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Study Abroad Choices
Which study abroad program is right for you?
Studying abroad is an opportunity to see beyond what a tourist sees and understand another country's culture, economy, and people, all while learning about yourself. Before you pack your bags, there is a lot to consider.First, you need to decide what kind of program is best for you—full immersion or island program. For a full immersion program, you enroll in a foreign university, and classes are taught in your host country's language. In an island program you may be at a foreign university, but you take courses taught in English with other Americans.The length of a program is also important to consider. Programs can be as long as a year or as short as two weeks. Some people find that they can only be away for a few weeks, while others need a few months or a year to understand the culture.
Where you live while abroad may impact your experience the most. The two main options are to live with a host family or at a university. Living in a dorm may afford you more freedom, but living with a family is a unique way to experience a country's culture first-hand.
It is important to consider if the classes you take abroad will meet degree requirements. Even students in non-traditional study abroad majors, like engineering, may be able to participate in a study abroad experience. It is best to meet with your advisor and find a program that fits your academic needs.
If your school does not offer a program that has what you want, you may study through a program at another university. If you want credit for courses taken abroad, check the program's accreditation and talk with your advisor about transfer credits. Many schools offer several study abroad opportunities, and there are even nontraditional programs like a semester at sea or volunteer/course programs available.
After graduating from the University of Dayton in 2000, Ann Bezbatchenko worked as an editor for SRA/McGraw-Hill Companies. She returned to school to obtain a master's degree from The Catholic University of America, where she worked as the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions for CUA. Ann currently works at Loyola University Chicago's Graduate School of Business as the Director of Admissions.
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