A college student who doesn’t want to travel the globe is rare to find today.
Whether they’re engineers or sociologists, students seem to have an insatiable wanderlust.
For these students, the Study Abroad Office at the University of Idaho seeks to give them as much information as possible. The first step in this is the Education Abroad Fair.
The Education Abroad Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Idaho Commons Plaza.
“It’s one of the two times during the year that students can come and speak directly to the people that provide our study abroad programs,” said Colton Oliphant, study abroad adviser.
He said the fair provides a unique opportunity for students interested in going abroad, because it provides face-to-face interaction with people in his office, rather than correspondence by email.
“It’s for literally everybody. For people who already have plans, it’s a great way to connect with their program advisers,” Oliphant said. “For students who are curious, it’s a perfect way to see all of the different options in the same place at once in a very fun atmosphere.”
He said that even students who don’t think they’re interested should stop by and see if something piques their interest.
Bob Neuenschwander, director of International Grants and Initiatives, said students who study abroad almost always refer to it fondly as one of the best times of their lives.
“It allows students to experience a different educational system, network with professors, research abroad and learn about different cultures and languages,” Neuenschwander said.
Neuenschwander said studying abroad during college is one of the easiest ways to see the world and it’s the best time in a person’s life to do it. He said the Education Abroad Fair is the first step toward moving into a life-changing experience.
UI has partnered with more than 400 universities in more than 60 different countries.
Both Oliphant and Neuenschwander agreed that many students’ fears about studying abroad are unfounded.
One of the biggest concerns they hear is that studying abroad will delay them from graduating on time. However, UI has programs abroad for every major on campus.
“In fact, students who studied or interned abroad usually graduate much more along the lines of an Honors student,” Oliphant said.
Another factor students worry about is the amount that studying abroad costs.
“It’s shades of gray. It does not cost a lot of money if you look for programs that don’t cost a lot of money,” Oliphant said. “We have programs that are cheaper than staying here as an in-state student.”
UI also provides support to students looking for an international experience.
“One of the wonderful things about being a student at the University of Idaho is the International Experience Grant program, which provides $157,00 per year to UI students,” Neuenschwander said.
There are financial resources from the university, scholarships from different departments and private scholarships. Students can also apply their UI financial aid to studying abroad.
Neuenschwander and Oliphant said the most important thing for students to do when they know they will study abroad is to plan ahead of time. From getting passports, deciding where the student wants to go and figuring out classes, starting early is key, they said.
“It only delays graduation if you want it to. It only costs a lot of money if you want it to,” Oliphant said.
Carly Scott
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