Ever dreamed of waking up in a hotel room, the bright San Francisco sun shining on one of the most historic streets in queer history? What about spending your study time on the beautiful beaches of the Virgin Islands? Or maybe you’d rather spend some time exploring London on the weekends. What if I told you that as a college student, you have all these opportunities right at your fingertips? Here are all the ways you can travel in college.
Study abroad
One of the most common travel options colleges offer students is to study abroad. Study abroad allows students to take a semester of their college schooling in another country. Most students pick countries that would align with their major, for example an English major may travel to England to study Chaucer or Shakespeare. The most popular among students, study abroad programs are varied and there is something for everyone. The cost to study abroad normally will be more than your college’s tuition, but most find that the experience is worth their while.
Study at Sea
Who wouldn’t want to spend a semester on a cruise? I know I would. This option allows students to explore many parts on the world in a short amount of time while attending classes on a cruise liner. Although that kind of luxury comes with a price tag that scares many students away, which in turn limits the programs offered. For a student majoring in sociology, these programs will provide experiences that are indispensible; other majors might not find them as useful.
Study Away
What if you still wanna travel, but leaving the country scares you? There is an option for that too! It’s called study away. This allows you to travel anywhere in United States, including the Virgin Islands. Much like a study abroad program, students can study in places that may have significance to their major, and the cost tends to equate to your college’s tuition, making it an easy choice.
Travel Courses
Got a busy four years and don’t think you’ll be able to leave the college that long? Try enrolling in a travel course! A travel course is a class that you take during your spring semester. You learn about a certain location, such as England or Japan and during spring break you travel to that location to learn more. These classes are normally started by professors who are interested in the location and tend to cost no more than three thousand dollars.
Service Trips
If you love to volunteer this option is for you. Service trips are put on by colleges and other organizations, and involve a week-long trip to an area in need. Not only are they great resume and soul-building experiences, but they also tends to be of the lowest cost since you are only paying for airfare. Examples include alternative spring breaks in Haiti.
Various department trips
Sometimes certain departments will hold weekend trips to give students unique experiences that will enrich their understanding of their area of study. These trips can be much cheaper because of the shorter travel time and the departments have funding to send students. One professor at MCLA takes Fine and Performing arts students to a huge jazz festival for a long weekend.
All these options are offered by MCLA and other universities as well. You should take advantage of them while you can. Check the MCLA website for more information on the campus’s travel programs. If money is an issue, there are plenty of scholarships available; just contact CSSE. There’s more to the world than just your backyard. Go and explore! I loved the travel course I took; I hope you’ll feel the same.