Study Abroad Fair

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

2-2011

Campus Unit

University of North Dakota

Abstract

The Study Abroad Fair Wednesday was full of information for people looking to take their education to another country. Programs ranged from summer programs to entire years. Destinations ranged from Canada to Australia and almost everything in between. Jane Sykes Wilson and Neva Hendrickson, who are Study Abroad advisors, say these are the first steps you need to go study abroad: 1. Have a solid base and know what you want to study before you select a program. 2. If you know what continent you want to go to the advisors can help you select the program that is best for you.

Students that have gone on study abroad adventures said they had fun making new friends and enjoying the local nightlife. An opportunity to travel abroad is one that every student should partake in at least once said Clint, a student that traveled to France for a semester. Instructors and students alike talk about the benefits of studying abroad. Whether it’s the social or academic reasons, studying abroad gives students an opportunity to expand their viewpoints to include a larger world view.

Jeremy Holter, a former study abroad student, says about his semester in Norway, “The food was great and the people were nice.” When asked about the people he met he said, “I got to meet people from all over the world. From Mexico, China, Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark,” he said, because his fellow students weren’t just Norwegian natives. “Because [my program was all taught by] UND professors and the classes were in English, I got the same education and it didn’t slow down my degree at all.”

I asked if he experienced any culture shock while there. “It made me realize that the world is more alike than it is different and although the political issues are different, people’s daily lives are very similar,” he answered. I asked if he had any suggestions to future study abroad students he said to make sure students budget well. He explained that the plane ticket was the most expensive part of the entire trip, but that enjoying other aspects of the country may cost money, too.

If you are looking for an adventure that will not interrupt your education or if you just have the itch to travel, the study abroad program might be the right choice for you. Talk to a Study Abroad advisor if you have any questions – they are helpful and knowledgeable. If you’re not looking to study abroad until next year take a look at the Study Abroad fair in the fall. There is one every semester and it gives you a chance to talk with the students who have gone abroad and the instructors who taught them. The prices vary widely and at least one program I saw looked cheaper than going to school here. Look into it. The very worst that can happen is you get some free candy.

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