From the moment I stepped foot at Hofstra I asked my acceptance students day tour guide about study abroad only to see her eyes light up as I could feel her excitement bubbling over. Yes, I was concerned about my studies but like anybody else I wanted to and still desire to broaden my travel horizons. Fortunate enough to have been out of the country multiple times, the actual travel process is easy for me but what’s a tad more complicated is the process leading up.
Similar to going Greek the main reasons I want to travel abroad, in my case London, are adventure and opportunity. This is your time in life whether you are a sophomore or junior to take a vacation before internships take over because lets face it, the studying part of study abroad isn’t so bad when your study time could take place outside of famous monuments! Reading Homer for a literature class near the Panthenon or studying in an Italian cafe heighten the experience way more than Hofstra’s campus!
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The first step in the study abroad process I would suggest is asking questions not only to the Assistant Dean of Study Abroad Programs but also consult with students and friends who have studied abroad. If those resources aren’t enough there’s always the option to look at www.studyabroad101.com and www.ratemystudyabroad.com, which has reviews of different non-Hofstra programs. Getting different views as well as professional opinion on the program you are interested in will help secure you in your decision and make others feel more comfortable about you going abroad.
Now for your big selling point to your parents…. Express to them how you don’t want to be forever co-dependent on them and this is your chance to take the time to grow on your own and explore. The next major point and probably the most important is that most study abroad programs cost less than the tuition at Hofstra AND still give you financial aid for the program in addition to the financial aid provided by Hofstra. So at the end of the day you’d be saving at least $20,000 to have the ultimate time of your life, how is this not a win-win situation??
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Lastly in terms of choosing your program make sure you pick a location of relevance towards your major. For example if you’re a bio major go somewhere tropical to explore all the fun organisms and wildlife or if you’re a journalism major like me I chose London because it is a media capital and the home of Buzzfeed. As an added bonus try to choose a location that has easy access via public transportation or cheap flights to visit other neighboring countries for additional adventures. To get the most out of your time you should venture around especially considering that in a few years you may not have the opportunity, don’t miss out!
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Soon I will be bringing you more content on Study Abroad so you can follow my journey towards London before and during in the spring semester! My hope is that through all the things I have done to prepare you can shape your personal journey and hopefully choose to study abroad as well!
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~Safe Travels
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