Page 21 - Winds Of Change College 2018

Going to college isn’t what it used to be — it’s a whole lot better. In this global economy, college students have more choices than ever, including the experience of studying abroad. It can be a way for you to learn about different ways of life and cultures while also advancing your education — and ultimately making yourself a stronger job candidate. In fact, a recent study found that almost 40 percent of the companies surveyed had missed international business opportunities for want of internationally competent employees.
If the suggestion of studying abroad prompts you to assume “it’s probably too much money, or too complicated,” hold those thoughts. This article is especially for you. Taking college courses in another country for a portion of the academic year — or even an entire year — is a real possibility for all students, and an increasingly attractive option for STEM majors.
THE BASICS
So what exactly does studying abroad entail? It depends on where you’re enrolled. Sometimes a college has a program in place to help students enroll in exchange programs for a semester or longer. Larger universities may have a study abroad advisor who can help you handle things like deciding on courses, getting a visa,
and planning travel.
But even if your school doesn’t have this kind of program, there are ways to become an international student. For example, you can talk to a neighboring school about becoming part of their program while receiving course credits from your college. You can also contact organizations online that will help you connect with various overseas schools in their network. Whatever route you take, one tip to remember is that any study abroad should be structured so that you receive credits toward your degree and stay on track for graduation.
So how do you get started? It’s a good idea to answer a few key questions: What to study, where, and how to pay for it.
WHAT TO STUDY
“We recommend that students start research- ing programs that match their interests,” says Valerie Stimac, managing editor at the website Go Overseas. “In today’s world students can study just about any eld of interest, in almost every country.”
If you know your primary academic interests are in STEM elds, study abroad can be a chance to expand your horizons. Maybe you’ve always been a math whiz, but never really explored your interest in geology. There are study abroad programs in the geosciences that could place you in an unfamiliar environment, rolling up your sleeves to gather rock and soil samples and
analyzing geological data. If you’re a proud coding geek and have always wanted to learn another language, your coursework abroad could include learning a new language and getting credit for it too.
If you’re still guring out where to attend college in the rst place, research your prospective schools’ study abroad possibili- ties at the outset. At the University of California, for example, there are 90 programs in 34 countries just for STEM majors. At Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, engineering and technology students who participate in the Global Projects Program often complete at least one project in another country — in locations ranging from Namibia, South Africa, and Thailand to England, New Zealand, and Aus- tralia. Whether the school you choose is big, small, or somewhere in between, you will likely have study abroad options.
Once you zero in on what you want to study as an international student, keep your eyes on that prize as you decide where you want to go.
WHERE TO GO
You have a world of possibilities, literally. Your decision about what you would like to study overseas can help guide your decision about where to do it.
Be sure to use the resources that may be right in front of you. If you’re already enrolled in college, ask professors about academic peers they may know in other countries. Do your online research: If you nd a great article about chemical engineer- ing by a scientist in Sweden, nd out if they teach somewhere, or email them and ask for suggestions about where you might enroll for a quarter or semester to hone your laboratory skills in a new setting.
One thing to consider is that not all schools provide supportive academic and
social resources for students, so you may be on your own when it comes to nding a tutor or a group of Indigenous or other like-minded students to hang out with. Remember that pretty much everyone is looking for connections, so networking successfully shouldn’t be daunting.
You can also look at data. The QS Best Student Cities index focuses on the best urban destinations for international students based on six indicators: university rankings, student mix, desirability, employer activity, affordability, and “student view” (based on surveys). Their top 10 ranges from Seoul, South Korea, at number 10 to Paris at number 5, Melbourne, Australia, at number 3, and in the top spot, London. In addition to its highly rated universities, says TopUniversities.com assistant editor Sabrina Collier, “London’s diversity is also a strong attraction for many students, with the city featuring in the top 10 for student mix.” Indeed, the Association of International Educators (known as NAFSA) posts that more than half of all U.S. students abroad choose countries in Europe as their destination, with Italy, Spain, France, and Germany leading the list after the U.K.
Finally, you don’t have to know a foreign language to study abroad. As Stimac from Go Overseas points out, there are a number of countries outside the U.S. where English is the primary language, including Canada, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. She also says that “depending on the length of study abroad, many programs offer course instruction in English because they know students may not be uent in another language but can still bene t from the opportunity to study abroad.” And, of course, you could decide to learn another language before heading overseas — giving yourself more options, and adding an impressive skill to your resume.
»
aises.org 2018–2019 SPECIAL COLLEGE ISSUE • WINDS OF CHANGE 19
ISTOCK