The State Ballroom in Talley Student Union was transformed into a whirlwind of culture and opportunity on Friday, Oct. 25 for the Study Abroad Fair to educate students on the variety of study abroad programs NC State has to offer.
Over 1500 students attended the fair, according to Bethany Remington, Study Abroad program coordinator. Over 70 tables were allotted to various sub-programs of Study Abroad. In addition to the college- and country-specific booths, there were six tables educating interested students about funding and global programs like Study Abroad Scholarships, Passport Services and more.
NC State offers study abroad programs all over the world. Students can choose from a variety of countries to study either in the summer, spring or fall, and can use their study abroad experience to either complete their GEPs, major specific courses or pursue a minor.
While students can choose from a number of study abroad programs throughout the year, some programs are limited to a few weeks or to the Maymester. The application deadline for the summer program is Feb. 15, while the scholarship application deadline for the same is Nov. 15. The program and scholarship applications for fall close on Feb. 1, and while the deadline for spring closed on Sept. 15, students can begin planning for the next year.
Remington said the most important thing students should keep in mind is to start preparing to study abroad as soon as possible.
“Although we do have students who complete applications last-minute, students will have a less stressful experience, and probably more options, if they plan early,” Remington said. “They should mention to their academic advisors their plans to study abroad, who can guide them on when to go and what courses to save to take abroad.”
It is extremely important for students to keep this in mind because many study abroad programs require certain prerequisites that have to be completed prior to taking the courses abroad. Maya Keefer, a third-year majoring in animal sciences and spanish who went to Spain in the spring semester of her second year, said she needed to complete a few 300-level Spanish courses before taking the courses she did in Spain.
“I took [FLS] 101 and 102 freshman year, 201 and 202 over the summer and then in the fall while I was applying for the program, I took 331 and 333,” Keefer said. “[Applying early] also opens up the opportunity to go study abroad again, provided you have enough time and finances.”
In addition to exploring program options and considering finances, students applying for a semester exchange program also have the opportunity of attending a Study Abroad 101 session to help them understand the application process better, according to the Study Abroad website. Furthermore, it is recommended that students should discuss their study abroad plans with their academic advisor to ensure their study abroad plan does not detriment their academic plans.
When it comes to financial expenditures, the cost of attendance varies from program to program and also depends on the cost of living in the host country. In fact, according to Keefer, there are very few programs that will cost more than the cost of attending NC State. Most of the programs cost less, but the expenses equal the the amount of money spent here due to personal expenditures. Students can learn more about expenditures and costs through the Study Abroad website.
Jenny Ngo, a third-year studying psychology went to NC State Prague in summer 2019 to study Sociology of the Family and History of Jazz. She believes students will be surprised by the things they can learn by immersing themselves into another culture.
“The study abroad experience really pulled me out of my comfort zone and made me more independent,” Ngo said. “I tried so many new kinds of food, saw a lot of cool places, and made some amazing friends. I think branching out and diversifying your experiences will help you grow as a person.”
November also happens to be International Education Month (IEM), with multiple global-themed events to be held throughout the month. These events can be a good opportunity for students to interact with international students and to learn more about the countries they plan on travelling to. More information about IEM can be found on the Office of Global Engagement website.
