The Foreign Service Journal, December 2005

78 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 5 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT s many Foreign Service families already know, studying abroad is an exciting, challenging plunge into the culture and academic life of another country. There may be other attrac- tions, too, such as enrolling at St. Andrews University in Scotland in hopes of meeting Prince William. Whatever their motiva- tions, over 170,000 American students study abroad each year, according to the Institute of International Education. Cities in Europe remain a hot spot for many, but more and more students are choosing locations off the beaten path, in Asia, Africa and South America. And the numbers increase year by year as more students recognize the importance of studying abroad in a globally interdependent world — and as the understanding these students acquire becomes increasingly valuable in today’s society. People often ask me why I chose to go abroad for a semester of my college career: “Why would you want to leave this wonderful nation to go to some backward country where most people don’t even own dishwashers?” I am tempted to respond that the answer is simple: to avoid peo- ple with that attitude! But the answer is more complicated. Study abroad isn’t just a carefree semester spent travel- ing, exploring nightlife and meeting new people. It is an experience you won’t find anywhere else. Completely removed from all you’ve ever known, this is a chance to dis- cover who you really are while exploring a culture and a place completely foreign to you. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you will bond with new friends. You will have to budget, take tests and write papers, and still be responsible enough to balance work and play. It’s also about learning how to survive on your own, emo- tionally, mentally and physically. This is why I call it a life experience. Sure, you can learn these things in the United States, but living in another country as a young adult will give you the insight to better understand another culture and another people. Getting Started So how do you become part of that group of 170,000 overseas students? Here’s what you need to do well before you get on that plane. Start early! Studying abroad takes a great deal of prepa- ration. Most programs require applications at least one semester before you go abroad. But well before that, you must decide where on earth you want to go, which may take longer than you think. Begin by making a list of places you’d like to live. Many students use this as a chance to explore their family roots or to discover new and exotic places. If you can, talk to someone who has studied or lived in these countries. In addition, start saving money now — travel is not cheap! And keep in mind that you can even choose to study at another university in the United States as a visiting student if you don’t want to stray far from home. Narrow your choices. After enough debate, you should be able to weed out some of the choices you are less enthusiastic about, ending up with two or three universities in which you are truly interested, whatever the reason. Apply early. Get those applications in as far ahead of the deadline as possible. Many programs accept students on rolling admissions, so the earlier the better. You’re also like- ly to receive word of the school’s decision sooner that way, so if your first choice falls through, you can still apply to others. Get all your documentation together. No matter how much time and deliberation you put into making your final decision, you won’t make it there without the necessary documents. First and foremost, every person traveling internationally must have a passport, so apply for one as soon as possible; it can take months to receive it. Depending on the country, you’ll probably need a student visa and certain inoculations before leaving home. You can Continued on page 82 S TUDY A BROAD : T AKE THE P LUNGE I N SOME WAYS , A SEMESTER ABROAD IS LIKE AN EXTENDED VACATION . B UT FOR MOST STUDENTS , IT ’ S AN EXPERIENCE THAT ENCOMPASSES MUCH MORE . B Y B ROOKE D EAL Brooke Deal, a senior at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., was the Journal ’s editorial intern during the summer of 2005. In the fall of 2004, she spent a semester at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. A