Choosing The Perfect Program

By Brian Freedman

Choosing the right study abroad program is almost as big a decision as deciding to study abroad in the first place. And depending on what you want to get out of the experience, the programs from which to choose are almost limitless. Do you want an educational experience similar to the one you've gotten so far at your home university, or would you prefer something totally different? Do you want to live in a dorm with other American students, or would you prefer to go it alone in an apartment? What about staying with a host family? Each one of these options will affect your overall experience, and none of your decisions should be made without serious thought.

Spin The Globe And Point To A Place
Geographically and culturally, it's a big world out there. Sure, the Internet and cell phones have made it possible to communicate with someone on the other side of the planet almost instantly, but the fact still remains that "over there" could be very different from "right here." The question you need to ask yourself is this: How different do I want over there to really be? A semester in England or Ireland will certainly provide you with a lifetime of memories. And the British, though our earliest Colonial ancestors did come from that big ol' isle up there in the North Atlantic, absolutely do things differently. But their culture is still recognizable and comprehensible to Americans. And in that sense, studying abroad in England or Ireland might be considered the perfect balance between approachable and completely culturally perplexing.

On the other end of the spectrum are places like Japan or Egypt or India. These are countries that might seem to exist in a different universe than the United States. The languages are different, the writing system looks nothing like ours, and the cultural and political norms might seem to have no resemblance whatsoever to what you're used to. The advantage of studying in places like these is that your experience will be truly exotic, and once it's all over, you will have experienced more of what the world has to offer than the vast majority of people you'll ever meet. On the downside, you may find yourself totally confused at times, or just plain uncomfortable at others. Studying in exotic locales will challenge all your resources in ways they may not have been before. The rewards are great, but so are the risks.

There is also an entire realm of gray in between. There are countries like France or Spain in which different languages are spoken but, at the same time, remain culturally similar enough so as not to seem incomprehensibly exotic. The bottom line is this: Where you choose to study abroad is just as important as deciding to study abroad in the first place. Wherever you go, you will come home a more well-rounded and interesting person than you were when you left. Just pick the place that's right for you and head on over. No matter how hard it may seem at times, you will survive. And you'll be a better person for having done it at all.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Not in the country, of course. You already made that decision when you decided to study abroad. But the first big question that comes up after that is whether or not you should enroll in a program that's sponsored by your home university. Most schools, after all, offer some sort of study abroad option. The advantage of this is that all your credits and grades will transfer, the paperwork will be minimized both before you leave and after you get back, and you'll be guaranteed the same level of instruction you've grown accustomed to over the past several years at school. Also, chances are that you'll be put up in a dorm with other students from both your own school and from other universities they have relationships with it. The good news is that you'll most likely be surrounded by people exactly like the ones you've come to love and expect. But this is also the bad news.

Some people would argue that studying abroad is about expanding all your horizons, and that if you live and study with people who have similar backgrounds to yours, then you won't get the full effect of living in a foreign country. Really, it all depends on your comfort level. Some students choose to enroll in programs that are not affiliated with any America-based university. The downside of this is that you won't necessarily be able to transfer all your credits that easily (check with your own school about this before you make any decisions about specific programs), you may have to apply for semester- or year-long admission to the foreign school, and the other students may be very, very different from you. (Remember, students from all over the world will be enrolled at the foreign university; your circle of friends may grow to resemble a mini-U.N. by the time you're settled. This is a good thing.)

Either option has the potential to fulfill all your study abroad desires. Just choose carefully, and assess your own needs with honesty. As long as you make the decision that's right for you, you'll have the time of your life.

You Mean I'll Have To Study, Too?
It is, after all, called "study abroad" for a reason. If there were no classes involved, it would just be known as "partying abroad," or some other such ridiculous thing. So, yes: You will be spending a part of most weekdays in class. Of course, these classes are often quite different from what you're used to. So once you've decided where to study and what kind of program is right for you, take a look at the course selection books published by the schools you're considering. Page through them with the following question in mind: What kind of stuff do I want to learn while studying abroad? The truth is that, just like at your home school, if you don't like the work you're doing, then you won't enjoy yourself as much as you might have otherwise.

Have you chosen to study in Paris because of all the great art and architecture there? Are you considering Geneva because of your love of international politics? Is Auckland, New Zealand, calling your name because of your obsession with environmental issues? When looking through the course book, ask yourself whether the classes in the subjects you love offer anything out of the ordinary. Many programs in Paris, for example, feature courses that meet in the Louvre instead of a regular classroom. Some schools in Rome have art classes that afford students the opportunity to set up easels along the Tiber River. So despite the fact that your time abroad will involve some amount of studying, it could potentially be a totally different kind of schoolwork than anything you've ever experienced before.

Once you've made up your mind to study abroad, chosen a country that's right for you, and committed to a specific program, you'll have gotten past the hard part. And though you'll still have a fair amount of work ahead of you, it won't seem all that difficult. Because from this point on, you will likely be so excited about what the future has in store for you that any of the preparatory work that remains will have an air of anticipation about it. And you won't mind it at all.

Next month, we'll take a look at what you need to do to prepare for your experience abroad. It's not necessarily a difficult task, but it can make your first few weeks "over there" either very easy or painfully frustrating.

See more articles...
IM This Article

If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our newsletter!

Search for Study Abroad Programs

Back to Student Center