College is a time that really helps shape us into the person we become when we enter the ‘real world.’ From living on our own, balancing school and the social scene, college teaches us responsibility and gives us more independence. Throughout these years, there are numerous amounts of opportunity for students to get involved. Whether it’s joining an RSO for our major, being a sister of a sorority or another type of campus involvement, one should do as much as you can with your time at college, so that you walk away with few regrets.
Although the social scene in college is a great time, it sometimes gets repetitive doing the same thing over and over. There’s no better time to expand your horizons and try new things, then when you’re in college and have so many different resources to use. Studying abroad is a perfect opportunity for students to do just that! Imagine being in a foreign country, exploring new territories and REALLY seeing what the world has to offer. Studying Abroad is an exciting journey that every college student should embrace.
Besides joining a sorority, studying abroad was by far the BEST decision that I made in college. According to Central Michigan University study abroad office, only 11% of students studied abroad in 2010-2011.That’s pretty low considering how many students attend CMU. I’m aware that money is a factor for most college students, but there are plenty of scholarships and other outlets that students can use to allow traveling overseas possible. The staff in the study abroad office is a very helpful resource for anyone interested going abroad. Not only does study abroad make you a well rounded person, but it’s also a GREAT resume booster!
I can’t stress enough, that everyone should take this opportunity and just GO! There are so many different locations that Central offers for us to study. Whether you dream of going somewhere tropical or a city or want more of the country feel, there’s a place for everyone.
This past summer, I spent six weeks in Florence, Italy and loved every second of it. Some of my friends thought I was crazy going to a foreign country not knowing a single person, but that’s one of the thrills of going overseas, you get to start fresh and make new friendships. It gives you the chance to step out of your shell and grow as a person.
Europe is such a beautiful place that is filled with so much history. It’s really cool being able to actually see the places that we learned about in our history books right in front of our eyes. When I was in Rome, it seriously felt like I was in a time machine, walking through some of the most historical places known to man. From being inside The Colosseum, throwing a coin in The Trevi Fountain and seeing the beautiful masterpieces of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, it really makes you appreciate and understand history better.
Having been a student abroad, the host university was very flexible when it came to registering for classes. I attended Palazzi University, and only had class on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday… AKA a four day weekend! The university is aware the most students will be traveling on the weekends, which makes scheduling very convenient
College is a time we need to make every day count, and that’s what my roommates and I did with our time in Florence. Every weekend, we traveled to various countries and after class, we made sure to explore as much as we could of Florence. Our time in Italy was well spent as we tried new restaurants, toured museums and went to different clubs each day.
If you chose to travel to Europe, Bus2alps is an awesome, AFFORDABLE travel service that most study abroad students use. My friends and I went to Croatia, Cinque Terre Switzerland through them and had so much fun! Booking trips through Bus2alps, transportation housing and breakfast is included. Having never stayed in a hostel before, I was a little nervous, but definitely was impressed. A cool thing about staying in a hostel compared to a hotel is that the atmosphere is very open and you’re bound to meet people from all over the world.
After reading this, I hope that you take the time to fill out an application and seriously consider studying abroad. Leaving Europe, I came back with new friends, a handful of wonderful memories and an experience I will NEVER forget. So embrace this opportunity and go explore the world!
To get more information, please see http://go.cmich.edu/academic_programs/undergraduate/OIAStudyAbroad/Pages… to make an appointment with an advisor.