Study Abroad offers golden opportunities for USU students

By Nicole Brown

October 20, 2008 | Utah State University students are offered many opportunities throughout their college career, but few outshine the chance to travel abroad.

More than 250 students from USU study abroad each year, traveling to countries throughout South America, Asia and Europe. Programs are offered through the school's Study Abroad Program with about 13 faculty-lead groups, as well as exhange semesters abroad and summer terms.

It seems like a golden opportunity for students who are looking to travel but there are still hesitations felt because of financial and school concerns, among many others. USU Study Abroad Director, Kay Forsyth, said that although those concerns are seen in students studying abroad is much easier than many think.

Cost is among the top concerns for students who feel that it would be more than they can afford, but the university offers many study abroad programs that cost no more than a regular semester in Logan.

Aside from athletic scholarships, scholarships that are given through the University can be used to cover the cost of studying abroad, and the tuition paid will cover housing and often will cover food, too.

Forsyth says "there are numerous scholarships available," including the Gilman Scholarship that those with Pell Grants can apply.

Another concern felt by students wanting to travel is the language barrier there might be when going to a nation where English is not the official language. Forsyth said this is also generally not a problem. Of the countries available for programs, many are English-speaking and even in those that aren't, universities often offer classes in English.

The International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), a national organization that offers the opportunity for an student exchange program through foreign universities, lists several areas of study and colleges that are open to those who do not speak the native language where they are traveling.

And for those who are looking to study in a foreign language, ISEP offers classes in English, French, German, Portoguese, Spanish, and Italian.

Credit is also a concern felt by students who are worried their foreign studies will hinder or delay graduation, but Forsyth assures that this also is not the case. Because credit is given to those studying abroad it should not change graduation. In fact, students studying abroad are required to be full-time students. However, summer study programs are often shorter and thus do not require full schedules.

After a student's concerns are addressed only one question remains - is it worth it? USU students Kylie Braithwaite, junior in liberal arts, and Crystal Degen, senior in public relations, give a resounding "yes." Both students traveled abroad through USU and highly recommend the experience to all.

"My favorite part about study abroad is the opportunity you get to meet so many people from all over the world," said Degan, who traveled to Germany. "You get to learn about their culture and make friends with so many people. I think you learn a lot about yourself too.I love being able to see different parts of the world and I love how everyday feels like an adventure."

Braithwaite traveled to Switzerland and surrounding areas with the USU's Graphic Design summer program and said her travels gave her a great perspective on living abroad.

"Going with a USU program was incredible," said Braithwaite. "I had the familiarity of people I immediately dealt with on a daily basis and still had the fantastic interaction with Swiss people, food, history, and culture. Because I studied abroad while I was in college, I learned things about myself and the world that I could never have learned from reading a book, checking out a website, or hearing about it in a classroom. The credits I received all fit right into my major. I would recommend it above any other travel experience when you are in college. It was worth every penny."

The USU Study Abroad program is becoming more and more available each year, giving the opportunity to students to experience college in a whole different light. No matter the lanugage or major, studying abroad is possible and a great opportunity for all.

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