Despite the ever-growing numbers of students headed for study abroad, there are many who skip the opportunity, owing to misunderstandings about study abroad programs. Make sure you have your facts right and don't miss out.
MYTH #1: Language majors can benefit from the study abroad programs
Irrespective of what you major in, students generally don't find it difficult to fit a study abroad program to their academic requirements. Limiting one's choice of destinations to countries like England, Australia and Ireland can do away with language barrier as a problem. Even countries where English may not be the native language, have universities where teaching is done in English.
MYTH #2: Study abroad is only for the rich
It is not necessary that study abroad would be costlier than the programs at home. The tuition fees in sponsor universities can frequently remain at par for the study abroad programs as well as home institutions. What's more, often federal and state financial aid can be applied to a semester abroad too. Then there are a number of scholarships for students who wish to avail international opportunities in academics.
MYTH #3: It takes more time to graduate in study abroad
Care in planning can ensure that when you study abroad, you are able to finish your program in duration of four years. Both winter and summer interim have study abroad opportunities for all students with majors often having the option of study abroad for a whole year and at the same time, graduate well on time.
MYTH #4: Courses taken abroad are not useful back home
The payoffs from study abroad are most pronounced in the promotions by American schools, helping students adjust credits from abroad universities to their own courses. Be well informed before applying to study abroad. Find out about the syllabus of every class, seek the advice of your advisor on the kind of credit that can be earned and ensure that you have it in writing. You need to be assured of getting credit for all your efforts abroad.
MYTH #5: It is unsafe to study abroad
Caution is certainly advised for travels abroad but merely associating the term overseas with certain danger is absurd. Students are notified by study abroad offices on matters of safety and health well before departure along with stringent guidelines and course of action for the safety of the students.
MYTH #6: Studying abroad is beneficial just for juniors
Universities are making efforts to ensure study abroad programs suit a widely diverse student population, both graduate students and freshmen, with many of the programs scheduled for the winter or summer interim.
MYTH #7: Study abroad is for further studies after graduation
Having started life in the real world, professional financial, and personal obligations make study abroad a remote possibility. Study abroad is unique for living out a culture, which as a tourist is very unlikely.
Therefore if considering study abroad, stick to the facts and avoid assumptions.
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Plants are shaped by cultivation and men by education. .. We are born weak, we need strength; we are born totally unprovided, we need aid; we are born stupid, we need judgment. Everything we do not have at our birth and which we need when we are grown is given us by education.
(Jean Jacques Rousseau, Emile, On Philosophy of Education)
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