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Considering study abroad in Europe? Consider this: Loch Ness, Stonehenge, bagpipes, the fjords, reindeer, Red Square, the Running of the Bulls, the Riviera, the Black Sea - Europe is home to an amazing diversity of scenes and opportunities. Studying overseas often means studying in Europe. You could be there soon!
Don't just explore Europe; study abroad Europe (and then maybe wander around a bit). Your school can help you get information about the many study abroad programs there are. Whether your interests are in Spanish, Bosnian, Basque, or Gaelic, there are programs that will get you overseas and into the school setting of your choice. Run an Internet search for "Study Abroad" and the countries or languages that interest you most. You'll see tons of information; so much that you'll need a little help to sort through the programs.
Here are some pointers for studying abroad in Europe:
- Reliability: Look for how long the program has been functioning. An older program is likely to be more reliable. Newer programs can be trusted if they are linked to major colleges or universities because the schools have checked them out. Try to get feedback from previous participants.
- Openness and Responsiveness: Check to see if the program is responsive. Send them a question about some concern, and see how long it takes them to answer, and how thorough the answer is. True, it's their culture and language you'll be studying overseas, but they must be able to communicate with you, in English if necessary, from the start.
- Features: Pick a program that includes more than classroom instruction. You'll want tours of local places of interest, plus maybe some cooking or art classes, and excursions (to put your new language skills to practical use).
- Costs: Your first reaction at the cost might be to run screaming in the opposite direction. It will probably look very high. Don't panic. First, remember that the experience of studying abroad is priceless and can't be gained at home. Second, learn what's included in the European study abroad program and what's not. Third, compare the cost to tuition, room and board, fees, etc, for some local school. Fourth, learn about and watch exchange rates. With luck and study, you'll find an interesting program in Europe that takes advantage of a good exchange. In the end, it won't seem so expensive.
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