Is study abroad for you? The answer for an increasing number of collegians is an enthusiastic "Yes!" But what is it? And how does it work? The following information will give you an idea.

Study abroad means living and studying for a period outside the United States. Many U.S. colleges and universities now offer their students this opportunity, either through their own programs or through affiliations with programs of other schools, like Syracuse, that admit guest students. Students attend class and earn academic credit that, with proper advance consultation, counts toward their own degree requirements. Several different types of programs exist. It is important to find the one best for you.

Overseas centers are, in effect, small branches of a U.S. school that exist in a variety of locations. Syracuse and many other schools have such centers. While facilities may not have exactly the same services as the home campus, they provide students with basic assistance in living and studying overseas. Staff members help with orientation, housing, integration into local community activities, and other student needs. A faculty from the home campus or hired locally teaches classes that have been designed to provide American students with a solid knowledge base. Students have a 'home away from home' where they can use computer facilities, pick up mail, study or just relax.

Such centers exist in most parts of the world, although the largest number of them may be found in Western European countries, especially England, Spain, France, Germany, and Italy. Still, non-European sites are experiencing the largest growth. In 1993-94, nearly 1500 students went to Africa, an increase of 17.5 percent over the previous year. Asian programs experienced nearly a 20 percent growth rate during the same period.

University exchanges are arrangements that permit U.S. students to enroll directly in classes at foreign universities, usually as a part of an exchange that sends students from the foreign schools to enroll for a similar period in the United States. Students are limited to exchanges with English-speaking schools unless they are fluent enough to take classes in another language alongside native speakers. Differences in curriculum and scheduling sometimes pose other barriers difficult to overcome, but the rewards of undertaking this challenging experience are great.

Increasingly popular are short-term programs of perhaps two to six weeks. These programs are frequently led by home-campus professors who teach one or two intensive courses during the summer or other school break periods. They are often "traveling seminars" taking students to a variety of locations over the length of the program.

What is the best program for you? It depends. I advise students to choose the longest program that fits their degree plans and their comfort level. It takes time to understand and adapt to a new culture. If foreign language fluency is a goal, this too is best accomplished through a prolonged overseas stay. However, the increased cost that usually accompanies study abroad, degree requirements that make an extended absence from campus difficult, or other personal factors sometimes lead students to select shorter-term options.

Once they decide that they should study abroad, most students have a good idea of where they would like to go. Cultural heritage is often a determining factor: African-American students frequently select sites in sub-Saharan Africa (like the Syracuse center in Zimbabwe), while programs in Spain and Latin America enroll large numbers of Hispanics. But just as often, students look to their future rather than to their past, selecting programs that fit their major and their career plans. For example, business or international relations students can gain valuable awareness of the European Union at sites in London or Madrid, or learn about the increasingly important Pacific Rim countries through participation in programs in Hong Kong, Singapore, or Japan. Theater, English, or journalism majors find London an excellent place to study. Foreign language majors achieve true language mastery by studying where their chosen language is spoken while living with a host family.

Most subjects can be studied overseas. Some are difficult to find, but even science or music students can often continue their studies at British or Australian universities. And the great advantages of study abroad work for everyone! Students who return from study abroad are more aware, more self-confident, and more mature than those who do not study abroad. They stand out, as part of a select group, from those who have chosen to remain closer to home. These differences are noticed by employers and graduate schools, giving study abroad veterans a distinct edge in increasingly tough competitions for jobs. Many students add to their credentials by interning with world-class companies or international organizations.

Plan! Students who consider their options well in advance of the time they want to study abroad will be better able to fit the resulting credits into their degree programs and remain on target for graduation, and they will be more likely to find the necessary financial resources. Speak with your school's advisor of the study abroad program (if there is one) as well as with your own advisor. Find out what financial aid is available. Many schools allow aid to be used for study abroad. Don't be deterred by high price tags attached to your favorite programs! Many schools have extra aid available, even for guest students. For students with Internet access, two key websites are www.studyabroad.com (for program listings arranged by country) and www.finaid.org (for tips on finding additional financial aid). Syracuse has its own: http://sumweb.syr.edu/dipa.

No one has a better perspective on a program than students who have gone on it. When you've narrowed your selection of possible programs, ask for former participants to talk to you. Be wary of programs that offer you excuses instead of people to contact. When you've made a decision invest in the experience! Learn as much as you can about the country you have selected and brush up on U.S. current events as well, because your new hosts will surely ask you about them!

Keep a journal and maximize your contacts with the local people while overseas. When you return home, prepare for a shock. You will have changed dramatically, and your life will never be quite the same again. I have yet to meet a single student who regretted study abroad once it was over. On the contrary, virtually all former participants describe their time abroad as the single greatest event of their lives. Don't miss it!
 

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