Studying abroad is an invaluable experience that every student possessing a tinge of wanderlust should consider and try to participate in during their college career. When else will one be presented with the opportunity to learn Shakespeare’s works in the actual Globe Theatre or practice their Spanish in Madrid, Spain while receiving credit for it? However, choosing a program to study through is no easy feat.. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of pros and cons to the two main types of avenues for global learning available.
Cal Poly Global Programs
The Perks: This is the program I studied abroad through for my six-week trip to London. Our school offers a multitude of programs, with an array of countries as well as varying time spans. I highly recommend it to anyone hoping to strengthen their bond with Cal Poly professors and peers. Most of the courses (depending on the program) are made up of GEs, so grades are directly inputted into Student Center without the need to make any pesky unit transfers. Another plus is that there are some programs that are tailor-made for specific in majors in mind, such as the construction management in Prague and RPTA in New Zealand programs.
The Drawbacks: I can’t speak on behalf of every Cal Poly program, but for my London experience, it was definitely more difficult to become immersed in the English culture when I was constantly surrounded by Cal Poly folk, in and out of the classroom. The school we were taught in was designed intentionally for international learning, so we were not taking classes alongside actual Londoners. This also applied to the place in which we were staying. The flats were located in Kensington, an incredibly expensive area of London, so the typical twenty-something would not be able to afford such living expenses. Thus, interaction with Brits was unfortunately rather limited.
Cal Poly Partner Programs
The Perks: There are a plethora of partner programs to discriminate between, which might make selecting one more difficult. On the bright side, one can be found that fits the needs of each interested student; exchange programs, living with a host family and learning alongside students of the chosen country are all options to consider. If one were to select homestay living or studying in a university with non-international students, a much more cultural, enriching experience could potentially be felt. Programs that are not associated, but supported by Cal Poly include (but not limited to) CEA Global Education and University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), as well as CSU’s international programs.
The Drawbacks: While plunging yourself into an entirely new culture might be a liberating and fruitful learning experience for you, studying through non-Cal Poly programs runs the risk of you never seeing the people who shaped your time abroad. You may be reminiscing over memories alone if no one you meet lives anywhere in your vicinity. On the other hand, you may just also make lifetime friends whom you can visit and stay with while visiting somewhere foreign like Thailand or the Netherlands.
For more information about studying abroad visit Cal Poly’s page on the subject that offers a wealth of information to peruse through: http://www.studyabroad.calpoly.edu