Why Study Abroad?

Did you ever image yourself as an ambassador?

While attending a college or university in the United States, students have a unique and exciting opportunity to study in another country. Studying abroad (as it is called) is a tremendous adventure! Students explore new cultures or master a foreign language by studying in another part of the world. Generally, students will go for a semester (September to December, for example) and they will study and live at a campus in a foreign country. Most college students who go say it is among the best experiences of their lives! Students can earn credits for their major, too. And, even though students are in a foreign country, often the courses are taught in English. So, you don’t have to be fluent in another language to go.

Studying abroad is now considered an “essential educational experience” according to the U.S. Senate. In fact, 2006 was declared the “Year of Study Abroad”. The government hopes to encourage more students to consider travel as part of their degree program. If you can believe it, only 1% of students from the US currently study abroad despite the fact that 79% of people agree that students should have a study abroad experience some time during college. So, what do you think? Will traveling internationally be part of your future college plans?

For more information, visit http://www.yearofstudyabroad.org.