By Alyssa MacKinnon
If you’ve always dreamed of studying in an exotic location your ticket there might be closer than you think – in room 316 of Hammond Hall.
Nicole Salerno, Study Abroad Coordinator in the Office of International Education said students simply need to know their options.
Students can study abroad through faculty-led programs, exchange programs, and provider programs.
As far as academic requirements are concerned, most partnering institutions will look for a certain GPA ranking – most leaning towards the 2.5 range. “[For] Students with a lower GPS, a faculty-led program is pretty good for them,” suggested Salerno. “Depending on the professor, they get a lot of support while they’re abroad and it’s short-term, so that’s a good start for them.”
Cost can be handled in a few different ways, including scholarships from partnering schools and financial aid. For options like an exchange program, “you wouldpay Fitchburg State tuition at those foreign institutions,” Salerno explains.
Imani Hunter, a student with Fitchburg State, is currently studying in Tokyo with the assistance of the same program. “This turns out to be somewhat cheaper than studying at Fitchburg,” she claimed.
The length of time you stay at your location depends on the program you choose. You can look into going for the summer, one month, two-to-four weeks, ten days, or the academic semester.
The ‘week’ options are mostly faculty-led programs. The benefits of studying abroad go beyond traditional education. “There are so many activities on campus for international students that making friends is super easy and trying new things is fun,” said Hunter.
It also gives you a chance to “really refocus on your studies [and] be more motivated,” Salerno said. Here are some of the places you could be studying next semester – Portugal, Germany, Costa Rica.
Visit the Office of International Education, Hammond 316, for more information.