The Study Abroad Fair held on Friday, Feb. 7, provided information and opportunities for students. Held in Corey Union, students were able to discuss scholarships, speak with returning study abroad students and even attempt to win one of two $500 travel awards.
Benefits of Studying abroad
Studying abroad provides opportunities that can only further your educational career. While at the Study Abroad Fair returning students, transfer students and other Cortland staff endorsed the study abroad program greatly.
“You get to expand your worldview, get to learn how to work with diverse groups of people, you really learn how to problem solve when you study abroad,” said Kayla DeCoste, the Assistant Director of Study Abroad at Cortland. “You develop all those soft skills that employers are looking for post-graduation when you study abroad”
Students who have returned from studying abroad speak of it highly, saying that it is an experience that they will keep with them forever.
“Studying abroad can positively change a person, challenging and making you mature and confident! I gained a whole new perspective after returning from Ireland” said Osha Mabilog, a Cortland student who has returned from studying abroad “I feel more mature and confident in my choices, and it excites me to plan new adventures.”
To student considering studying abroad Mabilog said “If you’ve thought about doing a study abroad program, do it! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’ve met so many new people and gained new friendships from it.”
Where, as a Cortland student, can you study abroad?
At the study abroad fair the countries of Ireland, Spain, Sir Lanka, India, Romania, Germany, Chile, China, Australia, the UK and more were advertised.
Cortland individually offers 30 to 40 programs in any academic year, having programs in 6 of the 7 continents. However, due to our connections with other SUNY schools, Cortland students can study abroad through any SUNY study abroad program.
“You actually have over 600 options on all 7 continents, Brockport offers Antarctica so, you are not at all limited in your options,” said DeCoste.
The wide variety of options regarding studying abroad is a selling point for multiple students. The ideation that studying abroad is solely international can be a damaging perspective for study abroad. Having locations inside the United States such as Kona, Hawaii, and Washington D.C is an opportunity that many students take advantage of.
How difficult is it to study abroad?
Concerning the obstacles of studying abroad, you can choose to challenge yourself in different ways. Anna Verwij, a returning study abroad student from Germany explains the differences in classes. She explains that while here at Cortland our classes may be an hour long, however in Germany her classes could be 4 hours long, back-to-back.
It’s not that they’re more difficult, it’s just they’re longer” said Verwij. “My classes would be like 4 hours long and then 4 hours long again which people are not used to. I think relatively the same difficulty, but just longer.”
There are many ways to help students who have decided to study abroad, and is important to know you are not alone, said Mabilog
A challenge that studying abroad may propose is a language barrier. If students don’t speak another language, they may believe that this opportunity is out of reach for your college experience. However, this is not true, there are several programs offered both from Cortland and other SUNY schools in which only English is required.
“I think there are so many programs and opportunities out there as well as studying in the UK for example,” said Micheal Foki, the International Student Advisor.
In regard to not knowing another language Foki said “I wouldn’t let that hold back anybody from studying abroad.”