Are you thinking about studying abroad? Not sure where you want to go? No problem! We’ve gathered a list of tips that will help you choose where you might want to go!
1. Attend a Study Abroad 101 meeting.
This is the first step in Clark’s study abroad process and is required of any student who wishes to study abroad. They are normally held once a month. You can find the dates and times for this semester here. These meetings are really helpful and give a lot of insight about the “nitty-gritty” details of going abroad!
2. Decide how long you want to go abroad for
Fall? Spring? A whole year? These are the things you need to think through! Certain programs that Clark is affiliated with require you to go for a specific amount of time. For example, the London School of Economics and Political Science only allows a student to go on exchange for a year. If there is a program in particular that you’re really invested in, make sure to check that you can go for the length of time you want!
3. Narrow down a list of places you might want to go
Studying abroad is an amazing experience because the world is (literally) your oyster! Clark has affiliations with so many programs which makes it really easy to find a program in the country you might be interested in. There are opportunities in Africa, South America, Europe, Australia and virtually any other place you could think of!
With that said, it’s easy to see why someone unsure of where they would like to go can find this intimidating. What I found to be helpful was make a list of three places that capture your interest. From there look through the different program options in each on the Study Abroad section of the Clark website. It will give you information about the cost of that country, what type of accommodation you would have (dorm style, host family, etc.) and academic rigor.
4. Talk to someone who has done a program you’re interested in!
Of all the tips, this is easily the most important one. There is no better way to find out if a program might be right for you than to talk to someone who did that program. Be sure to reach out to the Study Abroad office as there are student ambassadors for most programs. They can help direct you to find the right person to talk with.
No matter where you decide to study abroad, it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your college career. It’s a chance to see new places and make friends that you never would have gotten to meet otherwise. Though it may seem a bit daunting, if it’s something you want to consider definitely look into it! Clark has plenty of resources to help get you where you want to go! Happy travels!