Study Abroad Fair Opens Possibilites

Published in the Utah Statesman, September 15, 2008

The Study Abroad Fair will be held Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the TSC International/Sunburst Lounge.

Representatives from the USU Study Abroad office, USU faculty-led summer programs, various national and international study abroad and service learning organizations will be there to answer questions and give more information about study abroad opportunities for USU students. Passport applications will also be available at the fair.

Kay Forsyth, director of the USU Study Abroad program said she wants students to know everyone can have the opportunity to study abroad.

“Studying abroad is realistic and affordable, and it can help accomplish credit,” Forsyth said. “Students can study in English in probably over 100 international universities, meeting major and minor requirements.”

Terrin Williamson, senior in international communications, participated in an exchange program for 10 months studying intensive Japanese language in Kobe, Japan. Williamson, who was originally a biology major, switched to international communications after returning home from the exchange. She said studying abroad helped her grow emotionally and learn more about who she was and want she wanted to pursue in life.

“It was a life changing experience,” said Williamson, who is now fluent in Japanese. “If I hadn’t have gone I would still be a biology major. (Studying abroad) helped me decide my path in life.”

If students are proficient in a language, studying abroad is a great way to enhance those skills, Forsyth said.

“There are language options for studying at every level,” Forsyth said. “Those with a higher proficiency (at least second-year college level) can study in a language.”

Service learning experiences can also help students learn a language, Forsyth said. Students who learn a language abroad can test out of language classes at USU to get into higher-level courses.

Studying abroad can be affordable, and there are financial aid opportunities available, Forsyth said. She said many exchange programs are based on USU pricing, so students pay USU tuition, room and board and then exchange with a student from an international university. USU academic scholarships and financial aid are often applicable to these programs, Forsyth said.

There are also other scholarships available to help students, Forsyth said. She said the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a national program to aid students with a GPA of at least 3.5 or above interested in a semester long study abroad. The Honors Study Abroad Scholarship is available for USU students involved in the Honors Program. There are also many other national awards available, said Forsyth.

More than 15 summer faculty-led programs are available for USU students. Although the trips vary year to year, “new possibilities are coming all the time,” Forsyth said. She also said there are also some scholarships available to students in the individual faculty-led programs.

Nefi Lopez, recent USU graduate in liberal arts, participated in the Business in Asia program this past summer. Lopez spent five weeks in Korea, China and Vietnam visiting various businesses, volunteering in an orphanage and traveling.

“It was amazing,” Lopez said. “It was an opportunity to get hands-on experience and see how other countires do business. It was really eye-opening.”

Forsyth recommends students interested in studying abroad to come to the fair, look at the possibilites and even schedule an appointment with the Study Abroad office, located in TSC 313.

“We love to talk to students, helping them narrow down the possibilites,” Forsyth said. “Our office is here to help.”