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How You Can Study Abroad
by Tandra Landers
If you got to Mars Hill, you could go anywhere!
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Many students have taken the opportunity for academic advancement through the Study Abroad Program at Mars Hill College.
Students are able to study abroad during the summer, a semester, or even a full year.
Recent students have studied in Japan, Mexico, England, the Netherlands, Tanzania, Australia, Chile, and Costa Rica.
This kind of program not only lets most students earn college credit, but it provides internships as well as academic courses.
The average number of credits earned ranges from about 3-12 semester hours. Those going for an entire semester take around 12 hours. This is ideal for those who want a good balance between work and the ability to experience their new surroundings.
A student applying to study abroad will first meet with Gordon Hinners, director of international education. He will ask questions about academic goals, length of study, G.P.A, and the country where studying will take place, among others.
Hinners will help students find the programs that best fit their own goals and ideas.
Living arrangements depend on the kind of program and also what the student plans to study. Students going to study a foreign language may live with a host family, where they can speak the language daily, and eat and breathe local culture. Of course, there are positives and negatives just as in an ordinary family situation.
International universities rarely have dormitory style housing. Some students may stay in shared apartments with other students where they cook their own food and have access to amenities such as computer labs and laundry facilities.
These universities also tend to be fairly advanced. "It's good to have a few courses under your belt," said Hinners. Many programs have a required G.P.A. ranging from 2.5-3.0. This helps to ensure that a student has the skills to succeed abroad.
An advantage of studying abroad is cultural learning and language competence. Constant contact with students of a different culture in the same classroom provides a more realistic experience than studying with other English-speaking students, although it takes some adjustment.
However, there are universities specifically for students from the United States or other English-speaking countries. This provides a different way of learning about local culture, but still offers a great experience, Hinners said.
The International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) is an exchange between U.S. and foreign universities. There are 275 participating universities in 39 different countries. These schools can send and accept students from any other participating university.
One of the benefits of the program is that living and studying abroad costs the same as Mars Hill College's tuition and room and board. It is just as if the student were staying at Mars Hill for that semester or academic year. The student must also take care of some additional fees, insurance, travel expenses, and books.
In the ISEP program, all scholarship money is credited toward studying abroad. Loans, state grants, academic scholarships, and other scholarships are accepted.
Danielle Kamffer, a Mars Hill College senior, is currently studying in Costa Rica through the ISEP program. Her majors are Spanish and Political science, but she is currently taking courses in International Relations. She is also taking a course on History of Women in Costa Rica.
Outside programs are also an option for MHC students. These programs are not affiliated with MHC, but there are still financial aid options when studying for a semester or full academic year. Money from external sources, such as Federal and State grants, loans, and named scholarships is accepted, but certain other MHC scholarships might not be accepted.
Summer study is different because there is no exchange, the student isn't enrolled during an academic year, and the finances are different.
Hinners says that it is almost always possible to find a program that suits a student's budget.
To be prepared to study abroad, a student needs a passport for re-entry to the United States. This applies even when coming from Canada and Mexico.
Countries have varying requirements for living there past a few months or engaging in business during an internship. Sometimes students must have a visa. During the summer students can go abroad as a tourist without having to obtain a visa.
Most programs provide an orientation as part of the preparation. These programs will provide material stating information about clothing, computers, facilities available, and how much money a student will need while abroad.
For more information about international study programs, contact Gordon Hinners, 313 Cornwell, phone: 689-1208; ghinners@mhc.edu.
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