interaction, is a critical skill for which today’s employers are looking. When a person makes the decision to remove herself from her comfort zone, from all she holds dear, and charts her course in new territories, the personal and intercultural growth gained translates into tangible, solid skills. From a selfishly practical perspective, having a meaningful study abroad experience on your résumé is a tremendous asset. Minority students must include study abroad in their college plans to ensure that they have just as much a competitive advantage during their future career searches as anyone else.

Nicholas Basse y, placement manage r, Peace Corps; former director, Institute for International Public Policy Fellowship Program.

Students with Disabilities Focus on Abilities Abroad

Many colleges do not track the ability status of their education abroad participants. But among those that do, 4.1 percent of study abroad students had disabilities in 2010/11. It can be done! While many people with disabilities are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of international exchange, there are so few role models that many people with disabilities believe that international travel is not possible for them. Going abroad gives people with disabilities the opportunity to develop important professional skills, as well as other skills equally important to finding a career, such as problem-solving, resiliency and confidence. International exchange experience can counter negative stereotypes about what people with disabilities can and can’t do, focusing employers on abilities instead of disabilities.

FROM A STUDENT

International travel seems much more accessible to me now; virtually all of the apprehension I had about traveling as someone with a disability evaporated and I feel very strongly about encouraging others like me to do it. Most of the resistance I encountered came from people who saw my disability as an impossible barrier to travel in a developing country, whereas I just saw it as a challenge.

Rachel Garaghty, who has muscular dystrophy and uses a power wheelchair, University of Minnesota. Studied abroad as a graduate student in Tanzania.

There are some excellent resources available. Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provide technical advice and expertise on international exchange to people with disabilities and can provide information on a wide range of issues related to disability, ranging from accessibility and funding to advocacy and arranging for disability accommodations. Students with disabilities face all of the same issues noted above and then some.

What and Where Can You Study?

Over the past few years, there has been a tremendous expansion in the number and variety of programs that are available. Now there is most likely a program that is right for every student. Historically, most study abroad programs embraced the humanities. But more colleges are now offering or even requiring an international stint for students of social science, business, fine or applied arts, and engineering. All subjects can be taught through a global lens, and students in every field will benefit from a global perspective.

Fields of study of U.S. study abroad students, 2000/01 and 2010/11

Field of study 2000/01 2010/11
Social sciences 20.3 22.9
Business & management 18.1 20.5
Humanities 14.5 11.3
Fine or applied arts 8.5 8.2
Physical or life sciences 7.1 7.9
Foreign languages 8.2 5.6
Health professions 3.2 5.3
Education 4.4 4.2
Engineering 2.7 3.5
Math or computer science 2.0 1.8
Agriculture 1.6 1.3
Undeclared 4.5 2.7
Other 4.9 4.8
Total 154,168 273,996
    Source: Open Doors 2012

Destinations for study abroad also continue to expand and adapt to changes in the global marketplace. We believe study abroad programs will continue to change as the global economic and political landscape continues to evolve.

Over the past decade the number of U.S. students studying abroad has increased by 78 percent, growing from close to 155,000 students in 2000/01 to nearly 275,000 in 2010/11. European countries have remained the predominant study destinations for U.S. students, but there have been some notable shifts toward non-European destinations. A decade ago, 63 percent of U.S. study abroad students selected European destinations, but most recently that proportion dropped to 55 percent. While the absolute number of students studying in the top European countries has continued to grow, the proportion of U.S. students selecting those destinations has decreased. For example, the proportion of U.S. students going to study in the UK has fallen from 20 percent of all study abroad students in 2000/01 to 12 percent in 2010/11.

Conversely, the proportion of U.S. study abroad students selecting Asian destinations has grown, from only 6 percent of U.S. study abroad students a decade ago to 12 percent in the most recent Open Doors report. China, the fifth most popular destination overall and the leading Asian destination, showed a particularly dramatic increase, hosting almost five times as many U.S. study abroad students in 2010/11 (14,596 students) than it did in 2000/01 (2,492 students). India has also become a popular destination for U.S. study abroad students, ranking as the 11th most popular host destination in 2010/11. In contrast to the gradual growth of students going to China, the number of U.S. study abroad students in India has increased 62 percent in just a few years, growing from 2,690 students in 2008/09 to 4,345 in 2010/11.

There has been modest growth in the number of U.S. study abroad students going to Africa, as well as a diversification of study abroad destinations in Latin America. In 2000/01, just 3 percent (4,471 students) of U.S. study abroad students studied in Africa, compared to 5 percent (13,974 students) in 2010/11. The proportion of U.S. study abroad students in Latin America has remained relatively steady over the past decade, but students have gone to more diverse destinations within the region. In 2000/01, Costa Rica and Mexico were the only Latin American countries among the top study abroad destinations, but by 2010/11, Argentina and Brazil had also entered the top 15 study abroad destinations for U.S. students.

These changes are very good for all students considering study abroad today and in the coming years because students will be better prepared to address shared global issues. If you’re looking for an opportunity to transition from study abroad into a job, you would be well advised to consider studying in a rising global economy with strong GDP growth. Nongovernmental organizations, entrepreneurs, and foreign investment dollars are all flocking to emerging markets for a variety of reasons including their growing consumer market potential, natural resources, development and infrastructure, ecotourism development, technology advancement and environmental issues. Experience gained abroad in one of these destinations as an undergraduate will definitely give you an advantage later on as a job-seeker.

Why Study Abroad?

You’ve probably heard returning study abroad students rave about their experiences and offer advice: “It changed my life!” “It was the best experience ever!” “Don’t just think about it, do it!”These are the three most common open- ended responses we received as part of our research with approximately 350 respondents who had recently studied a broad, and whose responses we will continue to reference throughout this book. The vast majority of students surveyed offered one, two or all three of these statements in their responses. Most students say that their experience abroad was one of the most significant aspects of their higher education.

Pushing yourself to get out of your comfort zone and experience another culture and education system in person is what makes studying abroad such a meaningful and enlightening event. You shouldn’t consider it to be a tangential or separate part of your college education, but instead an integral part of it. And this includes studying content that will offer you a broader perspective, including taking an international marketing class in Paris, studying chemical engineering in Mumbai, or researching public policy in Cairo. International experiences such as these can enhance your life academically, socially, culturally, personally and professionally. Keep in mind, though, that “the best experience of your life” is not guaranteed to be all fun and games. Some of the best growth experiences come from mistakes and lessons learned. That doesn’t diminish the value of the experience-it enhances it. Just don’t expect study abroad to be easy.

Make the Most of Your Education

With the right preparation, the classes you take while studying abroad will count as credit toward your degree. Moreover, you will generally have ample opportunity to take classes that are not offered at your home campus. Plus, while you are abroad, you’ll discover learning in a new way, as the higher education systems of other countries differ greatly from those of the United States. This means that you’ll experience a different approach to teaching, learning, assignments and homework. Working through these differences will prepare you to work with colleagues, supervisors and clients who come from different backgrounds. If you study abroad, you’ll have the added benefit of a “minor” in international experience as part of your academic achievements.

After studying abroad, most students never view their education in the same way again. The experience is so powerful, it often influences subsequent educational endeavors, including the decision to pursue higher degrees. Study abroad students return home with a reinvigorated interest in academic pursuits and a renewed passion for lifelong learning. Moreover, studying abroad forces you to take a break from traditional campus life and equips you with real-life, hands-on skills that no classroom can match.

Studies show the best way to gain proficiency in a second language is to have no choice but to use it (the way babies learn). Taking classes in a second language, not in English, provides an indispensable benefit for students who wish to master that particular language. That’s why many foreign language majors are required to study in a country where that language is spoken. Becoming proficient in a language is one of the top reasons students have studied abroad for decades.

FROM A BUSINESS LEADER

In today’s increasingly competitive world and workplace, the skills and knowledge gained from studying abroad can be critical steps forward in the race to get that first job or promotion. Studying abroad, whether in Beijing or Rio, can set you apart and more importantly help set you on the path to success. If you wonder whether studying abroad is it worth it, put aside your worries. The right program-and not all are equal-can deliver the “3 C’s”: competitive advantage, career growth, and cross-cultural success.

Curtis S. Chin, former U.S. ambassador to the Asian Development Bank and managing director, RiverPeak Group, LLC.

FROM A STUDENT

I thought I would learn Arabic, conduct some research, and learn more about the Moroccan lifestyle, but it has been so much more. I achieved my original language goals, published a piece on Morocco in a foreign policy magazine, and sought out all the opportunities to immerse myself in the Moroccan culture and way of life. Perhaps more than anything, I made meaningful personal and professional relationships with people in North Africa that I will take with me for the rest of my life.

Eric Fische r, University of San Francisco. Studied abroad as a Boren Fellow in Morocco.

Expand Your Cross-Cultural Horizons

When you study abroad, you will be brought into close, everyday contact not only with American classmates on your program, but also with classmates from other countries, and with hundreds of students from your host country. Some of the personal friendships you will make will last for years. They might even be the beginning of a global network that eventually leads to job prospects. Living and studying overseas inevitably fosters a sense of teamwork, as the group you live or study with becomes closer as you collectively experience the challenges of a multicultural situation. On the other end of the spectrum, you will also learn to depend more upon yourself. When push comes to shove, you will have to be the one proactively asking questions and soliciting help.

The cultural benefits of studying abroad are obvious. Spending time in a foreign country can’t help but open your eyes to the wider world, especially to different ways of going about everyday human activities. You’ll have a much more expansive definition of “different.” You may learn that people pray differently and to different gods and on different days. You’ll meet people who shake hands, bow or kiss each other on the cheek to say hello. You’ll find that bathrooms can be different, that concepts of “being on time” can vary widely, and that the foods some people eat can seem really strange. You will learn that there are grains of truth in some stereotypes, but also that many are inaccurate and potentially harmful.

You’ll probably laugh at others’ perceptions of Americans and feel compelled to communicate “the truth” about your own culture. As a result, you will probably become both more reflective about U.S. culture and what that culture has instilled in you, and increasingly appreciative of what other cultures have to offer. Paradoxically, you’ll also learn that people around the world are more alike than different. This openness to different approaches should make you a better problem-solver and team player. For more on this topic, check out Chapter 6.

FROM A BUSINESS LEADER

The ability to understand and relate to people in other countries the world over is based upon two things: competency in their language and a knowledge of- and sensitivity to-their culture. Of the two, I believe the latter is the more important. Foreigners are usually forgiven when they fail to be fluent in the language, but they are considered ignorant or insensitive when they are unaware or scornful of the culture. The fact that hundreds of thousands of American students now spend a significant portion of their college or postgraduate years studying abroad is a heartening development in the direction of a better understanding and rapport among the many diverse populations spanning the globe. There’s no better way to learn the customs and mores of a country than by living there for an extended period of time and immersing yourself in daily life.

Harold Burson, founding chairman, Burson-Marsteller.

FROM A STUDENT

My study abroad experience helped me to better understand my biases and views about various aspects of health and its related risk factors. The lens through which I viewed individual and population health was colored by the social, political, and economic climate of my American surroundings. My views about health were sometimes drastically different from the realities of people living in South Africa. I quickly realized that I had to allow their experiences and environment define what health meant to them so that I could better understand how to approach the existing disparities in a culturally appropriate, unbiased way. This way of thinking is important in my career and the research I am involved in because it transcends populations, geographies, and cultural norms. Public health research requires understanding different “ways of knowing” when it comes to engaging communities, assessing situations, developing strategies, and evaluating results.

Darigg C. Brown, Pennsylvania State University. Studied abroad as Boren Fellow in South Africa.

Experience Personal Growth and Development

By immersing yourself in a new culture and experiencing new ways of thinking, you will inevitably undergo personal growth. Most students return home not only with expanded ideas about other people and cultures, but also with new perspectives on themselves. You may find yourself questioning your lifelong personal beliefs and values, which may lead you to either strengthen or abandon them. You will also develop more self-awareness and self- confidence as you rise to the challenge of mastering a whole range of new situations. Navigating the subway system in a new city may not seem like a big deal – but wait until you have to do it using foreign currency, interpreting route maps and schedules that are not in English, and, quite possibly, having to ask for help from strangers. By the time you’ve successfully arrived at your destination, you’ll feel as though you’ve conquered a mountain! Experiences like these not only make you feel good about yourself, they also result in an improved sense of maturity and independence. This can-do confidence is critical to future success, both in life and especially in the workplace.

Travel, always an enriching experience, expands the mind. But international travel can often be difficult and expensive to organize from home. For financial or other reasons, not every study abroad student seizes the opportunity for extra travel while overseas. But such travel is much easier and cheaper if you are already living in another country. While studying abroad, you should have many opportunities to take interesting excursions, whether for a few days in the immediate area or for longer visits that may be a plane ride away. The adventures you’ll go on and the life experiences that you’ll have will enhance your studies and add a new dimension to your time on the ground.

FROM A BUSINESS LEADER

The beauty of studying abroad is gaining a broader understanding of other cultures. Having access to other people and building relationships with those people on their home turf enables one to think more creatively and flexibly- necessary skills in today’s competitive work environment. If a student can bring that understanding and knowledge back to the U.S., the sky’s the limit!

Frank Abate, division manager, JM&A Group.

FROM A STUDENT

My experiences abroad have forced me to give up any pretense of control over external forces. As a result, I’m flexible, easy-going, carry low expectations but high ambitions, and can’t wait for the next unexpected adventure. I carry a knowledge that life’s not fair and isn’t always convenient, but a firm conviction that I can learn from every experience, and that no journey is wasted.

Shirah Foy, Belmont University. Studied abroad in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Guatemala. Completing graduate studies at Aalto University, Finland.

Enhance Your Career Opportunities

Study abroad is one of the best ways-and is often the only way-for a student to acquire marketable international qualifications and cross-cultural competency, two of the most critical skills for workers today, prior to graduation. But there is more to studying abroad than just picking up and leaving the country. You need to plan carefully and select both the type of program and destination that is right for you. We encourage you to make the most of the opportunity by selecting the country where you can best improve your language skills, or a nontraditional location in an emerging market.

Increasingly, employers seek workers who can speak another language (or two) and who understand other cultures. For students who are contemplating careers in international business, foreign relations and diplomacy, studying abroad is almost imperative. But for all future job seekers, certain soft skills-especially communication, analytical abilities, teamwork and flexibility-are highly prized, and studying abroad is an excellent way to develop them.

We also urge you to think about global issues that you are passionate about or areas where you can make a difference, and do some research on what countries and cultures would best prepare you for work in the fields that interest you.

FROM A BUSINESS LEADER

With the rate of globalization increasing on a daily basis, today’s leaders are perpetually bombarded by a dizzying number of economic, organizational and market challenges. Those individuals who take the steps to expose themselves early in their careers to the different ways countries and societies think about these challenges have a greater ability to understand global context. As such, they will have a significant competitive advantage over those who choose the more traditional domestic path.

Steve Miranda, managing director, Cornell University Center for Advanced HR Studies.

FROM A STUDENT

During an interview for what is now my current job, my interviewer referenced and was intrigued by my time abroad and specifically my language skills. I can’t say that is why I got the job, but I do know that it made a positive impression.

Claire Harrison, University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Studied abroad in Italy.

QUICK TIP

Many professionals reported that the demands of their workplaces have required them to learn

You will need to take some steps to be sure you are getting the most out of your international experience. First, be sure to connect the skills and the overall experience you gain during study abroad to your on-campus learning-both prior to departure and upon reentry. Second, make sure these newly learned skills or characteristics can be applied in the workforce. And when you get back, highlight them clearly on your résumé, with compelling examples provided during the course of a job interview, to show that you know how to make it relevant to a potential employer and apply it while working on a cross- cultural virtual team in the future. Third, be prepared to appreciate and communicate your experience in a way that your prospective employer will appreciate. Don’t simply leave it to employers to make the connections. You must illustrate your experience and explain what transferable skills you’ve learned and how you can adapt them to the workplace. For detailed information on leveraging study abroad in your future pursuits, check out Chapter 10 for tips and example from others.

Approaching its 50year anniversary in 2014, AIFS surveyed alumni who participated in study abroad programs between 1990 and 2010 and who are now in their 20s to late 30s, to find out how alumni regard the impact of their student abroad experience on their lives. Specific focus was paid to the areas of cultural understanding and world view, professional and career development, and personal growth and values (AIFS, 2013). Eighty percent of the nearly 1,600 respondents indicated that study abroad contributed to their ability to adapt in diverse workplace environments.

What Value Does Study Abroad Offer Employers?

What do companies value most from a study abroad experience? Based on conversations we’ve had with employers at many large multinational companies and global organizations, the one quality they value most is the inherent curiosity common to students who have chosen to study abroad. Such people are presumed to be already on the track to becoming globally minded and globally competent employees. The vast majority of professionals we interviewed agreed that if two applicants have essentially equal résumés, they would hire the one who had studied abroad. The following attributes were cited:

  • Cross-cultural awareness, which is critical to diverse global teams.
  • Ability to bring global thinking skills to bear on complex issues.
  • Language skills needed in a multilingual world.
  • Predisposition to and experience with global mobility.

But whereas study abroad in general might have been sufficient even a decade ago, the location where you studied is now increasingly important in helping you stand out. Eschewing the typical Western European countries in favor of China, Brazil, Russia, South Africa or India signals an enhanced awareness of a growing global economy, and often helps students forge a direct link with the very places where many companies are expanding. Moreover, these nontraditional destinations often offer more challenging situations for a student accustomed to U.S. culture, thus intensifying the learning curve.

In any case, would-be employees shouldn’t expect companies to just tick the box of international experience and move on. Overseas experience typically precipitates a whole line of questioning during the interview process. Organizations will want to know what you did and learned and how you can bring that international experience to bear on the job. Was the experience a rigorous one with a full academic load-or was it primarily just a working vacation? If your three months in Rome, for example, was mostly spent sipping cappuccino and tooling around on a Vespa, then the experience offers little to interest a prospective employer. Were any of your classes in the local language? Was an internship part of the term? If a student studied and took classes in Spanish in Madrid, Arabic in Cairo, or Japanese in Osaka, while also learning to navigate the culture as evidenced by a part-time job, tutoring at a local school, or serving as a docent at a local museum or historic site, employers will be significantly impressed.

In order to reap the full benefits of studying abroad, you must immerse yourself in the local culture. Taking stand-alone classes in English taught by American professors without a strong cultural component is no longer   enough. Universities and colleges are catching on to the need to integrate the global experience into their academic curricula, and those changes are serving their students well in their careers. In fact, students who enjoy a rich cross-cultural experience often end up at the top of a company’s fiercely competitive list for future international transfers. Rigorous overseas stints have proven to catapult many a career. You can read many of these stories in Stacie Berdan’s award- winning book, Get Ahead By Going Abroad.

Study Abroad Students are Better Prepared for the Workplace

In 2000, researchers began an ambitious effort to document the academic outcomes of study abroad across the 35 institutions in the University System of Georgia. The data included 283,000 students at 425 study abroad programs of all types (exchange/immersion, faculty-led, short-term, etc.) at research universities, comprehensives, and both two-year and four-year schools. Ten years later, they found that students who studied abroad had improved academic performance upon returning to their home campus, higher graduation rates, and improved knowledge of cultural practices and context compared to students in control groups. They also found that studying abroad helps, rather than hinders, the academic performance of at-risk students.

Some of the more interesting findings showed a significant increase in functional knowledge among study abroad students when compared to the control group. Some of the indicators used to determine this finding include:

  • Knows how to compare and contrast culture.
  • Knows norms and taboos.
  • Knows how to give coherent directions.
  • Knows how to talk way out of tough situation.
  • Knows different ways to express ideas.
  • Knows what’s funny.
  • Knows how to take a train or a bus to reach a destination.
  • Knows how to pacify an angry person.

This information is interesting because these are life skills. Not necessarily language fluency achievements or geography knowledge, but functional skills that are difficult to teach in a classroom and best learned through experience. These are important skills for building cross-cultural interaction. In fact, knowledge of cultural context also improved significantly over the control group:

  • Knows how different settings affect one’s own style of interacting.
  • Understands significance of language and culture differences.
  • Knows how cultural settings affect one’s own reactions to and interactions with others.

All of these skills will enhance your ability to be a better worker, whether you are working in the United States or abroad. More and more hiring managers have begun to make the connection between study abroad and the enhanced skills they need.

Research also shows that graduation rates for students who studied abroad are significantly higher than those of their stay-at-home peers:

  • Four-year graduation rates of study abroad students are 17.8 percent higher.
  • Five-year graduation rates of study abroad students are 10.6 percent higher.
  • Six-year graduation rates of study abroad students are 6.4 percent higher.

Moreover, the effects hold consistently across sub-groups of gender, income, race, and SAT scores. The outcomes of this research are published in Documenting the Academic Impact of Study Abroad: Final Report of the GLOSSARI Project, a 2010 report by Richard C. Sutton and Donald L. Rubin.

TODAY’S STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS

Study abroad programs can vary widely, so it pays to do your research. Some have rigid curriculum requirements; others are so flexible that even freshmen, just beginning their college experience, can participate. Some are more like glorified vacations, with every logistical detail taken care of, while others take self-sufficiency to extremes by requiring participants to find their own accommodations after arrival-an intimidating enough prospect even for seasoned travelers. Some are academically rich, others mediocre. The cost and quality of programs can be extremely uneven. Therefore, prospective participants must be discerning buyers, seeking out those programs best designed to help them meet their own specific academic goals.

Many colleges offer short stints abroad, which may last two or three weeks, as part of a class. These can be a good way to get a first international experience, and they provide important options for students who could not otherwise go abroad due to work or family commitments. However, although a short time abroad is better than no time abroad, we believe that study abroad should be longer whenever possible in order to maximize your learning. It takes a while to get the feel for things on the ground in a new place. Often, by the time you feel comfortable and are ready to be truly productive, it is already time to leave. We urge you do your best to go abroad as long as possible and as many times as possible.

In the chapters that follow, we will be presenting a wealth of information about each step of the study abroad process, beginning with how to determine if study abroad is right for you (Chapter 2), and ending with some advice on how to leverage your international experience to further your career (Chapter 10).

Top 10 Reasons to Study Abroad
  1. Learn about yourself and become more self-aware.
  2. Boost your self-confidence and independence.
  3. Learn another language.
  4. Learn about your own country.
  5. Expand your worldview.
  6. Strengthen adaptability, communications and team- building skills.
  7. Enhance your career opportunities.
  8. Experience another culture firsthand and enhance your cross-cultural competency.
  9. Make new friends from around the world.
  10. Travel.

Chapter 2

Determining if Study Abroad is Right for You

For most college students in their first and second years, the allure of studying abroad can be intoxicating. That is because students tend to initially focus on the “abroad” part, a word that conjures up any number of romantic personal impressions-often, in fact, little more than fantasies-based on movies, travel books, and firsthand reports from friends and relatives who have vacationed abroad. Eclipsed by the glamour and intrigue of it all is the “study” part.

But make no mistake about it: studying abroad is a serious undertaking. It will challenge you on a personal level. It will have an impact on your academic career. And it will cost money. Deciding whether to go abroad, therefore, is a momentous decision, and not one that should be made quickly or without a thorough assessment of all the pros and cons. In order for you to make the right decision, you will need to take a deep, practical look at the personal, academic and financial challenges of study abroad.

Study abroad challenges you on a personal level. In Chapter 1 we touched upon the personal growth and development that inevitably occurs as a result of studying abroad: increased self-awareness, independence, self-confidence, team- and relationship-building skills, adaptability, and an overall sense of accomplishment. But how exactly does this happen? Studying abroad is more than just getting to your class on time, making yourself understood in the local language, and eating different foods at the cafeteria. You must learn how to do many new things while also relearning some things that have become second nature. Study abroad involves a subtle but important change in your expectations of yourself and others. More importantly, you will have to cope with a loss of identity and familiarity and get along without some of the longstanding touchstones that provide encouragement, meaning and direction. You will definitely grow personally, but the experience will test you. It’s important to determine beforehand that you are up to the challenge.

FROM AN EDUCATOR

Students, even those who have traveled abroad for tourism or business, benefit greatly from studying abroad. Being able to see and experience a foreign culture in the company of one’s peers is not only educational but can also be an eye-opening experience. The sights, smells, sounds, language, mannerisms and behaviors that are experienced open up one’s mind and make the students realize how much more there is to learn from going abroad.

Raghuram Tade palli, dean and professor of marketing, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, Elon University.

FROM A STUDENT

Experiencing another country/culture was the main reason I decided to study abroad. I wanted to become proficient in another language so badly that I made it my major, but I was also interested in Spanish culture and traveling. At first glance, my study abroad experience didn’t seem to meet my expectations at all, mostly because I thought adjusting to the culture would be easier than it was, and it turned out that living in Costa Rica didn’t suit me at all. However, once I changed my expectations, I realized that I had gotten exactly what I was looking for, because, happy or not, I was experiencing another country and its culture, and the personal growth I gained from learning to like where I was living was what made the experience worth it in the end.

Beth Cubanski, American University. Studied abroad in Costa Rica.

Studying abroad will have an impact on your academic career. The main reason that you are in college is to earn a degree, one that will hopefully prepare you for a satisfying and rewarding career path. How will studying abroad affect that objective? For some students, it can greatly contribute to reaching it; for others, it may have little to do with academic goals, or even present some obstacles. But make no mistake, study abroad is just that: taking classes at an overseas or foreign university. The experience shouldn’t be viewed as an extended vacation or a lightweight academic term. You should not only come ready to put just as much effort into your studies as you do on your home campus, but also be prepared to put in even more, especially if you are going to be studying in another language.

But all this work won’t go unrewarded. Most students enjoy their classes, and say that the experience ignited their interest in academic pursuits in general. Many return home with a renewed academic purpose and the desire to do even better in their coursework. If done intelligently, studying abroad will enhance your overall undergraduate experience. But to be sure it does, you will need to map out how it contributes to your overall course of study before you leave.

To do this requires two things: 1) finding out whether your university or college requires you to complete any courses before you study abroad, and 2) making sure you will have enough time after returning to campus to complete all of your graduation requirements on schedule. This means not waiting until the term before you are thinking about going overseas to find out the facts- start investigating in your freshman year. Failure to do this could result in unpleasant consequences. You could, for example, find that a certain required course that you could have taken before you went abroad is not offered the term you return, which could delay your graduation. Alternatively, you could discover that studying abroad is no longer even an option since you didn’t meet a certain prerequisite.

To stay on track to graduate on time, you will also need to make sure that your study abroad credits are completely transferable. We will cover this topic in more detail later in this chapter. With that said, there are students who find the experience so valuable that they are not overly concerned about transferring credits.

FROM AN EDUCATOR

You may use your time abroad to delve deeper into your major, or you may use it to explore entirely new fields of study. Whatever you choose, stretch yourself. Play another octave of the piano. Connect to the culture you are in. Make it your goal to seek out and truly consider perspectives different from your own-to move beyond the window you were given and view the world through the many facets of a diamond-from politics to the way communities function to the role of food in society. Then strive to maintain these new ways of seeing when you return home. That way, your time abroad will not only enrich your academic career, but also the rest of your life.

John Sexton, president, New York University.

FROM A STUDENT

I knew that I could not afford to take a semester off to study anything but my major, so I began to research study abroad programs that focused on business. Luckily, my university had created a business program at Sciences Po in Paris that intertwined French culture with finance, marketing and human resources. I was able to keep my credits on track, while still getting the full abroad experience.

Benjamin Pauke r, George Washington University. Studied abroad in France.

I graduated in three and a half years while spending a full year studying abroad! Many people will tell you that studying abroad will delay graduation. While this could be true, I would encourage any current student to seriously research the program they are looking into and see what exactly their graduation timeline will look like. If you are a freshman or sophomore, start planning your classes for the next few years and figure out how study abroad will fit in!

Melissa, Michigan State University. Studied abroad as a Boren Scholar in Turkey.

In addition to preparing for study abroad prior to leaving, you will also need to think about reintegrating back into life at your U.S. campus upon your return. Read more on this topic in Chapter 8.

Study abroad costs money. Studying abroad certainly isn’t cheap, but neither does it have to break the bank. The cost of studying abroad varies greatly depending on the type and location of the program, the length of the stay, and whether the program is administered through your university or an outside organization. And while the overall cost of studying abroad often exceeds that of studying on the home campus-which may lead the student to consider it unaffordable-it is a mistake to assume that is the case, or to assume that the margin of difference is prohibitively large. Some study abroad programs- especially those in developing countries- can actually be less expensive than tuition and fees for the equivalent amount of time on your home campus. Moreover, financial aid, scholarships and grants are often available to qualifying students.

In an effort to encourage more students to go abroad, many colleges and universities are committed to maintaining cost parity; in other words, a semester abroad should cost exactly the same as one on the home campus, at least as far as tuition and board. Others offer vouchers that can be used to help defray the costs of airfare, meals and in-country travel, since these costs are often unpredictable and vary widely depending on the destination country. Food and transportation in Italy, for example, will be significantly more expensive than in Guatemala. In any case, you will want to have extra money to spend on worthwhile activities and excursions, such as attending cultural performances in China, buying a Eurail pass to explore the capitals of Europe from your base in Paris, taking a side trip to the Amazon from your base in São Paolo, or exploring the savannah while in Africa. So while the total cost may prevent you from participating in your ideal study abroad program, it probably won’t prevent you from going at all. But it will be up to you to make it happen.

FROM AN EDUCATOR

Study abroad is a wonderful opportunity for any student. To be removed from your regular routine and parachute into a new geography and culture with brand new people and personalities is a mandate for learning. For many community college students, however, access to such experiences is limited given the costs. Miami Dade College has established shorter-term faculty-led experiences that range from two to four weeks that cut the costs in half. We are hopeful that additional grant money from private and public funding sources will make this valuable experience available to many more students.

Eduardo J. Padrón, president, Miami Dade College.

FROM A STUDENT

Look for programs through “reciprocal exchange.” In this type of program, you pay the tuition you normally would at your U.S. college, and any credit earned abroad may be counted as “in-residence” toward your graduation requirements. All of my scholarships at my U.S. college were applicable to my study abroad experience because it was through reciprocal exchange.

Nicole Lawson, Oklahoma State University. Studied abroad in Ireland.

I had to raise money to support my study abroad because the cost of my program was a few thousands of dollars higher than the cost of attendance at my home university. I applied for scholarships and other support as well. It takes time to plan for a successful study abroad experience.

April R. Gillens, North Carolina Agricultural and Te chnical State University. Studied abroad as a Gilman Scholar in Ireland.

But what if you’re still not certain that the benefits that you will reap from studying abroad will be worth the cost? Incomplete and misleading information keeps many students from even considering studying abroad. Too many students mistakenly believe that there is no place in their academic plan for time abroad, or that study abroad is just a luxury that they can neither afford nor benefit from.

Why Do People Study Abroad?

Ask almost anyone who has studied abroad about their experience, and they will say it was a life-changing opportunity and one of the most rewarding things they have ever done. Ask these same individuals why they went, however, and the answers will be much more diverse. According to our survey of approximately 350 students who had studied abroad in the past five years, the top three reasons cited for studying abroad are:

Experience another culture/country: 92% Travel: 89%

Personal growth: 83%

Secondary reasons include:

Career prospects and marketability: 44% Learn a language: 30%

Recommendation from a friend/peer: 23% Major or career requirement: 18%

Source: Study Abroad Survey 2013

FROM A STUDENT

“It’s hard to know what you want to do in this world if you’ve never seen it.” This is a personal philosophy that I discovered after returning to the States from my year studying abroad in Scotland. Previous to that year, I had lived under the assumption that I should always know exactly what I want to do and exactly what direction I needed to go in life-even though I really had no clue. As a matter of fact, during my sophomore year, I was so afraid of falling behind and not getting a high-paying job when I graduated college that I was applying for internships and jobs that I really didn’t want. While both the UK and the rest of Europe are pretty Western, the mere act of getting outside of the U.S. for a year opened my eyes to different cultures, different people, and different ways of life. In the end, I discovered a whole new “world” of opportunities, and I’m glad I can still take advantage of these opportunities because I didn’t make a rash decision during my senior year of college.

Nate Nault, College of the Holy Cross. Studied abroad in Scotland.

Spending a postgraduate gap year in China.

FROM A STUDENT

My main reason for wanting to study abroad was to travel. I had no idea that in just three short months overseas I would learn so much about myself. It’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. I gained the confidence of knowing that I really could survive on my own. This newfound confidence led me to move to South Korea, a country where I didn’t know anyone and didn’t speak the language, to teach English for two years, a year after graduating.

Caroline Hicks, Oklahoma State University. Studied abroad in England.

As a senior I was more focused on what I wanted to do, which was to immerse myself in the Spanish culture. My goal was to become a Spaniard and maximize my time in Spain so that I could advance my language acquisition and gain more of an appreciation for the European way of life.

Crescendo Smalls, Wagner College. Studied abroad in Spain.

Is Study Abroad Right for You?

You will need to depart ready and open to experiencing the international lifestyle. Some students-and their parents-may have doubts about studying abroad. You may not be sure if you’re ready to spend six months in another country struggling through a second language. You might be concerned about leaving a boyfriend, girlfriend, or groups of friends you’ve recently made. Perhaps you think it will interfere with your coursework for your major, possibly postponing your graduation date. Maybe you’ve never traveled internationally before.

Only you can tell if you have the curiosity, openness and interest to successfully study abroad. Picking up and moving to another country for a semester or a year requires a good deal of research, thoughtful planning, and honest self-assessment. We’ll cover the first two points throughout this book, but you’ve got to make the third assessment on your own. To be sure, no one knows you as well as you know yourself. But perhaps you would like some guidance in helping determine if you’re prime study abroad material? If so, get ready to take a short quiz that has been adapted from Go Global! Launching an International Career Here or Abroad (Berdan, 2011).

Quiz: Is Study Abroad Right for You?

For the following statements, give yourself an honest “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” on whether you agree with the following statements:

  • I thrive on challenges-the more the better.
  • I enjoy meeting and getting to know new people. I love new places, new foods and new cultures.
  • I can get along with many different personalities, including those others find difficult.
  • I thrive on change, and am happy to be surrounded by it 24/7. I enjoy taking calculated risks.
  • I don’t get bothered by things that seem different or strange. I don’t mind being alone.
  • I go the extra mile-time and again-without being asked. I thrive when asked to go outside my comfort zone.
  • I am curious about what makes the world go round. I am adaptable.
  • I am a good listener and communicator. I like working in teams.
  • I can handle failure and learn from it.

Scoring: If you answered yes to 12 out of 15, you may have a bright global future ahead of you. If you answered yes to 10 out of 15, you have the makings of a good internationalist, and a guide to those areas where you need to do some improving. If you said yes to about half, you should think seriously about what kind of study abroad program will best meet your needs and help you to evolve. If you answered yes to less than five, you need to consider why you want to study abroad and perhaps do a little extra preparation so you are ready to adjust to your new surroundings.

Just because your score is low, however, doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t study abroad. But it does mean that you should carefully assess the program and your desired outcomes. The real secret to a successful study abroad experience is to learn, and to integrate that learning into your personal growth and apply it to your professional self. And keep in mind that scores on assessments like this one tend to change over time, especially as the individual’s pathway through life becomes molded by real-life experience. The fact that you’re reading this book shows a curiosity that can be built on!

Assessing Your Situation and Taking Stock of Your Needs

In addition to determining if studying abroad is a good educational, cultural and emotional fit for you, it’s highly beneficial to determine the kind of study abroad program that is likely to suit you best. Fortunately, there are many more options than there were just 20 years ago when, generally speaking, you either participated in your school’s established study abroad program or you just didn’t go. The flip side of that, of course, is that the abundance of choices available today can seem overwhelming. But if you begin your decision- making process with a prioritized list of criteria, you should be able to narrow the options down to manageable levels. Here’s a list of questions to get you started.

  1. What do you want to study? It could be your major subject, it could be the native language, or it could be simply to help meet diversification requirements in a creative and intriguing way. And, of course, it could be a combination. You should also consider whether it is important to you to have opportunities to conduct research in your field, or to take part in internship or service learning activities while you are there.
  2. How important is it that you earn credit for studying abroad? In light of the total financial outlay of studying abroad, the vast majority of students want to receive at least some academic credit for their time and effort. But not all need to receive a full term or semester’s worth. So what is the minimum number of credits you will need to receive to stay on track for graduation?
  3. Where do you want to study, and why? Is there a specific country or region that interests you, perhaps one that you would want to return to work and live in after graduation? Is there a specific language you want to work on? Is there a part of the world that you are exceptionally curious about and can’t wait to begin exploring? The answers to some of these questions can effectively narrow your search for an appropriate study abroad program. For example, if you want to study classical Greek architecture or Incan history, you’re pretty much going to end up in Greece or Peru. But other goals, like wanting to become fluent in Spanish, can leave you with a wide range of choices. If this is the case, you will need to identify secondary levels of interest such as history, culture, environment, or perhaps long-term business opportunities.
  4. Where and with whom do you want to live? With a host family? In your own apartment? In a dorm with other students? And if the latter, with other American students, with students from all over the world, or with local students? Do you want to go abroad with a group of friends?
  5. How long do you want to be overseas? Options typically include anything from two weeks to a full academic year. For many, however, especially those who have jobs or who are locked into rigid course sequences, a summer program might prove to be the best alternative. Others study overseas for a full year after receiving their U.S. bachelor’s degree.
  6. How proficient are you in a second language? Are you proficient enough to take classes in that second language? (If so, you should certainly do so.) Or is your skill level high enough that you can have conversations, but you think that coursework will be too much of a struggle? If so, you will need to find a program taught in English. However, you may also be able to take additional language classes while you are there, and make the most of out-of-classroom opportunities to improve your local language skills.
  7. What is the program going to cost? While tuition and fees plus room and board account for the lion’s share of the expenses of studying abroad, there are frequently other expenses involved, and you will need to plan for these as well. Among the more obvious are airfare, visa fees, and everyday expenses such as food and local transportation. But don’t forget to account for additional expenses such as excursions, field trips, and mobile phones.
  8. Are you currently receiving financial aid? If so, will you be able to apply it to the study abroad program? If not, will you be able to find an alternative source of funding?
  9. Do you have a job or internship that will be adversely affected? If so, find out if you can be granted the time off and if it will be possible to reapply upon your return. Many employers may be impressed that you are picking up and moving overseas to further your education, and may be willing to accommodate you. But you’ll need to verify this in advance.
  10. How much freedom do you want or need? Study abroad programs differ widely in their structure, formality, and level of independence. Keep in mind that there are pros and cons to both ends of the spectrum, and that living in another country offers a degree of independence all by itself!
  11. What do you want most out of the experience? Do you most want to learn, experience a new culture, teach, gain work experience? Whatever your specific objective is, make sure that the study abroad program you choose can help you achieve it.
  12. Do you have a disability? Talk with your study abroad office or program, and alumni with similar experiences. Be realistic about the challenges you may face, as well as open to the possibilities and opportunities. Research your specific needs, build support networks, and trust in your adaptability and resilience once abroad.

This list should help you begin to sort through the many considerations you’ll need to weigh about any individual program. But keep in mind that although these practical elements are all important to some degree or another, an open mind and your level of personal preparedness will probably have the greatest impact on your international experience.

Quick Tip: The wrong reasons to study abroad

If you’re looking for academic escape or a stress-free semester primarily spent gallivanting about, studying abroad is not for you. If you simply want to travel abroad, then do so and dispense with the studying part. Not only will it be less expensive overall, you will be able to do it at the time of year that best suits your schedule, and you will be able to go wherever you want, not just where a suitable program is offered. Just don’t expect the same results. Studying abroad offers the chance to study with professors in a university system different than your own. It affords you the opportunity to take classes that aren’t offered at your often in a second language. It enables you to study alongside students from the host country and a diverse group from around the world. You’ll actually be in a learning environment, not just a travel mode, which means challenges and rewards on a completely different scale.

How Do I Get Credit?

Every college and university sets its own guidelines regarding how it approves study abroad coursework. Credit is not automatic. If credit transfer is important to you- and we strongly recommend that you seek credit while studying abroad-you should discuss credit transfer policies with your school. There are two standard types of credits. Resident credit treats your study abroad as an extension of your studies on the home campus. Your study abroad grades will be calculated into your overall GPA and individual courses will appear on your transcript. Many academic departments prefer this type of credit option, and it’s often the safer bet in transferring credits. Transfer credit treats you as a student who has taken a leave of absence. You will need to request an official transcript from the accredited U.S. or foreign institution with an English translation (as needed) to be sent to the registrar or study abroad adviser upon your successful completion of a program.

Once you’ve chosen a study abroad program, select your courses and seek out preapproval for each course, either prior to leaving or as soon as you’ve arrived. It’s a good idea to select twice as many courses as you actually plan to enroll in, just to save you the hassle of dealing with cancellations and replacement courses. Make sure you bring the contact information of your campus adviser with you should you need to request information or approval for changes once you’re abroad.

Institutions abroad may also have their own rules for study abroad coursework and credit transfer. The terminology may be different, and grades may be determined differently in other countries and this can affect your credits being transferred. For example, attendance and class participation may be weighted more or less depending where you study, or grading systems may be different. Moreover, there may be prerequisites required to take certain classes, so be sure to investigate all your options.

FROM A STUDENT

My credits did transfer in the end, but the one thing I would stress about credit transfer is to stay VERY on top of it, including keeping copies of any and all documentation referencing it. My university lost my course equivalencies (the documentation guaranteeing that my credit would transfer) multiple times, and if I hadn’t had my own signed copies to send them, I may as well have taken the semester off.

Beth Cubanski, American University. Studied abroad in Costa Rica.

I went abroad as a sophomore. I had all of the general education requirements completed, and I was able to work on major requirements while abroad. Before going overseas, I reviewed coursework equivalencies with my academic adviser and the study abroad office, which helped me be prepared for enrollment day and stay focused on my degree plan. I studied one academic year in Ireland, but the credit transferred as the equivalent to two years in the U.S. I graduated college in three years because of study abroad-best decision of my life!

Nicole Lawson, Oklahoma State University. Studied abroad in Ireland.

I did not transfer several of the courses from Oxford, but I was fine with that since I studied abroad mainly to do research. I was willing to extend my undergraduate degree by an extra year (I graduated in five years) in order to do more research and also enjoy my study abroad.

Brian Hardin, University of Te xas at Austin. Studied abroad as Gilman Scholar in England. Awarded a Fulbright to Switzerland.

Proper Planning and Preparation Enhances Success Abroad-and Helps You Convince Skeptics

Once you’ve decided that studying abroad makes sense for you, and you’ve chosen a program-or at least narrowed down your selection-you’re ready for the next step: convincing your parents and/or advisers that it’s the right thing to do. This also includes friends, significant others, and possible naysayers who will want to throw cold water on your hot idea. Keep in mind that less than 15 percent of U.S. undergraduate students study abroad prior to graduation, so you will be in the minority at many institutions. But that’s what makes the experience special. Let’s take each group in turn:

Professor or adviser: While most college educators actively encourage their students to study abroad, not all believe it is always the wisest thing to do. Those with objections focus primarily on the specific classes or credits that you will be missing by not staying on the home campus. The best way to counter their arguments is to have already determined that all overseas credits will transfer and that you will be able to meet all your graduation requirements on the schedule that you have previously set. Document everything because mistakes can happen!

FROM AN EDUCATOR

Prior to the GLOSSARI research, many stakeholders-including some parents and administrators-had thought of  studying abroad as disrupting or interrupting the serious students’ program of study. And they presumed that studying abroad would be too risky  for “marginal” students. Through rigorous methods involving a large database, GLOSSARI has debunked those suppositions. Now we know that studying abroad does not disrupt most students’ progress toward degree; rather, it focuses them so that they are more likely to graduate in a timely fashion. Nor should students with low admissions credentials be discouraged from studying abroad; rather, they should be encouraged, for they receive even more value added than do students who enter college with high school records that virtually guarantee their success with or without studying abroad.

Donald L. Rubin, professor emeritus of communication studies and language and literacy education and research director, GLOSSARI, University of Georgia.

Parents: The three biggest obstacles for most parents tend to be safety, cost and program credentials.

  • Safety matters. Most parents will have a long list of safety concerns that they’ll want addressed before they agree to let you study abroad. You will need to address these, not just generally, but with facts, information provided by your campus or program organizer, and quite possibly an endorsement or two from an adviser or the parent of a student who has previously participated in the program. For more on safety, check out Chapter 7.
  • Cost can be a real stumbling block, especially if your financial aid can’t be transferred, if you won’t be able to earn money yourself while abroad, and if money is tight because studying abroad almost always costs more (especially with all the extraneous expenses) than staying put on your home campus. Do your homework to find the most cost-effective programs, and be sure to look into the financing options (check out Chapter 4).
  • Program credentials are important. Your parents probably view your education as an investment in your future, so they don’t want to see you waste your time-and your/their money-studying abroad if you won’t gain at least as much from the experience as you would staying put on your home campus. So make sure that you reassure them that your courses are worthwhile, your credits will transfer, and you’re going to learn and enhance your career prospects. For specific insights on how study abroad can enhance your education, refer them to Chapters 1 and 10.

FROM A STUDENT

I think many parents agree with the concept of study abroad and the opportunities it provides for their children. My parents don’t see the need for me to convince them to study abroad, but rather to convince them of my responsibility and safety beforehand. If I know the who, what, when, where, why, and how about the study abroad program and host country, they’ll see that I took the time to investigate my options to be able to answer most of their questions prior to talking to them. That’s all the convincing I have to do.

Morgan Abate, Elon University. Preparing to study abroad.

FROM A STUDENT

The two biggest selling points for my family were that my study abroad experience was covered by my scholarships and they could visit!

Nicole Lawson, Oklahoma State University. Studied abroad in Ireland.

Friends/significant others: There is only so much that you can say to friends and significant others who, for whatever reason, don’t want you to go. The most effective response, however, is a clear articulation of why you want to go and how important it is to you personally and/or academically. Your true friends should accept your decision, even if they may not like it. They should understand that you should pursue not only study abroad but also other life- enhancing experiences now, before you begin to acquire the “baggage” of adult life, such as a spouse, children, a job, or a mortgage. If your friends still don’t understand, be prepared to feel left out both prior to leaving and when you return. People who spend significant time living overseas are forever changed by the experience. Not better, but different, and it usually affects our relationships with those who haven’t had similar experiences. In any case, don’t let a friend or relationship of the moment, however strong, stop you from obtaining benefits that will last a lifetime. You will make lifelong friends abroad, most of whom you probably would not have met at home.

FROM A STUDENT

My (now former) boyfriend was extremely opposed to my going away for a semester, and he was pretty nasty at times trying to make me feel guilty about leaving. I didn’t see it as an option or that it was my job to convince him “to let me go.” Living in Costa Rica had been a lifelong goal of mine, and he could either respect my choices or we’d break up. But we didn’t break up, and he made my preparations far more stressful than they needed to be, interfering with my family time, picking fights, and begging for me to spend more time with him. Although I was glad to be leaving, the negativity affected me more than I realized when I started on my dream trip.

Beth Cubanski, American University. Studied abroad in Costa Rica.

Advice for students with disabilities

 

  • Parents often play a role in their youth’s perception of opportunities, and their concerns or opposition to study abroad is likely to influence their son or daughter. Seek out role models to help you make your case (and then become one for others after you return).
  • Attitude of study abroad advisers may be less optimistic, especially if they’ve never worked with a student with disabilities before. Help them understand your point of view; bring an ally and advocate with you to shore up support.
  • Costs for disability-related exchange accommodations, such as personal assistants or equipment, make the funding of international programs even more difficult. People with disabilities may have access to funding that can be used to go abroad if it relates to your education and career plan. Options include using vocational rehabilitation, scholarships, or transitional funding for international exchange.
  • Disability benefits may be interrupted when you go abroad. If you’re concerned about losing any benefits, such as Social Security disability income, look into what requirements a program must meet to keep you eligible. For example, you may need to think about program accreditation, and length of time you will be out of the United States. For more information, see Social Security or Vocational Rehabilitation and Going Abroad: www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/ssa.
  • Access and disability-related accommodations abroad are not going to be the same as you are used to at home and on your home campus. Consider how flexible you are willing to be and your comfort level with non-standard access. For example, are you comfortable asking for help to cross a busy street with no pedestrian right of way? Or being lifted up stairs? Or traveling with a manual wheelchair versus a power wheelchair? Once you narrow down programs, this will help you to decide what aspects of the program you are ok with, and which will be deal breakers.
  • Standard health insurance policies for travel or study abroad may not cover medications, equipment, counseling, or medical visits related to pre-existing conditions, so look at policy exclusions and into separate supplemental policies to fill in gaps.

In sum, a good study abroad program will challenge, stretch and enrich you. Finding a good one-by which, of course, we mean a good one for you specifically-requires extensive advance planning and preparation. And good preparation starts with an honest self- assessment, detailed research of the numerous program types, and a clear articulation of what you hope to get out of the experience.

A Role Model for Study Abroad with Disabilities

Cheri Blauwet, a medal-winning wheelchair racing athlete who competed for the United States Team in the Paralypmic Games in Sydney ‘00, Athens ‘04, and Beijing ‘08 before going to Stanford Medical School and becoming a Chief Resident of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at a rehabilitation hospital, is a notable role model for students with disabilities. After studying abroad in Argentina as an undergraduate with the help of a Boren Scholarship, she became an advocate for disability issues in the U.S. and abroad, and received an award from the American Association of People with Disabilities for her potential to change the face of the disability movement. She is a member of the International Paralympic Committee Medical Commission, and has published extensively and spoken internationally on the power of sport to promote both well-being and disability rights for individuals with mobility impairment.

Top 10 Tips for Deciding to Study Abroad
  1. Make sure you are ready for the personal challenges.
  2. Determine how studying abroad will enhance your degree.
  3. Crunch the numbers to confirm you have the necessary funds.
  4. Choose a place that you’re particularly interested in or curious about.
  5. Consider the important role of language learning abroad.
  6. Confirm that your credits can be transferred.
  7. Recognize that you’ll benefit more if you don’t hang out primarily with other Americans.
  8. Articulate your personal goals for studying abroad.
  9. Talk with professors, advisers, parents and friends about the opportunity.
  10. Prepare properly to enhance your success abroad.

Chapter 3

Choosing a Program

Studying abroad is inherently appealing on a number of fronts, and we’ve already noted that international experience may prove to be important to your professional future. As a result, it’s hardly surprisingly that more and more students are opting to study abroad each year, and that colleges and universities are responding by offering multiple programs in an increasing number of locations. While this is all good news to the prospective study abroad student, the downside is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to winnow through all the options to select the best program.

Expectations of Programs

Although studying abroad is usually great fun and invariably exciting, to be truly worthwhile it needs to also be academically and intellectually challenging. Not all programs measure up, and you aren’t doing yourself any favors if your experience is mostly just fun and games. The best programs have solid reputations for academic rigor and cross-cultural outreach. They should have entrance requirements, and not just be open to anyone who can pay the tuition. Ideally, they should also be integrated into your ongoing academic curriculum, though this is not always necessary. These are the programs that will enhance your academic transcript, and help you stand out after graduation.

To help ensure that you get the most out of your overseas experience, many programs now require intense language and academic preparation, research projects, presentations, or other serious academic work. Whether your program lasts three weeks or a full year, you should begin with intense cultural and intellectual preparation well before you leave your home campus and conclude with an involved reentry and reintegration course.

Some examples of bringing academic rigor to the studying abroad program, while providing a deep, cultural dive for the richest experience possible include:

  • Predeparture courses in history, geography, economics and politics.
  • Research assignments that require students to delve into a particular aspect of the destination country’s history or culture and present their findings both before departure and again, with updates, upon return.
  • Inclusion of study abroad as part of a course, often business or international relations, by teaching from the perspective of a particular group, say customers, manufacturers or government regulators.
  • Intense language study, the goal of which is to reach a certain level of proficiency prior to departure.
  • Interaction with international students on the home campus in order to help prepare study abroad participants for cross-cultural interactions.

FROM A STUDENT

I chose a program so that I would be able to further my language skills. Living in Granada, Spain, in a homestay allowed me to open my mind to a different linguistic manner, and come close to fluent in the language I so desperately wanted to learn.

Gregory Chocheles, Bryant University. Studied abroad in Spain.

My introduction to the Russian language and culture began with a girl-a high school exchange student from Astrakhan, Russia-who first opened my eyes to foreign culture and the idea of world travel. Following my junior year in high school, I lived with her family in Russia for one month. This is where I first discovered my passion for languages and thirst to experience different cultures from around the globe.

Cody White, We st Virginia University. Studied abroad as a Boren Scholar in Russia. Awarded Gilman Scholarship to study in Oman.

FROM A STUDENT

My mom was the one who got me to officially decide to study abroad. Back in high school, she shared with me her regrets about not studying abroad and told me that I wouldn’t have another time in my life for an experience like this again. So I reviewed many different programs and emailed with students who previously studied abroad. With their advice and experiences, coupled with my mom’s encouragement, I realized that it was something that not only I but also everyone should look into doing!

Caity O’Shaughnessy, Xavier University. Studied abroad in England.

Quick Tip: Find a faculty “champion” to discuss your intended study abroad program and communicate with this person while you’re abroad

Many students we’ve spoken to over the years have simply decided they wanted to study abroad for the experience itself, not for any career enhancement. That’s all right, but a new trend is now emerging. Students have gotten wise to the fact that today’s employers need globally savvy workers and recognize that with a little bit of extra planning, they can tie this rewarding experience to career goals. Only you can determine exactly what it is that you hope to get out of studying abroad and the personal enrichment that comes with it. But if you’re interested in also using the experience to enhance your professional résumé, here are some program aspects to look for:

  • Local language coursework. Content classes (history, literature, business) taken in languages other than English demonstrate foreign language proficiency.
  • Diverse student bodies. Programs that attract participants from all over the world will be richer culturally. They also foster greater proficiency in cross- cultural teamwork, thus better preparing you for global teams.
  • Regionally relevant content. You should be going abroad to study in a specific geographic and cultural context. Ideally, your program will take advantage of this with introductions to area experts and enhanced access to local information sources and perspectives.
  • Curricula-driven study abroad. Some top programs bring global students together to work on a regional problem such as water-use rights, fair-trade practices, or cultural preservation. Employers know that time spent working on global teams in an academic context is excellent preparation for global jobs.
  • Location matters. Prospective employers are increasingly interested in where you choose to study abroad. If you studied in a country where you know the prospective employer has operations, you can work this into your résumé or cover letter. Branching out beyond traditional Western European countries and into countries such as China, India or Brazil signals an enhanced awareness of growing global economies-and a direct link to the places most companies are expanding and growing. These nontraditional destinations also offer more challenging situations, thereby intensifying the learning and maturation curve.
Start with Your Study Abroad Office

Among those who responded to our survey, 65 percent studied abroad on their own college’s program. A further 18 percent went with an organization approved by and/or paid through their college, while 14 percent went with a completely independent program. Nationally, the Open Doors report shows that about 70 percent of students go on programs through their own colleges. The point here is that though you are most likely to end up participating in a study abroad program run or coordinated by your home campus, there are a number of other options including going through a program offered by an organization that specializes in study abroad or enrolling directly in a program offered by the host country university, and you should be aware that they exist before you even begin the process of looking.

Quick Tip:

Having said that, the best place to begin looking is still at the study abroad office on your home campus. (If yours doesn’t have one, see below.) The office’s mission, after all, is to help students negotiate the myriad ins and outs of studying abroad, and their advice will be tailored exclusively to the specific institution’s students (you) and not students in general.

However, no one office or person has all the answers. There are simply too many different study abroad programs for one office or individual – no matter how competent or dedicated-to know thoroughly or even be aware of. The study abroad office is a great starting point, but you will need to find and fill in the gaps.

Here’s what you can expect from your study abroad office:

  • A list of approved programs.
  • Information about credit transfer processes and course load equivalents at overseas universities.
  • Evaluations of university-sponsored programs.
  • Contact information for members of your own student body who have already studied abroad.
  • Information about financial aid, scholarships and grants, both in printed material and online.

Most colleges also offer study abroad fairs, which take place once or twice a year and are designed to drum up excitement for studying abroad. Fairs usually have information booths and food from possible study abroad destinations to intrigue students who may not have considered an international experience yet. Plenty of fellow students who have recently returned from studying abroad are usually on hand to share their experiences. It’s important to note that these events are meant to be fun and offer a first glimpse into study abroad opportunities. You’ll need to follow up with more research on your own.

In addition, many U.S. colleges and universities have a separate study abroad library, or a section of the college library that is devoted to study abroad programs. Among the best reference guides is IIEPassport: The Complete Guide to Study Abroad Programs , published by the Institute of International Education. IIEPassport contains more than 9,500 study abroad program listings and is available in hard copy and online at www.iiepassport.org.

A magazine called Transitions Abroad contains articles about study, work and travel abroad written by recently returned student participants, which you can access along with many other informational resources on the magazine’s website, www.transitionsabroad.com.

Using the Internet, you should gather additional, supplemental, up-to-date information on hundreds of programs and foreign universities; on scholarships, fellowships and grants specifically geared to study abroad; on career-oriented internships and volunteer opportunities; on international travel; on particular countries or specific fields; on getting your passport and any required visas; on health and safety conditions; and on currency exchange rates and banking. You should also study and discuss your findings with campus advisers and fellow students.

No study abroad office:

If your campus doesn’t have a study abroad office, you’re obviously going to have to be more independent and resourceful in researching opportunities. You’ll be freed from feeling obliged to give special consideration to the programs they recommend, but you will also have to be discriminating. An entire study abroad industry has cropped up over the past few years and not all of the players have your best interest as their top priority. Here are our top tips:

  • Checkout the IIEPassport directory, a guide to 9,500 study abroad programs worldwide.
  • Identify a professor or adviser who is willing to help you through the process.
  • Find students who have recently studied abroad to determine how they did it and how well it worked for them.
  • Ask your adviser or counselor about how being absent for a semester or two will affect your academic credits, and whether credits from abroad can be transferred.
  • Begin to choose a location, duration and time for your study abroad experience, and conduct more in-depth research on programs that meet those criteria.
  • If you’re receiving financial aid, inquire about whether you can apply it to a study abroad program and whether you can renew it upon your return.
  • If you don’t have a passport, apply for one. If you do, make sure it is good for at least six months after your estimated return. If you know which country you will be going to, find out about visa requirements and the process for getting one.
  • Before you sign anything, present your study abroad package to your professor/adviser to confirm the viability of credit transfer as well as the effects of leaving your home campus.
Type of Programs

After you’ve gone to the study abroad office and perhaps attended a study abroad fair and heard all kinds of enticing stories, you may be ready to board a plane! But once you are overseas, it’s going to be difficult to make amends for a poorly thoughtout decision. Take the time to investigate the various available program types. Every campus is different. Some offer a wide variety of programs, while others offer only a few. Whatever type of program you decide to pursue, make sure you work with the study abroad office or with an adviser assigned by the institution. This will make your life a lot easier when it comes to credit transfer, financial aid, course approval, and all the other “small print” inherent in any study abroad program. Ignoring or disregarding the established policies and procedures will only result in unnecessary and burdensome hurdles later on.

No matter how large your undergraduate institution is and how many students it sends abroad every year, its menu of study abroad programs cannot possibly include the best option for every student. As a result, institutions have developed a variety of different types of programs and partnerships. The following are the most common types of study abroad programs, each of which has pros and cons:

  1. University sponsored: Your university or college either owns its own overseas facilities or sends faculty members abroad to teach its study abroad students. The primary advantages of such programs are: you’re likely to already have friends or acquaintances attending the same program, the level of instruction is standardized (and known to the students beforehand), and credits are guaranteed to transfer. The potential downsides are that the professors will usually be from your home campus (with fewer international perspectives) and the opportunity to meet other international students is greatly reduced.
  2. Consortium: Your university or college works in conjunction with other academic institutions to form a single, collaborative program to which all partners have access, giving you a much wider range of approved programs to choose from. Sometimes universal standards do not apply, however. Each school handles the process differently, which means that your participation can be smooth or complicated, costly or inexpensive.
  3. Direct enroll: You enroll directly in an international institution, taking its courses and making your own travel and arrangements. This can be done under the auspices of your university or independently. The greatest benefit of these programs tends to be the flexibility and independence involved, but that generally means more time commitment on your part up front. They also can be considerably less expensive. You may need to know the local language well enough to take classes, so be sure to check.
  4. Study abroad organizations: An outside organization, such as American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), makes most arrangements, including submitting your application, organizing travel details, and arranging housing and excursions. This can be done under the auspices of your university or separately. These organizations, sometimes known as third-party providers, specialize in study abroad, and those that are well established-like AIFS (celebrating its 50th year in 2013)-tend to be very professional and adept at handling any need that arises. While using an outside organization generally means less time commitment for students upfront and more structure on the ground, it can also be more expensive, if you are enrolled in a state institution. But for students who haven’t traveled much internationally before, and whose parents are inclined to worry, this is an attractive option.
  5. Exchange: As an exchange student, you are essentially swapping places with a student from an overseas university through an arrangement between the campuses. As there are generally only a certain number of participants and a limited number of exchange campuses, such programs tend to be highly competitive. It is, however, usually one of the least expensive options. Yet not all colleges offer exchange programs.

Cost can often be the decisive factor in these decisions. In an effort to encourage more students to study abroad, many universities have created programs that enable their students to pay the same tuition and housing costs they would if they stayed on the home campus. Some universities are partnering with other large institutions around the world to create global campuses they share in order to provide the same level of academic instruction to students, are creating new campuses of their own, or are developing joint and double degree programs offered in partnership.

Sample Program | New York University

One program that strives to offer its students real-world understanding of today’s global business environment is NYU’s BS in Business and Political Economy (BPE) program. Launched in 2009, BPE offers a fully integrated, four-year undergraduate degree that combines business, politics and economics with three semesters-or nearly 40 percent of the length of a typical undergraduate degree-spent abroad in three of the most important business centers in the world. Participants start out as on-campus freshmen in New York City, move to London for their sophomore year, and spend half their junior year in Shanghai before returning to New York.

FROM A STUDENT

I have found NYU Stern’s BS in Business and Political Economy appealing because it integrates our curriculum in a meaningful way with our study abroad experience. For example, when we studied transition economies, we went to places like Prague and Shanghai where we could appreciate the political and economic ramifications firsthand.       These are experiences you can’t replicate without university support, and I have gained a profoundly different understanding of human and cultural differences that I certainly didn’t have when I graduated from high school. Sometimes we reduce foreign nations to unrepresentative clichés; and, although they contain some truths, seeing the countries in person has deepened my respect for how we discuss them in the United States. Beyond that, my study abroad experience has taught me to try new things, to enjoy traveling, and to think differently. After all, there’s a whole world waiting for us out there, so why just stand back and watch?

Bryan Rozycki, New York University. Studied abroad in China, England. Volunteered in Peru.

IIEPASSPORT: The complete guide to study programs

IIE has produced print editions of its study abroad directory, IIEPassport, for nearly 60 years and now offers it online at www.iiepassport.org. These comprehensive directories currently list more than 9,500 study abroad programs worldwide. IIEPassport is the premier resource for U.S. students seeking international study opportunities. The directory provides information about postsecondary study abroad programs open to U.S. citizens who are undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate students; adult or continuing education students; or professionals in various fields including business, education, health and law. The majority of programs are intended for undergraduates, but IIE actively seeks information about international programs that are of interest to other categories of learners. Program sponsors include U.S.-accredited colleges and universities, foreign universities, language schools, educational associations, binational agencies and others.

IIE does not review or evaluate programs listed in the directory. Inclusion of a program does not imply recommendation by IIE, nor does omission mean disapproval. Program evaluations and additional information must be requested directly from the program sponsor.

On the IIEPassport website, you will find a wealth of information about study abroad resources, the various types of programs, blogs written by study abroad professionals, and scholarships and funding sources. To help you sort through the numerous options, the online search tool on www.iiepassport.org allows you to narrow your options. You can search by country, subject, language, format, term, cost range, and more. Information in the directory is updated based on an annual survey. With so many listings to choose from, it can be overwhelming! But it offers the most comprehensive list of resources related to study abroad in one place.

All program descriptions indicate whether an accredited U.S. college or university sponsors the program, since this information is important for students who need academic credit for their study abroad, as well as information on eligibility, language of instruction and cost.

When to Study Abroad

In the past, most students went abroad to study during their junior year. This is still true today with the largest group-more than one-third of students having studied abroad recently-doing so as juniors. The majority of students who took our survey studied abroad so for one semester, and their responses show that studying abroad during the junior year worked successfully for them. But just because most students do it this way doesn’t mean that you have to. The growing numbers of options available are changing things. Many new programs are being offered for college freshmen, sophomores and seniors, and often a student will begin with a short-term study experience and then take part in a longer one later. With careful planning, you can actually study abroad at any point during your college career. You are best qualified to determine the time that is right for you, especially since your decision may hinge just as much on your course load, sports you play, campus groups you’re involved in, and jobs or internships you have as it does on your school’s program options. You may find it best to study or intern abroad for a few weeks, a month, a semester, or even a year. And while we believe that any time or timeframe can be made to work, we should note that the longer your study abroad program lasts, the more you are likely to benefit from the immersion in a language or culture that is different from your own. Here’s a snapshot of what it might be like for you, according to the year and amount of time.

FAST FACTS FROM OUR STUDY ABROAD SURVEY

99% completed their program

82% agreed that their college/university offered a program in the country they wanted to go to

95% successfully transferred study abroad credit

95% agreed they benefited “a great deal” or “a lot” from the study abroad program

Source: Study Abroad Survey 2013

Freshman

Colleges have begun to offer new programs for freshmen to study abroad, and some are even accepting students with the requirement that they go abroad during their first semester and then begin on campus in their second semester. While freshmen still make up only a small portion of all those who go abroad, this seems to be a growing trend. In some cases, the decision to study abroad as a freshman has to do with on-campus space limitations and the student’s desire to defer his or her arrival on campus for a semester or even a year. In others, study abroad is part of the degree program for certain core curricula. Some of these universities have campuses around the world, and they are able to offer freshmen the opportunity to study abroad. Both circumstances usually mean that you’ll have fewer choices about where to go. But the experience will still be an exciting, fun-filled adventure that may even get you thinking about going abroad again a year or two later. Starting college on a foreign campus is not for everybody, so be sure to speak to other students who’ve done it, even if this may be a bit tricky since you will not even be on campus yet! Since you will most likely arrange the program through your college, before you decide, request the names and contact information of a few students through your college’s study abroad office. You can also search reputable online sources.

Sample Program | Ohio State University

The Freshman Global Lab allows students who have been directly admitted to Fisher College, the university’s business school, as freshmen to go abroad during their first year at Ohio State. The program combines a core class (Introduction to International Business) with a field study to Europe during May. By combining classroom instruction with experiential learning in two of Europe’s most interesting economies, students gain insight into the daily challenges confronting business and governmental leaders in Italy and Ireland. Encouraging students to go abroad early in their academic careers facilitates a deeper understanding of the integrated, international business environment and leads students to pursue longer, immersive programs such as semester or summer study and internships abroad.

Sophomore

Most schools require you to have completed a specified level of core requirements before going off to study abroad. If you’re extremely well organized-and start planning as a first-semester freshman-you may be able to satisfy those requirements in time to go abroad the first semester of your sophomore year. But most who study abroad as sophomores do so in the second semester. The most common reasons students give for going abroad during their sophomore year are:

  • You want to study and improve your second language skills as quickly as possible.
  • You want to spend as much time as possible on your major coursework at your home university, which frequently means your entire junior and senior years.
  • There is generally more flexibility in choosing coursework abroad as a sophomore.
  • You want to take advantage of the research, internship, job or leadership opportunities that typically present themselves more to upperclassmen.
  • You’re an athlete, a member of a club, or have a job or internship that requires you to be on campus during specific semesters.
  • You want to study abroad more than once and so need to get started as soon as possible.

Sample Program | Bryant University

Bryant University offers a Sophomore Experience Abroad, a three-credit course that begins on campus with students preparing intensely for the culture, history, language and economy of their destination country. They are required to write a paper on one specific aspect of the country and then make a presentation upon return. To ease culture shock, students participate in group discussions about culture, customs, and current events with the professor who will be accompanying them. They are then ready to spend two weeks experiencing a taste of cross-cultural interaction and a dash of independence. Since the Sophomore Experience Abroad fosters increased self-confidence and appreciation of the international experience, it often leads students to spend a semester or the entire junior year abroad.

FROM A STUDENT

I went abroad as a second-semester sophomore (the earliest my school would allow) solely for scheduling reasons. As a Spanish major, I had no trouble getting credit for a study abroad in Latin America, but the premedical program curriculum really isn’t built for studying abroad. Because of the timing for the MCAT, going abroad my junior year was out of the question. As for going as a senior, I simply didn’t want to leave the country for months during my last year of college, especially being very involved in my sorority, and I wanted the cushion of an extra year after completing my premed requirements in case I had any other graduation requirements to finish.

Beth Cubanski, American University. Studied abroad in Costa Rica.

I chose to study abroad twice because during and after my sophomore experience in Florence I realized that my ultimate goal was to learn Italian. I didn’t learn as much as I would have liked in Florence because English was the predominant language spoken during class and at home, as the program did not have a language prerequisite. After returning to campus in the U.S., I decided to throw myself into my language studies and ultimately chose to spend my entire senior year in Bologna, where I was able to fulfill my Italian major requirements at the University of Bologna.

Claire Harrison, University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Studied abroad in Italy.

As a science/engineering major, I would encourage you to take courses in your degree curriculum so that study abroad does not delay your time to graduate. This may require you to find a school abroad that offers your major. In my case, I studied abroad at a university that offered mechanical engineering, although my major was biological engineering. But since I studied abroad during my sophomore year, I took general engineering courses at the time.

April R. Gillens, North Carolina Agricultural and Te chnical State University. Studied abroad as a Gilman Scholar in Ireland.

Junior

Junior year is the most popular year to go abroad and, in fact, some universities only allow students to study abroad then. For the vast majority of students, however, junior year simply presents the most advantageous timing. The most common reasons to go abroad as a junior are:

  • Your university requires you to spend the last two semesters on the home campus.
  • You have finally attained proficiency in a second language. This will enable you to better and more productively immerse yourself upon arrival, thus enhancing your abilities, and possibly enabling you to take content classes in that language.
  • You plan to write a senior thesis and need to be on campus to do so.
  • You plan to apply for a job, internship or graduate school and need to be on campus as a senior to do so.
  • You’re ready to go: You have matured enough, your friends are going at a similar time, and you have established yourself on campus.

FROM A STUDENT

I saved all of my elective classes so I could take them abroad in my junior year instead of taking my major classes, which made studying a lot easier while abroad. I also took them as pass/fail, which took the pressure off of my GPA being affected by circumstances I wasn’t sure of before I went abroad. I was able to travel and enjoy all the excursions.

Heather Nelson, Oklahoma State University. Studied abroad in England.

I went abroad for the second time to the Czech Republic in my second semester of my junior year. The timing fit best with my overall schedule of classes and gave me ample time to organize my semester abroad. After graduation, I applied for and received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship and lived in Slovakia for 10 months. The skills I’ve gained through my collective experiences are the foundation of my career.

Anna Lippard, Coker College. Studied abroad in Italy, Czech Republic. Awarded a Fulbright to Slovakia.

Senior

Senior year is now the second most popular time to study abroad, and nearly a quarter of those who study abroad for academic credit do so during their senior year, which sometimes includes the summers before or after. However, before you plan to wait until senior year, be sure to check with your school. Some schools require you to be on campus for at least one of your last two semesters in order to complete core requirements or write a thesis, so it is important that you do not miss out on the opportunity by waiting too long. For those who do go as seniors, the obvious preference is first semester, and the reason for going is that they just haven’t had the opportunity to go before then. Or, they want to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities that are available to them as a student, and go one more time before they graduate. Some even finish their required course load and choose between graduating early and going abroad.

Sample Program | Northeastern University

Since 1994, Northeastern University (NEU) has offered a BS in International Business (BSIB) that provides an opportunity to both study and work overseas in the language of the host country. Students in the BSIB program spend their first three years at NEU studying and completing a domestic co-op placement. Their fourth, expatriate, year is spent first studying language for a semester at a partner school abroad and then completing an international co-op placement. Students then return to NEU for their final semester. The BSIB program aspires to create future global managers who are ready to compete on the global stage. These budding internationalists graduate with a combination of coursework, language proficiency, and work experience under their belts. They are making a significant impression on hiring managers: more than 90 percent of BSIB students land a job upon graduation.

FROM A STUDENT

Even though most students were encouraged to study during their junior year, I studied abroad as a senior. Because I did not want to miss the opportunity to serve as an RA (resident assistant) my junior year, my study abroad plans were pushed to the fall semester of my senior year. After obtaining permission from the dean of academics, I was able to spend a semester in Madrid.

Crescendo Smalls, Wagner College. Studied abroad in Spain.

I chose to spend my entire senior year in Bologna. I was older and had a clear purpose for why I was there. I wanted to learn the language, obtain an internship, make Italian friends, and immerse myself in my surroundings as much as possible. I wanted to break down the partition wall that normally separates students studying abroad from the locals.

Claire Harrison, University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Studied abroad in Italy.

COMMUNITYCOLLEGESTUDYABROAD

Each year thousands of students from community colleges nationwide study abroad, even though it can be harder to fit study abroad into a two-year degree program. More and more U.S. community colleges are committed to offering study abroad options, recognizing the vital role they play in educating and training the globally competitive workforce of the 21st Century. Many of the programs run by community colleges offer hands-on practical experience in the student’s field of study, and they tend to be flexible, shorter-term programs to enable more students to take part. Students have found that study abroad is a great way to enhance their experience, whether their goal is to get an associate’s degree or transfer to a four-year college.

How Long to Go

Most study abroad programs offer you the opportunity to be overseas for either a summer, a semester or a full academic year. Recently, however, a number of programs have been appearing that offer experiences that last between two to eight weeks, often in January (“J term”) or May. Just as there are pros and cons to studying abroad at different stages of your academic career, so, too, the duration of the program can have inherent advantages and disadvantages. The most important thing to remember here is that no matter how long you are gone, you need to maximize the benefit of the experience. This means planning: do the necessary background research beforehand, especially in regards to ascertaining exactly how your study abroad experience fits into your overall college career. Here’s a snapshot of what it might be like for various lengths of time.

A Quarter or Less

Many universities have begun introducing their students to international academic study with short experiences abroad, coupled with on-campus coursework before and after departure that helps students prepare for the experience beforehand and profit from it afterwards. Because these programs involve only a limited time overseas, they usually have the advantage of being considerably less expensive. But they can also be very structured, with little opportunity for participants to explore on their own or experience what it’s really like to live in another culture.

FROM A STUDENT

I recommend a two-week course for study abroad because, for one, it is less expensive. You get a nice taste of what that country is like without taking away significant time from school or work. However, I didn’t get the chance to feel as if I really lived there, like I would have if I had been forced to fully unpack and settle in. On a longer trip I could’ve established a favorite place to eat or hang out, and would’ve made deeper friendships rather than acquaintances. But I’d say any experience abroad is much better than nothing at all. For students in academic programs that don’t reward you for studying abroad, or those on a tight budget, a two-week trip is the perfect compromise.

David Haury, Oklahoma State University. Studied abroad in Japan.

Summer Term

Many students who study abroad in the summer do so because they cannot fit it in anywhere else due to either a rigorous academic schedule, mandatory athletic team training, or a desire not to miss out on campus activities. Although there are many substantive summer programs and they are growing in popularity, some programs may be run as if they were summer vacations-as indeed they will be for some participants-with more of a focus on excursions and activities than rigorous academic study. So you will need to be careful when choosing a program to make sure the balance is right for you. There are many serious academic programs that are available over the summer. Here are a few tips when considering summer study programs:

  • Make sure that all program credits will transfer and that classes you’re interested in are being offered.
  • Check into the viability of financial aid and scholarships.
  • Be aware that many overseas universities do not run full summer terms, so your choices may be limited.
  • If you’re looking for practical cross-cultural experience more than an academic program, consider a volunteer or internship experience abroad instead of studying abroad.
  • Speak with former participants to discuss how rigorous the academic offerings were.

FROM A STUDENT

I traveled to Rome and Venice, Italy, for a two-week summer study abroad session with my undergrad institution. This was a great way to travel for the first time because I knew and was comfortable with the students and professors I traveled with. The classes and activities were designed specifically for us and our interests by professors that were invested in our learning and experience. I was intrigued with everything around me- food, people, culture, architecture-and this short trip left me wanting more international experience and study.

Anna Lippard, Coker College. Studied abroad in Italy, Czech Republic.

Awarded a Fulbright to Slovakia.

One Semester or Two?

First, it’s important to note that two semesters do not equal one year. Most programs are either three to four months for one semester, or six to eight months for two. Some students choose to stay on after two semesters and try to secure an internship, which allows them to spend a full year abroad, but this isn’t as common as we’d like! In our experience, many students seem ready to begin studying abroad once they’ve returned. In other words, two separate study abroad sessions or a full year seem to offer the best advantages to students simply because of the longer time and more immersive experience. Deciding whether to study abroad for one or two semesters is a personal choice that needs to be made within the context of your academic plans. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide:

ONE SEMESTER

Pros:

  • Enough time to make friends
  • Just enough time to get comfortable Improve second language skills
  • Ability to incorporate a second study abroad experience into your schedule later

Cons:

  • Not as much time to travel
  • Hard to adjust within a shorter time period Feel as though it’s not long enough
  • Not enough time to put experience to use in host country.

TWO SEMESTERS

Pros:

  • Enough time to make friends Get to know very well Travel more
  • Greater fluency in second language Chance to really settle and live in country

Cons:

  • More expensive
  • Missing friends on home campus
  • Long interruption in activities at home cam Could  interfere  with  graduation timi country requirements

FROM A STUDENT

Studying abroad as a junior is the best and worst time to be away from school. I went to Paris in the fall of my junior year. Ideally, I would have gone for a year, but I knew that the spring semester of junior year is an important time for internship recruiting and interviews. However, going for just one semester proved to be an exciting and wild ride. I fit in as much travel as I possibly could, while still experiencing Paris. It really helped that my program created an established group of Parisian friends, however, because I was immersed in the culture of Paris from day one.

Benjamin Pauke r, George Washington University. Studied abroad in France.

I believe that a full year is necessary if achieving fluency is a priority. Culture shock and homesickness can be significantly influenced by the language barrier… The real language learning begins once that adjustment period wears off. Overcoming the initial adjustment enough to really start absorbing the language also requires first developing a certain level of confidence because you must be willing to commit countless errors when you speak, and must accept and not be frustrated by corrections…. After only one semester, it may seem as though you are only beginning to feel like you have ‘mastered’ the language by the time the program ends.

Taylor Binnix, Elon University. Spent a gap year in Argentina. Studied abroad in Spain.

I studied for a semester in London, and I don’t feel like it was nearly enough time, wishing every day that I had chosen two semesters instead of one. With two semesters you can experience more, travel more, and extend the best time of your life even more. However there is the aspect of finances. Without a job, it’s difficult to live in another country for a year. My dad financed my whole trip, and I knew that he was making a big sacrifice for me. If you decide to study for two semesters-which you should!-be sure you’re able to financially support the decision.

Heather Nelson, Oklahoma State University. Studied abroad in England.

Gap Year

A “gap year” is typically defined as the academic year between completing high school and beginning college. Some students apply to college and defer for a year; others simply wait to apply. A gap year provides students with opportunities to:

  • Gain global perspective early on.
  • Build language skills.
  • Develop maturity and independence.
  • Participate in professional communities as a volunteer/employee.
  • Pursue various interests to help define a career path.
  • Spend a year abroad if study abroad during time on campus isn’t an option.

Gap years come in all shapes and sizes: participating in an organized gap year program, volunteering with a particular organization, interning to get a sense of career paths, teaching English abroad, and even traveling the world as a tourist.

FROM A STUDENT

A gap year was a chance to ask just how differently I could live and to question things that I considered fundamentally true. What is the proper way to greet somebody-a handshake, a bow, a kiss on the cheek? Have I really listened to the arguments against freedom of the press-from the people of the country, not from the media? Are seated toilets really superior to squat toilets- something just seems cleaner about not sharing a toilet seat? I took a gap year because I knew it was an opportunity that would never come again. I was young and able to spend the first year of my life alone in a foreign country. I took it, despite being a die-hard math and science student on her way to becoming an engineer, because I knew the math would come back, the internships would wait a year, the classes would still be there in a year, but I would never see a chance like this again.

Jeanette Miranda, Brown University. Spent a gap year in China.

Gap years have also begun to gain popularity with recent graduates. Many choose to finish their four years of undergraduate study and, before going on to graduate school or a career, study abroad for a year or so while also traveling. But this can be much harder to do if you have huge student loans to pay back.

Going Abroad as a Graduate Student

Studying abroad has typically been seen as an opportunity reserved for carefree undergraduates before they are forced out into the “real world.” But times are changing. Graduate students now have a wide range of programs that allow them to travel for a semester, a summer, or even complete part of their graduate degree at a foreign university. Most recently, 9 percent of all those who studied abroad for credit at U.S. universities were master’s degree candidates, up from 5 percent a decade ago. Beyond this, a number of students are also enrolling directly at an international university and getting their graduate degree abroad. It is becoming more popular to get a full degree abroad, although this is somewhat different from the context of much of what this book focuses on.

Not surprisingly given the nature of the degree, there are clear distinctions between undergraduate and graduate study abroad programs. Graduate study abroad programs tend to be more intense and require students to be more independent. Unlike many undergraduate study abroad programs, graduate programs are usually made up of students from the same school. In addition, they are normally smaller than undergraduate ones, and are often highly specified field studies designed to supplement a class or key area of study. Another aspect of graduate study abroad is the ability to do intensive research or study related to your degree through fellowships and scholarships. Some countries place restrictions on the type of research they will allow. If you are doing research using human subjects, be sure to get the proper institutional clearances before you go.

FROM A STUDENT

I chose to participate in a dual-degree program with Oklahoma State University and Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla because I wanted a degree from a Spanish-speaking country, but I also knew I wanted the degree to have merit in the U.S. That is why I chose a dual-degree program, earning one degree from a U.S. institution and another from a foreign institution. I think dual-degree programs are incredibly valuable because you study in your home country, but you also have the chance to live and study abroad applying the knowledge and credits from your home country to your foreign degree and vice versa. I will end my master’s study with two degrees, cultural competence, and language skills I did not have before; all within the time it takes to earn one master’s degree.

Leslie Briggs, Oklahoma State University. Studied abroad in Mexico. Completing graduate studies at Universidad Popular Autonoma del Estado de Puebla, Mexico.

I decided to pursue my Ph.D. at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan based on the criteria of 1) the program had to be in English, and 2) it had to be in Asia. APU was a relatively new university and Japan was actively seeking out foreign students to buoy the higher education system in an era of demographic change (there are significantly fewer youth to fill their universities), so they offered me a decent scholarship. APU is specially oriented toward foreign students, providing a fully bilingual program for undergraduates and only English graduate programs.

Cindy Banyai, Michigan State University. Completed graduate studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan.

Doing my master’s overseas was a very planned and considered decision. I chose Aalto University in Finland because it is a global leader in my field of entrepreneurship and innovation. Finland is strategically located between France and Russia, allowing me to tap my language skills and travel experience for the potential opportunity to work for companies who are expanding in both directions. Having spent almost $100,000 on a bachelor’s degree at a wonderful private school in the U.S., I like the price tag of FREE that Finnish universities carry. Plus, I knew that the education I’d get here would be unique and different from the one my peers would be getting in the United States.

Shirah Foy, Belmont University. Studied abroad in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Guatemala. Completing graduate studies at Aalto University, Finland.

MBAs and Study Abroad

Approximately 70 percent of today’s MBA programs now include an international component, either in the form of a term spent studying abroad or in pursuing in-depth international case studies. This is because there’s an undeniable connection between global economies and business, and business students must develop a global mindset. MBA students have learned that having a global mindset requires not only possessing the technical skills necessary for operating successfully in an international environment, but the personal skills to apply them effectively. In order for professionals to work successfully across cultures, their worldviews must be informed by more than U.S. business, culture and tradition. The ability to work on global virtual teams and get results is part of the mindset, and includes soft skills such as flexibility, influence management, curiosity, and openness to learning new things. For MBA students, the opportunity to work with professors, business leaders, and local stakeholders on the ground in another country is an excellent opportunity to get valuable firsthand experience.

Sample Program | George Washington School of Business

At The George Washington School of Business, Global MBA and World Executive MBA students are required to complete a comprehensive international experience comprised of both classroom learning and fieldwork. The courses are led by faculty who are country and industry experts. They begin with a primer about the target country’s political, economic, sociocultural and legal business environment, and how these issues affect a specific industry. The students then work in teams for organizations within that industry, doing project work in the United States and fieldwork in the target country. While in the field, students’ understanding of the client context is further developed through site visits to buyers, suppliers, competitors, partners, government agencies, NGOs and other relevant organizations. For example, GWSB students have worked on a state-of-the-art hospital in Ethiopia, Walmart supply chain management in India, clean-tech projects in Peru and Sweden, and Ford Motor Company social media strategies in Turkey, just to name a few. The school’s choice of market, industry, client and project are all shaped by GWSB’s dedication to finding ways for business to make a positive impact on society.

FROM A STUDENT

As a Global MBA candidate at GW I chose to do two consulting abroad projects and one extended international exchange program.

My first project was in Cairo, one year after the revolution and before the first presidential elections. We worked with a regional bank to make their corporate social responsibility programs profitable and financially self-sustaining. I learned a great deal about the business environment in the Middle East, and witnessed a changing and volatile political system in a country in transition. My second project took me to Sweden and centered around the renewable energy industry. The client was an engineering and manufacturing firm looking to break into the U.S. market, but had no experience or market research in the area. We were able to get firsthand exposure to top management, who implemented our recommendations and is currently involved in multiple projects within the U.S. This was a great experience, as we were able to add real and measurable value to our client.

Garrett Langdon, George Washington University. Studied abroad in Egypt, Sweden, Singapore.

One of the benefits of going abroad as a graduate student: There are quite a few scholarships and grants available.

Not surprisingly given the nature of the degree, there are clear distinctions between undergraduate and graduate study abroad programs. Graduate study abroad programs tend to be more intense and require students to be more independent. Unlike many undergraduate study abroad programs, graduate programs are usually made up of students from the same school. In addition, they are normally smaller than undergraduate ones, and are often highly specified field studies designed to supplement a class or key area of study. Another aspect of graduate study abroad is the ability to do intensive research or study related to your degree through fellowships and scholarships. Some countries place restrictions on the type of research they will allow. If you are doing research using human subjects, be sure to get the proper institutional clearances before you go.

FROM A STUDENT

I chose to participate in a dual-degree program with Oklahoma State University and Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla because I wanted a degree from a Spanish-speaking country, but I also knew I wanted the degree to have merit in the U.S. That is why I chose a dual-degree program, earning one degree from a U.S. institution and another from a foreign institution. I think dual-degree programs are incredibly valuable because you study in your home country, but you also have the chance to live and study abroad applying the knowledge and credits from your home country to your foreign degree and vice versa. I will end my master’s study with two degrees, cultural competence, and language skills I did not have before; all within the time it takes to earn one master’s degree.

Leslie Briggs, Oklahoma State University. Studied abroad in Mexico. Completing graduate studies at Universidad Popular Autonoma del Estado de Puebla, Mexico.

I decided to pursue my Ph.D. at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan based on the criteria of 1) the program had to be in English, and 2) it had to be in Asia. APU was a relatively new university and Japan was actively seeking out foreign students to buoy the higher education system in an era of demographic change (there are significantly fewer youth to fill their universities), so they offered me a decent scholarship. APU is specially oriented toward foreign students, providing a fully bilingual program for undergraduates and only English graduate programs.

Cindy Banyai, Michigan State University. Completed graduate studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan.

Doing my master’s overseas was a very planned and considered decision. I chose Aalto University in Finland because it is a global leader in my field of entrepreneurship and innovation. Finland is strategically located between France and Russia, allowing me to tap my language skills and travel experience for the potential opportunity to work for companies who are expanding in both directions. Having spent almost $100,000 on a bachelor’s degree at a wonderful private school in the U.S., I like the price tag of FREE that Finnish universities carry. Plus, I knew that the education I’d get here would be unique and different from the one my peers would be getting in the United States.

Shirah Foy, Belmont University. Studied abroad in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Guatemala. Completing graduate studies at Aalto University, Finland.

MBAs and Study Abroad

Approximately 70 percent of today’s MBA programs now include an international component, either in the form of a term spent studying abroad or in pursuing in-depth international case studies. This is because there’s an undeniable connection between global economies and business, and business students must develop a global mindset. MBA students have learned that having a global mindset requires not only possessing the technical skills necessary for operating successfully in an international environment, but the personal skills to apply them effectively. In order for professionals to work successfully across cultures, their worldviews must be informed by more than U.S. business, culture and tradition. The ability to work on global virtual teams and get results is part of the mindset, and includes soft skills such as flexibility, influence management, curiosity, and openness to learning new things. For MBA students, the opportunity to work with professors, business leaders, and local stakeholders on the ground in another country is an excellent opportunity to get valuable firsthand experience.

Sample Program | George Washington School of Business

At The George Washington School of Business, Global MBA and World Executive MBA students are required to complete a comprehensive international experience comprised of both classroom learning and fieldwork. The courses are led by faculty who are country and industry experts. They begin with a primer about the target country’s political, economic, sociocultural and legal business environment, and how these issues affect a specific industry. The students then work in teams for organizations within that industry, doing project work in the United States and fieldwork in the target country. While in the field, students’ understanding of the client context is further developed through site visits to buyers, suppliers, competitors, partners, government agencies, NGOs and other relevant organizations. For example, GWSB students have worked on a state-of-the-art hospital in Ethiopia, Walmart supply chain management in India, clean-tech projects in Peru and Sweden, and Ford Motor Company social media strategies in Turkey, just to name a few. The school’s choice of market, industry, client and project are all shaped by GWSB’s dedication to finding ways for business to make a positive impact on society.

FROM A STUDENT

As a Global MBA candidate at GW I chose to do two consulting abroad projects and one extended international exchange program.

My first project was in Cairo, one year after the revolution and before the first presidential elections. We worked with a regional bank to make their corporate social responsibility programs profitable and financially self-sustaining. I learned a great deal about the business environment in the Middle East, and witnessed a changing and volatile political system in a country in transition. My second project took me to Sweden and centered around the renewable energy industry. The client was an engineering and manufacturing firm looking to break into the U.S. market, but had no experience or market research in the area. We were able to get firsthand exposure to top management, who implemented our recommendations and is currently involved in multiple projects within the U.S. This was a great experience, as we were able to add real and measurable value to our client.

Garrett Langdon, George Washington University. Studied abroad in Egypt, Sweden, Singapore

So Many Places to Choose From!

With so many possible destinations, selecting just one is not going to be easy. And just as with the other decisions you will need to make regarding studying abroad, self-reflection is critical to making a selection that is right for you. First and foremost, you need to think about what you want to get out of the experience and how your personal and academic goals align with specific destinations. A student seeking a brand new cultural experience who has an aptitude for and desire to learn a second language will probably choose a different location than a student who’s focused mainly on a rigorous academic curriculum in a specific area of study. One other important factor is whether you are comfortable being “the different one.” Since being perceived as “different” can be compounded when you are abroad, you should consider how far along the scale of difference you want to go based on your own preferences.

Most undergraduate students still choose the same European destinations that have been popular for decades: the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Ireland consistently rank in the top 10, according to the Open Doors report, published annually by IIE with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. For starters, the programs in these countries are generally safe, comfortable, and well established, and there is no shortage of students who have gone there before who will wholeheartedly recommend the experience.

If you’re willing to look further afield, however, you might want to consider countries like China, India, Cambodia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan or the UAE, among others. All are rising global economic players with impressive economic growth. NGOs, entrepreneurs, and foreign investment dollars are all flocking to these emerging markets for a variety of reasons including their natural resources, development and infrastructure, ecotourism, technology advancement or environmental issues, and experience gained in these countries as an undergraduate will definitely give you an advantage later on as a job-seeker. But when compared to Western Europe, emerging markets are also rougher around the edges, to varying degrees.

When choosing a destination, it’s paramount to keep in mind the goals you’re trying to achieve: language acquisition, depth of cross-cultural interaction, and relevance to your prospective career path. Moreover, your destination should fit your personality while also challenging you to grow.

What to Consider

Languages spoken. If you already speak a second language, choose a destination that enables you to immerse yourself in it. If you want to learn one, choose a place whose language you are interested in. And if going to a country that doesn’t speak English frightens you, remember that the UK is not the only country outside the U.S. where English is commonly spoken. Moreover, some smaller countries whose number of native speakers is relatively small or whose language is particularly difficult for native English speakers to learn (e.g., Thailand or Korea) will offer many English-language course options to international students. In fact, English is becoming more prevalent as the language of instruction in a number of fields, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), so you may be surprised to find that there are a number of choices where you can practice the local language by living in the country, but take your classes in English. Many study abroad programs also offer core classes in English, along with beginner or intermediate level language classes.

FROM A STUDENT

I decided to study in Sweden because classes were available in English, and I had a good feeling about the culture. Sweden is very outdoorsy, laid back and friendly. Swedes believe in a concept called “lagom” which is untranslatable but basically is a Goldilocks word- not too much, not too little, just right. Lagom is a refreshing difference from the typical American more-more-more. I hadn’t done a lot of research into Sweden, but the nature, culture, history and remoteness interested me. I figured Sweden was more off the beaten path than other destinations in Europe.

Jackie Barber, Oklahoma State University. Studied abroad in Sweden.

Well-traveled or off the beaten path? Do you want to spend your time abroad in a high-income economy or an emerging one? If you don’t know how developed a country is, you can consult data on economic growth and human development published by institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations.

FROM A STUDENT

After narrowing my choices to two programs in Africa, I decided I hadn’t gotten enough information to know that I could reasonably manage Dakar in a wheelchair, so I opted to study in South Africa. I believe serendipity was at work because the five months I spent in Cape Town certainly altered the direction of my life.

Rob Hurtekant, Georgetown University. Studied abroad in South Africa.

Big city or country life? Does an urban or a rural setting hold more appeal to you? Note that a major city in Europe will provide a very different experience than a major city in Africa. The same is true for the wide variety of rural settings in various countries and regions.

FROM A STUDENT

I decided to study abroad in London because I have always wanted to know what life would be like living in a big city. London gave me that opportunity, and also enabled me to experience a different part of the world. It also provided me the comfort of being in a place where I was able to speak the language and understand people, so that I would not feel so lost or alone. If I could do it all over again, I would not choose any other place to study abroad. London gave me everything I was hoping for, and even more.

Caity O’Shaughnessy, Xavier University. Studied abroad in England.

Relevance to your career? If you already have a good idea about what profession you would like to pursue, you should choose a destination country that will enhance your knowledge of the subject. If there is a particular field that you think you might be interested in, a study abroad program that exposes you to it might prove to be a very worthwhile “experiment.”

FROM A STUDENT

I was limited by my school’s programs. Argentina had one of the largest economies of South America, and as an economics major, I wanted to learn more about its view of the global economy. Plus, Buenos Aires is a really liberal and progressive place, so I would say the majority of my experience in terms of sexual orientation was positive. In fact I think I was really able to grow and be really comfortable in my own skin while I was there because it was such an open environment.

Benjamin, Elon University. Studied abroad in Argentina.

Cost. Prices can vary widely and remember that they encompass more than just the cost of the program itself. Cost of living varies, as do travel costs to and from your destination and within country and region. If you plan to travel-and you should, if possible-consider those additional costs.

FROM A STUDENT

A scholarship opportunity from the Chinese government for a gap year presented itself through a program at my high school. I wasn’t incredibly interested in the offer for China and would have preferred a number of other locations. I had studied Mandarin for eight years at that point and concluded that while it was a fantastic language and represented a great culture, it wasn’t the language for me. I was very worried about putting off the things that were important to me at the time, such as my technical education, to spend a year studying one of my least favorite subjects. But I didn’t have any other options for a gap year, had the scholarship offer, knew a little bit of Mandarin, which would make it easier to get beyond how a tourist experiences the country and actually begin to live there, and knew it was going to be incredibly different from my high school experience in the United States. Why China? Because, despite hesitations, I trusted that I would find many things that I could both enjoy and learn from in any place, even if I didn’t know what those things were for China before I committed to the location. My trust was rewarded many times over.

Jeanette Miranda, Brown University. Spent a gap year in China.

Desire. Is there a place that you’ve just always wanted to go to? Studying abroad isn’t just practical, it can also help you fulfill a dream. Just be aware that the reality of a destination is not always what it is cracked up to be in movies, novels, travel books or documentaries. On the positive side, studying in a destination can show you sides to your dream destination that you would never see just on a short visit.

FROM A STUDENT

I chose to study in Melbourne, Australia, after I learned that the program for my first choice, New Zealand, was full. However, looking back I almost feel that the destination might have chosen me that way. I ended up studying in a state with my same name, made lifelong friends who I later revisited and who visited me in the States and in other parts of the world, and had the opportunity to study alongside students who were NOT in my major classes. I became so passionate about the destination location that it led to my first break in work experience outside of college with the Australian Trade Commission. Every experience from my study abroad onward has been the result of a “back door opening” so to speak, into the next opportunity.

Victoria Mita, Loyola University Maryland. Studied abroad in Australia.

History. Perhaps you’d like to explore your heritage, or see what it’s like to live in a country that was a former colony. Maybe a particular time in history-a particular war, the birth of a religion, a great historical civilization, a golden age of art or architecture-piques your curiosity. Seeing that history first-hand can bring a whole new level of understanding to an academic interest.

QUICK TIP

I first took an interest in international affairs as an active member of my high school’s Model United Nations team. Turkey was the first country I had represented at a conference, and in researching my debate topics, I became fascinated by the country’s history, culture and politics.

Melissa, Michigan State University. Studied abroad as a Boren Scholar in Turkey.

Others’ experience. Although you shouldn’t base your decision solely on another person’s advice, friends and fellow students who’ve already studied abroad will have a lot of valuable insight to offer. Get them to tell you why they chose the destination they did, what they liked (or didn’t) about the program, and what they would do differently if they had it to do over again. You’ll find more ways others can help you in Chapter 6.

FROM A STUDENT

I chose Morocco because it was different. Originally I began pursuing a degree in European policy, but one of my international relations professors explained that Europe is old business and not much is changing. He encouraged me to seek new, emerging markets. At the same time, a Moroccan student was placed in my dorm room. For me, it all fell in place, and I started pursuing Middle East policy. I now have an edge. I’ve seen things that many people never will.

Mandie Maxwell, Shawnee State University. Studied abroad in Morocco.

You’ll notice here that we didn’t include “destinations offered by my college.” To be sure, more than two-thirds of students who study abroad go with a program offered by their own undergraduate institution. Odds are you will as well, and many offer a wide variety of choices. But if your college offers a finite number of sponsored programs, we don’t want you to fence yourself in before you’ve explored that wider range of options. Too many students go into their campus study abroad office, find out that their school promotes this or that handful of their own programs, choose the one that they find most appealing, and never bother to consider anything else. It takes a certain amount of moxie to go against the flow, but the results can be most rewarding.

A Few Words About Language

One of the greatest benefits of studying abroad is language acquisition. Therefore, we encourage you to look at programs that include the opportunity to study a second language, especially in an immersive or semi-immersive manner. In addition to the cultural insights that you will gain, language skills are becoming an increasingly important differentiator among hiring managers. Even if you’re not proficient, a solid working knowledge of another language indicates an openness to-and appreciation for-other cultures, a critical 21st century skill. And if the company you are interviewing with or working for just happens to have overseas operations in places where that language is spoken, well, that immediately makes you a more attractive candidate.

So, if you have studied a language for a few years and are actively looking to hone your skills, bravo! But keep an open mind about the many destinations that may offer you language options: If you speak French (or aspire to) your study abroad destination doesn’t have to be France-it could be Switzerland, Belgium, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire or Guinea, not to mention French-speaking Canada. And your English-speaking destination doesn’t have to be the United Kingdom – Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, India and Hong Kong would work, as well as Anglophone Africa.

If Spanish is your language, Spain certainly fits the bill. But so, too, can Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico and Costa Rica, just to name a few. Spanish speakers are even going to Brazil to learn Portuguese, given the similarities in the languages. These countries also have the added benefit of being part of Latin America, a region increasing in importance to the United States on many fronts. Latin America is a high priority for the U.S. government right now, with a new initiative in place called 100,000 Strong in the Americas, which supports greater international exchange of students between the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean. The initiative seeks to involve universities and colleges, the private sector and foreign governments to come together in partnership. A strong focus will be the promotion of a diverse profile of students for the two-way exchange. There are also special programs in place to encourage the study of Chinese, Arabic, and other languages that are key to U.S. national interests.

FROM A STUDENT

As a Spanish major, I knew that my skills would not get me too far if I had not spent time immersed in the culture. Although I felt prepared on an academic level, once I arrived in Madrid I felt that my skills were nothing! I had to reorient myself with the language because I was not used to being surrounded by it all the time. I knew when I had begun to dream in Spanish that I was making strides.

Crescendo Smalls, Wagner College. Studied abroad in Spain.

I think that the challenge with learning Arabic is that there are many specific, cultural references within the language. And while the textbooks convey some of those messages, it’s hard to fully grasp and understand them until you actually are immersed in the culture and get a chance to use the language with real people.

Eric Fische r, University of San Francisco. Studied abroad as a Boren Fellow in Morocco.

The deaf organization called ENS (Ente Nazionale Sordi) is placed 20 minutes away from the AIFS school in Florence. I spent every moment of my free time at ENS because I was very hungry to learn LIS (Italian Sign Language). In the last two weeks before leaving to go back to America, I discovered that I could communicate with deaf Italians smoothly, and even engage in long conversation. Being able to share tons of stories about our cultures, experiences, politics and fairy tales is my most savored experience from Italy.

Perseus McDaniel, who is deaf, Edmonds Community College. Studied abroad in Italy.

Where Will You Live? Housing Choices

Many study abroad programs have either their own overseas housing or a selection of established and reliable options. At others, participating students must make their own arrangements, a daunting task to be sure. But in either case, there’s no denying that where and with whom you live is going to have a significant impact on your experience. Here’s how to get started:

  • Research neighborhoods. Security, safety, and proximity to classes are critical. You’ll also want to be close to restaurants, grocery stores, laundry facilities, and local mass transportation.
  • Make friends easily by staying in the dorms. Stay in dorms that are for local or exchange students, not just other American students. You’ll have greater exposure to culture and language and be more likely to make local friends.
  • Live with a family. Living with a host family typically provides greater cultural context and language immersion. However, it’s important to be able to communicate with a host family about expenses and living conditions since you will be following their rules, so make sure arrangements are clear from the beginning. Make sure your homestay is in a neighborhood that is safe and close to campus, as noted above in the “neighborhoods” section.
  • Consider hostels and apartments. Although generally a more expensive option, especially in developed countries, they offer some conveniences and amenities that are important to some students. Contact hostel owners about long-term options, as they may be able to give a price comparable to that of an apartment.
  • Ask for references, and be sure to indicate special needs. While you can find so much online, so much of what you find is not necessarily reliable. So be sure to check out leads and references with other students and colleges that have a reputation of renting apartments to foreign students.

FROM A STUDENT

As I applied to my study abroad program, I made sure to put on my application for housing that I wanted to stay with someone that would be open and accepting of my being gay. I think it is important to explicitly state that on the application.

Benjamin, Elon University. Studied abroad in Argentina.

FROM A STUDENT

I lived in a dorm with a Chinese roommate. I chose not to live with a host family because I had no knowledge of Mandarin prior to my arrival in Shanghai. Living in a dorm with a Chinese roommate was the perfect option for me. It was not overwhelming, but I still experienced the cultural exchange that I wanted. My roommate and I agreed that I would only speak in Chinese, and she would only speak in English. As a result of our agreement my Chinese improved considerably. I also made a new friend that I keep in touch with to this day.

Marikaa Nixon, Spelman College. Studied abroad in China.

I lived with a family in a homestay in Chile. It was great in terms of being forced to speak the language with no option to default to English when I was frustrated and trying to get my point across! Full immersion is the only real way to learn a language. My family was very interested in my own background (not just as an American, but as a Chinese-Jewish American from California!), and we had some very interesting conversations at the dinner table about local history, culture, and their general way of living. I learned a lot from living with a host family that I could never have experienced spending time with only Americans.

Natasha F.C. Diamond, University of California at San Diego. Studied abroad as an undergraduate in Chile and Spain. Studied abroad as a graduate student, George Washington University, Mexico.

I spent 11 months living in a difficult situation. I don’t regret anything I did or anything that happened to me. I believe that the person I am today is a product of the experiences that shaped me back then. But if I had the chance for a do-over, I would have done one thing differently: changed my host family. The host family can be a make-it or break-it detail of the study abroad experience. I understand that being welcomed as a sibling in a foreign household can be one of the most rewarding, yet challenging, experiences of a lifetime, for everyone involved. But for those few who never overcome the culture shock and lifestyle differences necessary for living together, it can be uncomfortable and disappointing.

Taylor Binnix, Elon University. Spent a gap year abroad. Studied abroad in Spain.

FROM A STUDENT

In any city in Germany, www.wg-gesucht.de is your best option to find an apartment. It is ALWAYS a long process, especially if you are not yet in the country when you start looking. Potential roommates will want to interview you in person most of the time and will have hundreds of others fighting for the same space.

Elise Hannon, University of Pittsburgh. Studied abroad in Costa Rica.

Awarded a Fulbright to Germany.

Most overseas universities will have an international dorm for students studying abroad or enrolled full time at the university. Because you are all students at the same university, dorms are generally the best place to make friends. They can also provide a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the local language, but only to the extent that the local language is the lingua franca of the dorm. For example, if you find yourself in Brazil with students from mostly Asian and European countries, you may have little choice but to communicate with each other in Portuguese. But if there are large contingents of Americans and other English speakers-as there often are-English will probably be their language of choice. (Students from other South American countries may form their own Spanish-speaking clique.) Do check on the cost and logistics in advance.

If you truly want to be immersed in the culture and language of your host country, your best option is to skip the international dorm and live with students from the host country in the standard university dorms. Generally speaking, when given a choice, the vast majority of students elect to live in a dorm or shared apartment. Those who choose to live with a homestay family may do so because they are younger and looking for more dependence and structure, or because they have a strong command of the language and want to improve language skills. Others choose a homestay so they can really get to know a local family, or because their program arranges it.

For more information on housing options, check out Chapter 4 for cost comparisons, and Chapter 7 for safety tips.

Studying abroad will probably be one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of your college career. It is both exciting and terrifying to pick up and move to another country, one where you may not know anyone, one that you have never visited before, and, most importantly, one whose language you probably aren’t anywhere near fluent in. You’ll be making new friends, taking a few classes, and, most importantly, immersing yourself in the local culture. Make the most of it by properly researching many programs and selecting the one that best meets your objectives.

SAFETY

You have every right to feel safe and secure in your living space. If you have any issues concerning your safety and well-being related to your home-stay, hostel or dorm, contact your local program coordinator immediately. If you cannot get in touch with them, or they are not helpful, reach out to the U.S. coordinator of the program. If you truly feel unsafe, do not hesitate to take action and find new living arrangements, even if it means you lose a deposit or a certain amount of money. Your safety matters most. If the situation escalates to an emergency or you are a victim of a crime, contact the consular officer at the U.S. Embassy.

TOP TIPS

Top 10 Tips for Choosing a Program

  1. Visit your study abroad office and/or the study abroad resource section of your college library.
  2. Do your research: Check out the IIEPassport directory at www.iiepassport.org.
  3. Figure out the best time to go.
  4. Determine how long you intend to stay abroad.
  5. Sort through the many places you can go and begin narrowing your list.
  6. Use the opportunity to study a second language.
  7. Review housing options.
  8. Find a program that allows you to study abroad as long as possible, given your personal, financial and academic needs.
  9. Determine whether your college offers you the program you really want or if you’ll need to go with an outside provider.
  10. Find a program that will help you enhance your résumé and differentiate you in job interviews.

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