RSS FeedAs American enrollment rises at foreign universities, college recruiters from around the globe continue to seek out qualified American students to fill quotas. If you’re looking to expand your horizons, meet new people, and experience new cultures, here’s what the landscape looks like, and how you can take benefit of study abroad programs with out breaking the bank.
According to “Open Doors 2008,” a report released by the Institute of International Education, the number of Americans studying abroad has jumped 150 percent over the last decade. In 2006-2007 (the last year for which data was accessible) almost a quarter of a million Americans headed abroad to study–compared to fewer than 100,000 for 1996-1997.
While increased cross-cultural awareness among college-bound students has contributed to overseas enrollment, foreign recruiters are noticing an additional contributing factor. This fall, the National Association for College Admissions Counseling conference in Seattle hosted representatives from the University of Waikato in New Zealand, Seoul National University in South Korea, Jacobs University Bremen in Germany, and the University of Limerick in Ireland. Their objective: to fill university seats with qualified applicants.
The Benefits of Study Abroad Programs
If you’re interested in studying abroad, you might be wondering how foreign universities differ from colleges in the United States. One distinction is a far more focused approach to study. American universities emphasize a well-rounded education, which means that if you’re studying medicine, you might still have to suffer through a course on postcolonial literature. In contrast, foreign universities sometimes give early specialization, allowing you to skip the coursework that doesn’t interest you. Sam Dresser, a freshman at Scotland’s University of Edinburgh, found his niche in logic, psychology, and introductory philosophy courses after reading Sartre and Nietzsche in high school. “My math and science grades were not so great,” says Dresser, “so I loved the concept of only studying what I’m interested in.”
Although Dresser discovered his path, the Scottish university system still makes it possible for for exploration outside of his specialty. English Universities give an even much more specialized approach, normally requiring three years of coursework. If you already have an concept of what you’d like to study, English or Scottish universities may possibly be an perfect option for you.
Ivy League Prestige–Without the Tuition or Competition
In addition to a narrower academic track, a lot of foreign schools supply international experience and training comparable to the American Ivy League at a significantly lower price. At Scotland’s St. Andrews University, where enrollment of American students recently jumped to 1,230, up from less than 200 a decade ago, several students end up paying tuition comparable to out-of-state tuition at an American public university.
Even though competition is tight for students of host nations, Americans usually have an less complicated time landing seats at foreign universities. According to Stephen Magee, St Andrews’ vice principal, “Am I wrong to say I don’t care if they can’t get into Harvard?”
The Value of a Dollar
If you determine to study abroad, the weak dollar means you might have to consider your wallet. For an economical study-abroad experience, there are a couple of methods to aid you maintain your costs down. This may well mean contemplating places outside of Western Europe and the industrialized world. According to “Open Doors 2008,” American students are gravitating toward much less expensive choices.
In the course of 2006-2007, the number of American’s studying in China stood at 11,064–an increase of by 20 percent over the previous year. Compare that to the 1995-96 academic year, when only 1,396 Americans chose China for study abroad programs. Asia at large saw an increase of 20 percent, although the number of Americans studying in Africa increased by 19 percent. For Middle Eastern and Latin American programs, the boost stood at 7 percent.
Keep It Short
Despite the fact that a lot of Americans have elected to go abroad for the full course of their degree programs, financial expediency may make it hard for you to stay abroad a full four years. All the exact same, you can still get pleasure from a richly rewarding experience–at a fraction of the cost–by keeping your study abroad time short. According to “Open Doors 2008,” about 36 percent of Americans who study abroad go for only a semester, even though 55 percent decide on short-term programs. Short-term programs can range from a summer, to a January term, or any program from two to four eight weeks throughout the academic year. Short term programs serve the largest number of students studying abroad, which includes students of community colleges, or students with financial requirements that avoid them from staying abroad for extended periods of time.
With foreign recruiters on the hunt, enrollment up among American expats, and economical alternatives for study abroad gaining in popularity, you should have a lot of techniques to help you travel the world on a shoestring.
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