By Britney Tran & Hien Bui
There’s a common consensus among self-help articles that studying abroad is one of the biggest opportunities for an enriched college experience. But deciding to go abroad for your studies is a huge step and arguably one of the most life-changing decisions to make. If gaining personal development and cross-cultural competence is enough reason to take this approach, it’s time for a deeper consideration of which study abroad programs are available and which to pursue.
What is study abroad?
Study abroad or study away generally refers to an educational program provided by colleges and universities that allow students to complete their studies on a different campus. These programs offer short and long-term opportunities that range from a semester to over a year, oftentimes taking place out of the country.
Participants typically live in apartments or campus housing alongside other students but are also privy to staying with local host families through a homestay.
What schools offer study abroad programs?
Study abroad programs differ from school to school, but most large colleges and universities have them through partnerships the institution fosters with a program provider or university overseas. Many high school students even base which colleges they apply to based on their study abroad program, something that’s especially important if their plans are to study abroad for the duration of their college experience.
New York University is a popular choice with global sites and campuses all over the world. The University of Texas-Austin, the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of San Diego are also known for their study abroad programs.
There’s a wealth of information available online and numerous places to start looking for the program that speaks best to you and your educational goals.
Signing up begins as simple as a quick Google search. Searching your school’s name alongside the terms “study abroad” will usually take you to a site with resources for your institution’s study abroad options, including applications and setting appointments with study abroad counselors.
What programs should you take?
While the place you decide to fulfill your study abroad aspirations is important, there’s plenty of variance in programs that should be taken into consideration.
“Study abroad” is an umbrella term for any educational excursion outside of your country. If you’re looking to go overseas for longer periods of time, like a semester or entire year, student exchange programs would be your best option. These programs also usually set students up with some form of housing and cultural integration like a host family to help the transition.
If you’re not sure about the commitment but still want the experience, a faculty-led program could be something to look into as they’re short-term, accompanied by a faculty member and other students, and supported by your college major.
Third-party program providers, which facilitate learning abroad for groups of students from various areas, offer a combination of the extended abroad experience and the support and sense of community from the network of students studying abroad with you.
There’s also direct enrollment if you wanted to complete the entirety of your college career abroad. Applying directly to schools outside of the United States is another option, especially since tuition in other countries typically costs less than what comparable American universities charge.
Different countries’ college applications might differ slightly from ours because the process and information involved aren’t standard to an American application. For example, some college systems don’t require personal essays, but will still ask for grade transcripts and letters of recommendation.
Study abroad is a unique pathway that can serve as an alternative to the standard American collegiate experience. All the various processes and programs within the umbrella term can make it seem daunting, but there’s also a lot to explore in order to find the path that best suits you and, hopefully, this preliminary introduction has helped narrow things down.
