“I’m just looking for an excuse to get out of America for awhile,” said Chandler Poling, a University of Wisconsin junior investigating a study-abroad program in Kerala, India.
Poling was among the throngs of students gathered in Memorial Union’s Great Hall last night for the annual Study Abroad Resource Fair.
The event was planned to give students, interested in studying abroad, information on available programs, scholarships and the opportunity to talk to students with previous study-abroad experiences.
Tables were set up throughout the hall, providing information on a sample of the programs sponsored by the university.
Lauren Bresnahan, a UW junior, and Amanda Miller, a UW senior, were among students on hand to answer questions about study abroad. Both girls studied in Ghana.
“If you’re up for the challenge, it’s the best thing you’ll ever do,” explained Bresnahan.
“The food, the people, the language — everything is foreign,” added Miller.
Maj Fischer, Associate Director of International Academic Programs (IAP), said her organization sponsors 70 programs on campus, while other sponsors, including the Colleges of Engineering, Agricultural and Life Sciences and Business sponsor at least another 75 programs. Additionally, representatives from the Student Travel Center provided information on non-university sponsored study-abroad options.
“We’re telling students that while we’re glad they’re here on campus, we think they should go abroad,” said Joan Raducha, Director of IAP.
Raducha explained that most students qualify to study abroad if they have at least a 2.0 GPA. Some programs have language requirements, while others do not. She emphasized the fact that studying abroad can be very affordable because scholarships and financial aid are available.
In fact, Raducha said over 1,000 UW students study abroad each year through UW-sponsored programs and approximately 300 to 350 through non-university programs.
The most popular destinations are Florence and London; however, about one quarter of all students that choose to study abroad attend school in a Spanish-speaking country, including Spain and Latin America.
“I think that every student should consider studying abroad,” Raducha said. “Traveling is great, but when you’re actually living in a place, you go shopping, you get to know people . . . For many students, this is the time to do it.”
Greg Rowe, a UW senior who studied abroad in Kerala, India, raved about his time studying abroad.
“It completely changes just about everything for a student,” he said. “It changes the way you see the world. It changes the way you see yourself. It’s great.”
The study-abroad resource room at 250 Bascom Hall has more information on study abroad. Applications for the spring semester for most programs are due in early October.
