Study Abroad Program
For those in college, a study abroad program is a great way to see the world. Depending on the situation, they can be a cheaper alternative. I chose to do a summer program for six weeks. It consisted of four weeks of class at my college followed by two weeks in London. This is compared to a semester or a year long exchange program. Personally, I regret not doing more of them. Going into college, there was never a big push to study abroad. I guarantee you will meet new people and make new friends. The summer program is truly great though. Also, it was a steal of a deal. The tuition covered my food and housing during those two weeks. I was able to subsidize the tuition with some scholarships as well. It went a long way to help pay for my flight.
Class Sessions
Study abroad programs are sadly work first and play second. My classes began at 8 am and ended at noon. Out of the 14 days in London, I believe 8 of them had class. I should mention I took two classes during this summer semester. I still hate myself for that. It meant more homework and more studying. Class wasn’t all bad. Fresno State set up some amazing company visits. Instead of sitting through boring lectures, I saw how Mini Coopers are made and sat on the news set at Bloomberg. For those considering doing one of these programs, I highly recommend finishing any homework directly after class. This may sound like parental jargon, but it’s a solid tip. Once you walk out of your dorm, it’s better to be able to have 100 percent uninterrupted fun. Do you really want to cut your night short?
Helpful Tips
To get you through a study abroad program, here are a few more things that will help any student. First, you need to work in teams. Working with other students helps you get your work done faster, especially for that one problem the professor didn’t go over in class. Next, find at least one buddy. The buddy system is super helpful for waking up on time for class or if you get lost. If you are lost together, at least you won’t die alone. Just kidding! You’re not going to die. You have a better chance of being arrested first. Third, sacrificing one night of fun can allow you to stress less about your grades. And lastly, be careful of who knows your credit card is open at the bar. You know who you are Julia! (More on this next week)
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