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Study Abroad - General Information

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Study abroad can be one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences in a college student's career. Getting to know another culture, living in a new environment, learning a new language, meeting people: all these add up to a kind of education different from what can be acquired on campus. Equally important for American students is the discovery of their own country-its customs, its traditions and values-as they come to see it from a foreign vantage point. No wonder that so many returnees from overseas study say that the experience changed their lives. There is indeed ample testimony to the fact that students learn well and mature quickly when studying in a different culture

And as all regions of the world become more interdependent, it is increasingly apparent that the truly educated person is one who has had first hand acquaintance with other cultures, both as preparation for responsible citizenship and, in a more practical way, as a basis for a career.

For many undergraduates, the best time to study abroad has traditionally been during the junior year; however, well-prepared sophomores, and occasionally freshmen, are eligible for some programs. For everyone, careful preparation and consultation with the campus Director of International Education are essential for determining where and when to go.

The health, safety and insurance needs of international students in the U.S. has been a significant concern within the educational community. Administrators and the organizations in which they belong have advanced the effort to educate international students and scholars about these issues through the development of standards, positions and general orientation information.

Personal Growth

Students who return from a study abroad program often see it as an experience which matured them personally and intellectually. They praise being exposed to new ways of

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thinking and living, which encourages growth and independence. For many students, going abroad to study is the first time they have really been away from 'home,' from familiar surroundings of the USA, as well as from friends and family. This is seldom an easy experience, but it is universally praised as worthwhile, often even life-transforming. After immersing themselves in a new culture, mastering the challenges of learning in a new and different academic environment, and experiencing the many highs and lows of being a 'foreigner,' students typically return home with increased self-confidence and justifiable pride in what they have achieved.

What are your reasons? What are your goals?

After considering these potential benefits, you must still ask yourself why you, yourself, want to study abroad. Take some time to think about your reasons, for they will become your goals and your personal measures of success. Perhaps you want to learn a second language, or perfect one you already know. You might want to learn about another culture, diversify your studies, or prepare for graduate school. Maybe you want to travel and meet new people. Whatever your reasons are, write them down and share them with your professors, family, friends and, most importantly, with your study abroad advisor.

Worldwide Study and Internship Abroad

Abroad View magazine. Subscription $14 for 4 issues, Ph: 802-442-4827, e-mail:: info@abroadviewmagazine.com. Available free online at www.abroadviewmagazine.com. Quarterly features first-hand reports by students on their experiences abroad. Associated with Dickenson College and other sponsoring universities.

Advisory List of International Educational Travel & Exchange Programs. Annual. $17.50. Council on Standards for International Educational Travel, 212 S Henry St, Alexandria, VA 22314; Ph: 703-739-9050, Fax: 703-739-9035; web: www.csiet.org. Lists programs for high school students that adhere to CSIET's standards.

Directory of International Internships: A World of Opportunities edited by Charles A. Gliozzo and Kelly Bishop. 2003. 5th edition. 176 pp. $26 (student rate) or $38.95 from Media Center, Michigan State University, PO Box 710, East Lansing, MI 48824-0710; Ph: 517-353-9229, Fax: 517-432-2650.

NAFSA's Internet Resources for Education Abroad, web: www.secussa.nafsa.org. Website of professional association for study abroad has links to the best websites for researching study abroad, scholarships, work abroad, and international careers

StudyAbroad.com. Free online at www.studyabroad.com. Website is searchable for study, internships, volunteering and teaching abroad.

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