Think study abroad is not for you? Dig a little deeper and you may find that it’s an experience you cannot afford to miss.
In an increasingly interdependent world, study abroad is an integral component of any undergraduate curriculum. On a personal level, study abroad promotes self-confidence and increased self-awareness for just about everyone who does it. The vast majority of study abroad participants return to campus with a sharper sense of direction and better problem-solving skills. To a potential employer, having a semester, year or summer abroad experience on your resume says a lot about you as a person and potential colleague. You will find that global awareness and a proven ability to succeed outside of your cultural comfort zone is an asset to any company, organization or business.
Unfortunately, what Marilyn J. Jackson calls the “not for me” syndrome pervades higher education when it comes to study abroad. The idea of studying overseas may conjure up images of wealthy white women going to Europe for “finishing” before marriage, or students from elite liberal arts colleges touring the world on a trust-fund budget. First-generation university students, low-income students, students who have never traveled outside the country, students of color and students in fields such as education, health sciences and engineering may assume that study abroad is simply “not for them.”
Well, we’re here to tell you that this is not the case! Study abroad is a valuable experience for every student from every background in any major, and here at the University of Oklahoma it is more accessible than you may realize. We welcome you to stop by our office and meet with a study abroad adviser to find out more.
LINKS:
Under-representation in Study Abroad: The Facts
NAFSA: Association of International Educators Policy Section
Institute for International Education Open Doors Report
Diversity in Study Abroad
Supporting Diversity in Study Abroad
Diversity Abroad
International and Cultural Awareness for Minority Students (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Mobility International
The Black Collegian, Global Study
Resources on Underrepresented Groups in International Education
GLBT Students Abroad