How to Choose A Study Abroad Program?
By: Richard Menard
Most students who come to the Study Abroad Office already have a preconceived notion of where they want to study. They usually have chosen their destination because they have been influenced by family and friends from a young age. Perhaps, their parents studied there and told wonderful stories about their experience, or they talked to their older siblings who said it was the greatest adventure of their life.
However, that country and that city may not be the best fit for the student. Ultimately, study abroad is all about the study. The first question a students need help answering is: how does this study board program help the student meet their academic needs? Not all programs abroad offer the same number of classes that Gonzaga does. Additionally, some programs are very specialized in their academic departments can be award winning departments. For instance, a pre-med major might want to consider our Sponsored Program at the University of Glasgow, where the classes have been specifically designed to meet the needs of students applying to US Medical School/Professional Health Programs in the United States. It doesn’t hurt that the University of Glasgow is ranked in the top 200 universities in the world. It’s important that students look at what classes are offered at the different study abroad programs. Our goal is to help them find the right academic program that ensures they can graduate on time. We do recommend that students go earlier in their academic career as they will have more flexibility with their classes that fits within their degree plan.
Students should consider how their study abroad experience will reflect on their resume. Study abroad is a strategic resume building opportunity with less than 2% of college students studying abroad a year. A student should think how they should use their study abroad program to achieve the career they want. For instance, students who study international relations and want to work for the U.S. Department of State might not want to consider studying in Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a great study abroad detestation, but unfortunately, Luxembourg doesn’t hold the same strategic value as Brazil, China, India, Russia or parts of the Middle East. A student who students Chinese in China can give themselves an advantage when applying for the State Department, as Chinese is considered a critical need language by the United States Government.
After considering what program may academically fit and meet a strategic resume need, students need to determine if they can afford that program. First, they should compare exchange rates! The price of the Euro has increased every year. What used to be an inexpensive trip to Europe has now become more costly. In 2002, you got for a $1 a € 1.36, and now for a $1, you get less than a full Euro. However, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are still quite affordable; in fact, in many of these places the dollar is still very strong and students can have an amazing experience abroad for half the price of Europe. Secondly, consider the program location! London, Dublin, Paris, and Tokyo are extremely expensive. Prices in major cities are significantly more expensive than in some of the outlying cities and towns within close proximity of the city. Instead of living in London, consider studying in Glasgow; the price of living there is a fraction of the cost of living in London. Furthermore, by studying in cities just outside of “the city,” students are more likely to have access to a unique, authentic abroad experience.
There are many options and many places for students to study, and we recognize that people will always coming with an idea in mind where they want to go, the goal is to help the student find the destination that fits their needs.
This is the second in an 11 part series on study abroad, we will talk about how to choose your program, budgeting, safety aboard, internships, service learning, Gonzaga-in-Florence, Gonzaga-in-Paris, Faculty-Led, Sponsored Programs, and Returning from Study Abroad.