Study Abroad Fair Connects Students with Global Opportunities
By Binta Bah
The Study Abroad Fair session kicked off on the first floor of the Student Services building, as students gathered inside the bright red room.
Study Abroad is a three-to-six-week program available to all SUNY and non-SUNY students. These groups of students will be able to live, learn, study and travel together in order to explore this experience.
Marjorie Ramirez, who is part of the Senior Education Abroad and international student coordinator, said, “Study Abroad's credible program can be an internship and an academic program that extends all across the globe,” Ramirez said. “We want students to learn about Study Abroad. We have guest partners here today, actually, from other SUNY schools, such as Stony Brook and New Paltz.” The Regent’s University London, a private school located in Central London, was also present at the fair session.
Anne M. Kern, the dean for global strategy and international programs on campus, stated, “Students will save their credits while studying abroad. It helps students advance towards their degree. You should be looking for a program towards your major. It also depends on which semester you choose, such as summer, winter, or spring.”
Kern added, “Study Abroad is a place where you can study something easy. This is why coming to talk to us about studying abroad is very important and a great use of your time.”
To study abroad, students must maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher, complete two semesters of college and receive approval from an academic advisor.
One student, Vrai Dobrish, 20, and a junior, said, “It's going pretty good actually, and I think it’s very helpful. I am interested in studying abroad because I like to travel to places.”
Dobrish has a goal in mind, but when asked about the requirements for the program, Dobrish said, “I have to look on the websites, but hopefully I do. My main goal is to go to Japan. I want to be able to take classes there.”
Two other students, Zoe Van Der Zandt and Danielle Wozniak, went to the fair together. Van Der Zandt, who is a sophomore, said, “So far it’s been good. I have been getting a lot of good information for my major.”
Van Der Zandt went further on her journey towards Study Abroad as she said, “I would probably take a language class; rather than just hearing the language, I would want to learn about the language. I want to be able to learn there and take classes in my major and then take some gen ed courses for those requirements. I also want to explore all the cities and places they offer, as I am not only traveling there for just classes.”
Wozniak, a junior communications major, said, “I actually feel the same way; I am in communications, like, what’s the best use of my time. I am going through all these school stalls as of today and exploring my interests.”
Wozniak said timing is a big issue for her, as she said this year may not be a perfect time to study aboard, but hopefully her junior and senior year would be a perfect opportunity to explore this hands-on journey. “I was so interested in my major, maybe hospitality and management. I think I would want to do it for the language, but mostly focus on hospitality and the languages,” said Wozniak.
Comments