Boost Your Resume
I had the opportunity to participate in an internship in Seville, Spain while I was studying abroad and it was such a positive experience for me. At first I was worried that it would interfere with my other goals while studying abroad, but I was easily able to balance my internship with my weekend trips. I gained communication skills, problem-solving skills, and actually worked in an industry while abroad, which will really help my resume when I look to work in international business in the future.
Emily Schafer, Seville, Spain
Learn a New Language
The main reason I studied abroad was to improve my Russian language skills. In Kyrgyzstan, I had the opportunity to live with a Kyrgyz host family. They didn't know any English, so I had to speak Russian all the time. When you're abroad, even normal daily tasks, such as going to a grocery store, ordering food at a restaurant, or taking a taxi can be exciting ways to practice your target language. My Russian greatly improved from the beginning of my stay to the end in a way that would only be possible if I was abroad.
Colton Powaski, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Have a Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience
Going abroad can be scary, intimating, and exciting all at the same time. When I was abroad, I fully immersed myself into the culture and tried to be as open minded as possible. I had a "yes" mindset. I said yes to trying new foods, new experiences, and meeting new people. Newness is scary but being open minded will allow you to grow in so many ways. When I was Florence, I tried lampredotto (cow stomach) which is a classic Florentine Street food. Never would I have thought I would try unique foods like that. When in your life are you ever going to get the chance to travel the world but also take courses that help you grow in your professional career? Going abroad is a once in a lifetime experience- you meet new people, try new experiences, see things from a whole new perspective, and learn all sorts of things.
Samantha Siegle, Florence, Italy
Push Your Comfort Zone
When I first arrived in Cusco, I was worried about getting used to the language and culture and adjusting to a completely new and unfamiliar country. Since then, I’ve adapted a lot; I’m much more comfortable with the city, my Spanish is improving, and I’ve made a lot of really great friends. Being so far away from home is teaching me to be more independent, and to take advantage of these rare opportunities.
Olivia Snyder, Cusco, Peru
Explore New Places
Whenever I'd tell people I was studying abroad in Luxembourg, I'd always get the same question: "Where is that? Germany?" And I'd always have to say that while Luxembourg is near Germany, it's also its own country. It has its own language and traditions, and an immense sense of national pride. I found myself taking buses and trains all around the country, hiking on one of Luxembourg's many rainy days in Esch-sur-Alzette, visiting a mining museum in Differdange, stumbling into catacombs beneath a church in Echternach, climbing a truly massive hill to a beautiful castle in Vianden, and wandering through the snow-filled streets of Diekirch. Studying abroad offers amazing opportunities to find all the spots that tourists overlook and discover some amazing hidden gems.
Hannah Sroka, Differdange, Luxembourg
Earn Academic Credit
As a Chemical Engineering major, I needed to find a program that allowed me to take major classes while I was abroad. I was able to take my engineering courses from professors at a local university, which was really cool because I got to see engineering from a completely different perspective. When I returned to Miami the following semester, I was able to jump right back in with where I would have been anyway that semester.
Ellie Kornreich, Valencia, Spain