Study Abroad Offers New Insights

the Study Abroad Programs Office had its annual Overseas Day Study Abroad Fair in Rudder Exhibit Hall. A variety of information and resources were available for students who are interested in opportunities such as studying, researching, interning, working and volunteering abroad. Faculty and staff from the university as well as representatives from outside program providers were present to give out information and answer questions.The goal is to recruit students and to also inform students of their options other than classes these are valuable real world experiences,said Angelina Fonseca, study abroad adviser.Over 80 programs were represented, and of these, about half are led by Texas A&’M faculty.

It’s a good opportunity to compare different programs you may prefer a faculty led program or maybe reciprocal exchange,said Kristen Kurtz, senior international studies major.What helped me the most was being able to narrow down my choices; ultimately I decided that an independent program was right for me.Fonseca encourages students from all departments to come to Overseas Day because there is a program to fit everyone’s goals and interests.One of the goals of the university is to have this vision 2020. Diversity is important not just race and gender, but a well-rounded group of students, and all majors need to be represented, she said. A larger amount of funding is increasingly becoming available for majors like math, technology, science, agriculture, biology, etc. We’re looking to internationalize the study body; by 2020, we would like for 25 percent of the student body to have this credit bearing experience.

Even after completing her study abroad experience, a reciprocal exchange in Lausanne, Switzerland, senior international studies and French double major, Amber Wilmeth said she will attend this year.After last year’s Overseas Day, I was encouraged to do more research into different study abroad programs.This year Wilmeth plans on returning to help guide her in her search of post graduation opportunities.I hope to learn more about different options such as the Peace Corps or teaching abroad, and maybe discover a career path I haven’t considered before, Wilmeth said. To show her support of the Corps and of Study Abroad, Reveille was there from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for photos.There are a lot of opportunities [for Corps members] who want to travel to places like China or the Middle East, and there are several scholarships that go along with these programs, Fonseca said.A variety of resources, including information about scholarships were made available at Overseas Day.Financial Aid office, Career Services and Disability Services were present to answer questions and give out information regarding their supporting roles within the study abroad process. In preparation for their overseas experiences, students also had passport photos taken and could apply for a passport at the fair.Photos from the Aggies Abroad photo contest, with over 140 entries, has tripled in size this year and were displayed in Rudder Exhibit Hall. The contest showcases photos taken by Aggies who were abroad during the previous year.The photographs are really amazing – all of the students can vote, and it’s a good opportunity to see what would a study abroad experience really looks like, Fonseca said.