Study abroad broadens horizons
Allison Clarke, posted March 1, 2007
For a change of pace, senior Jessica Pollard took last semester to study in England. She said going into her final year as an agricultural journalism major, she wanted to have a semester away from the usual.
“I think going into my senior year that I really needed a change of scenery, and going to England gave me a chance of still going to school but living a different lifestyle,” she said. “It allowed me to take a full semester off from MU and all the classes transferred over perfectly. It just allowed me go spend a semester somewhere else.”
Time is running short for anyone who may be trying to make final decisions or arrangements to study abroad this summer or fall. March 1 is the deadline for CAFNR study abroad applications as well as financial aid for these programs. Any students who have not yet considered the program are encouraged to explore the possibilities.
“The first thing I’d tell someone who is thinking about [studying abroad] is it’s something they can afford,” said Roy Robinson, international programs director at CAFNR. “Don’t think, ‘It’s expensive; it’s a rich kid thing to do.’ We now have about $20,000 in scholarships for CAFNR students. So, yes, it does cost money to go study abroad, but don’t just think it’s tons of money and you can’t even look into it.”
CAFNR provides loans, scholarships and allows students to use financial aid and other scholarships as well. Robinson encourages students to look beyond the initial concerns and really investigate different study opportunities.
“If they look through our programs at CAFNR and there just isn’t anything they are interested in then, they can still go on a program through the International Center, or they can find an outside program,” Robinson said. “They can still use our loans and scholarships. There are lots of options out there; they just need to take some time to look into it.”
Once a student makes the decision to study abroad, the opportunities are endless. The options of where to go and how long to be there are broad enough that most students can find the program that fits them.
“Here at CAFNR there are a lot more opportunities than there used to be,” Robinson said. “The world is just kind of getting smaller in a way. Traditionally students would go to Europe for a semester and now the developing world has opened up. If you want a different kind of experience other than studying literature in London, now you can go almost anywhere.”
Students can choose from programs ranging in length from three-week programs during winter break to yearlong programs. The important thing is making the decision to go, Robinson said.
“You can get experience in hotel and restaurant management doing an internship in another country or seeing why people rave about hospitality in Thailand. You go there and see what they are talking about,” Robinson said. “You know you talk about it in class, and then you actually see the wildlife management plan they have down there, and you are actually helping relocate a rhino.”
While narrowing down the options of study abroad programs may be difficult for a student, the exact opposite is true when an employer tries to choose from applicants. A student who studies abroad often has the advantage over other potential employees because of the responsibilities entailed with leaving the country and the cultural experience gained.
“I can’t think of a career or employer who wouldn’t appreciate the fact that a student is taking the initiative to study abroad,” said Stephanie Chipman, Career Services director at CAFNR. “Specifically, employers tell me that the study abroad experience on a resume is an indication to them that a student is flexible, capable of working in a global market, able to adapt to change and willing to experience new things.
Regardless of where a student chooses to go, length of the trip or even the amount of college credit earned, the experiences gained on the trip will leave a lasting impression.
“I would definitely suggest it to any one who is looking for a change of pace and a change of scenery,” Pollard said. “I feel like it’s just one more aspect of my education that I can put in my back pocket and take with me. I know I can look back on it and use it to my advantage when I need to.”
