A Chick’s Guide to Studying Abroad
If there is a single person whom absolutely no one would ever suspect to study abroad, that person is definitely… me. But come September, I will be boarding a plane to London, where I will be learning to navigate the Tube (the transportation system, that is) and better understand British English, and also where I hope I will fatefully run into Robert Pattinson or Daniel Radcliffe. Yep, I’m scared out of my mind. But at the same time, I couldn’t be more grateful for my sudden epiphany that this might be my one and only chance to travel before I gear up for the “real world.” So, Chicks, if you haven’t already considered spending a semester abroad, I suggest you start now! Why should I study abroad in the first place? Saint Augustine once said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” I’ve never heard a truer quote. Honestly, I’ve never been out of the US before, but I can’t believe how ignorant I was about the rest of the world before I spontaneously made the decision to look into studying abroad. Spending a semester overseas is probably one of the most life-changing experiences a college student could ever have. I’ve heard nothing but good stories from friends who have travelled to Tel Aviv, Copenhagen, and London, and I can’t wait to come back with stories of my own. As cliché as it sounds, studying abroad is simply a refreshing new start. After transferring once already, the past few semesters have been rough. I’m ready for another “try” at college. One of my friends who went to Israel regularly meets up with the rest of the people from her school who went on the trip-for coffee and to reminisce on the three months they spent together. She also has a lot more knowledge about her Jewish background and a few new accessories in her wardrobe. Also, studying abroad is a lot easier than it seems, so why not at least look into it? A lot of schools have a tuition-exchange program: you pay the same amount you normally pay for tuition, and the school in turn funds your trip. All you have to do is start the process is take a quick trip to your university’s Study Abroad office and start asking questions. Where should I go? It depends on your school, but usually even at smaller schools the number of options is so endless that it’s almost difficult to pick a single place. I mean, for instance, how can a person even choose between the beaches of Greece and the bustle of London when both seem so incredible? Just trust your gut: choose a place you can imagine yourself living in for three or four months. To get started, you can go to studyabroad.com, which is a basic travel website that will eventually link you to more narrowed-down sites. You can bring up a list of programs from whatever country or city you choose. (I recommend checking out ifsa-butler.org. Because IFSA-Butler is such a credited program, most schools approve it, and any travel-related business is handled very professionally!) After browsing through a few websites, if you still can’t choose, make a list of places to research and chalk up the pros and cons of each place. Picking a program will be like picking a college: eventually, you’ll just find one that “fits.” What if I’m still not convinced? I wasn’t confident in my study abroad idea until I got my acceptance letter to University College via email just a few weeks ago. Since the beginning of the process, I’ve been getting in touch with other students who have travelled for a semester. There are plenty of blogs out there that are easily accessible and go into complete detail about different countries: clothing style, eating habits, religious beliefs, politics, etc. If you need convincing that a certain place is up your alley, see what other students had to stay about their experiences. Chicks, I don’t know if I’ll love it or hate it yet, but I’m banking on making the absolute most of my time in England. I will be looking forward to September all summer long, and it’s a kind of excitement I haven’t felt since I started my freshman year of college three years ago. Even if you’re not usually spontaneous, try it just this once. Wouldn’t you love to see another “page” of the world? Jordan Oliver, who is one final away from completing her junior year of college, will travel to University College, London this fall semester.
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