Study-Abroad Programs
Interested to spend three weeks in China learning its culture? Working and studying in London for several weeks or a semester?
Yes, it is possible for many community colleges as part of their training efforts to prepare international students to be global citizens. Since 1967 a growing number of community colleges have a global reach through study abroad programs. You can broaden your understanding of other societies and cultures, not only by the meeting of foreign students on campus, but through opportunities to spend several weeks of a semester or an academic year for study abroad credit . Although this type of survey is an extra cost, scholarships are often available to help with expenses.
Peg Mauzy, assistant professor in the Center for Teaching and Learning, London directs the work / study abroad at Frederick Community College (Maryland). She said: "You can not imagine what a great experience it is for the students. They return as changed, so mature, better informed about what they do with their lives. They learn to solve problems, understand what is happening in other parts of the world and broaden their horizons. It is a metamorphosis for students. "
An abroad study or work experience will help you:
*Stand out in the crowd on an application to a four-year college.
*Improve your marketability and expand your own horizons.
*Gain a new point of view on what you want to do in life. Returning students have gone on to study international education and international business, for example, when that wasn't on their preliminary career agenda at all.
receive a worldwide point of view that will help you in your job and life.
*Gain confidence in your ability to solve issues and get along with others.
SNAPSHOT: Peg Mauzy said: "Our program is unusual because it is one semester (15 weeks) in length and students are required to work while they are in London We take care of work permits, but they must be creative and find their own jobs .. Work is the point of immersion in the program. Students are very creative in finding jobs. Two students who wanted to work in clerical jobs as a well-dressed gentleman on the ground and started talking to him. Both ended up with a job in a bank. Others work in pubs, colleges or universities in the local theater in law firms "wherever they can find employment. They have the chance to meet and work with people from around the world because London is so cosmopolitan.
"Students also take three courses taught by American and British and earn twelve hours of credit for the six months to six courses and six for work experience (two courses online). They live together in dormitories with other students to have college experience, but abroad. The last two weeks of the program, students are free to travel where they want to go to Britain or the continent. They must research and plan This part of the trip themselves and why they want to go to the selected sites. When students return, we have a day on campus where everyone has a portfolio of his work and teaching experience to the presidency and college professors."
*Do some research online to discover a program that suits your needs. lots of community colleges offer their own programs or work through organizations such as the College Consortium for International Studies.
*Don't dismiss the idea of going because of money. Financial aid is available from a variety of sources including your college, local organizations, and special scholarships for overseas study. Even some federal and state financial aid can be applied to the costs of these programs because you'll be earning work credit for the experience.
*Parents of more youthful students ought to talk to parents whose students have already participated in study-abroad programs.
*If there's an information session on campus about study-abroad programs, attend it, as lots of of your concerns and questions will be answered.
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