“Across the Seas We Go”

By: Isabella Urena

There is no question that almost every student at the beginning of their academic career has thought about studying aboard. To be able to have an experience such as that is a wish many want to take. But how many go through it. How many do the research to finding a program. Do students even know where the Study Abroad Office is located? It does not have to be a daunting task to find all this information out.

The university offers nearly fifty three faculty-led programs. Most of them occur during the summer sessions. This can be very beneficial if a student does not want to indent their Texas A&M experience. The destinations begin from countries such as Panama across the world to Japan. Some are oriented to specific study such as architecture, business, or medicine but are still open to all majors.

There are also reciprocal exchange programs. These are semester long programs and geared to picking a course work closer to the student’s major of study. Once again the destination can be any where from Ecuador to Switzerland. In these programs a student is thrown into the culture, language, people, and places of host country. They can really experience what it is like to live in a foreign country. The idea can be haunting at first but the journey can be exceptional. The choices for study are varied. If a student is interested in French history, then France might be an ideal place. Many of the universities of the host country offer most, if not all, the areas of study Texas A&M offers here. Therefore the main question is which country interests you the most.

There are also other independent study programs out there for consideration. Private institutions designed for study abroad candidates. The European Union Studies Association, Institute for the International Education of Students, and Council on International Education Exchange to name a few. These independent programs are designed to help the student first choose which country interests them the most, then possible colleges offered in these countries, and finally decide which area of field to study in. The experience would be just the same because like the University programs the student is getting a first hand account of the culture, people, and language.

All of the three options to choosing a program all come with the hope of financial aid and scholarships. Even if you currently have financial aid grants many of the programs allow them to be transferred over to your education abroad. The university offers many different scholarships to apply for. The reciprocal exchange programs offer Texas A&M tuition and fees already. The programs all state that the air fare and personal expense/travel are an independent cost. One should not feel intimidated by the cost of traveling abroad. There are ways to help with the expense, all one needs to do is fill out the scholarship applications available.

So the question comes back again to why study abroad? One major advantage is that is would be a great addition on a resume. That fact that a student was able to diversify themselves by studying abroad is a benefit companies are looking for. The experience itself is something to look forward to. A student learns about the country’s culture, people, social aspects, and language.

This world is growing in its international relations and having a first hand experience in a foreign country will include a student into these interactions between countries. The life long memories and friends gained are several rewards also. If it is a wish to study abroad the time is now. The opportunities are available. Help is also available to any student interested in the programs. All one merely needs to do to ask, how can I become a study abroad returnee.