Addicted to Study Abroad
When I decided to come to Arcadia, I already knew that it was an intensely global school. I knew I would be able to study abroad at least once, and that most of my peers would be studying abroad at some point. Once I went on my First Year Study Abroad Experience, me and my fellow FYSAErs got bitten by the wanderlust bug hard, and all began planning our next abroad adventures. I would be traveling to Italy. For another friend, an English major, Ireland called. But my roommate, Emily, had bigger plans.
As an International Studies major who came to Arcadia with a few of her core requirements already completed, thanks to high school courses, Emily and her adviser were able to plan her schedule so carefully that in the fall, she’s heading on her third semester abroad, and is expecting to go abroad again the following spring.
Through careful planning, Emily was able to make her schedule work so that she can have her fill of the world.
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I had no idea that someone could successfully study abroad four times, and while it isn’t common, it can be done. I know several other people who have studied abroad three times, and plenty who have gone abroad twice. But four?
I asked Emily how she did it. She answered that a lot of courses count for International Studies credit. “To count for IS, a course just has to include info on at least two countries,” she said.
At Arcadia, those kinds of courses are easy to come by.
“Also, I planned out my semesters on campus very carefully so that I could get my university requirements out of the way – trying to get classes that counted for several requirements I needed,” said Emily.
Through careful planning, Emily was able to make her schedule work so that she can have her fill of the world.
Arcadia requires that students spend a minimum of two years on campus, and for International Studies, it’s required that students spend either a semester or summer abroad, minimum. This kind of requirement is what makes Arcadia unique. Most colleges encourage study abroad for their students, but not many make it as easy as Arcadia does. The advisers are often willing to help students plan so they can fulfill their dreams of traveling the world while learning as much inside and outside of the classroom as possible.
By the time she graduates, Emily expects to have lived in England, Spain, Chile, and South Africa!
How many colleges would make that possible?
