Some people consider studying abroad as the ultimate way to immerse yourself into a foreign culture, gain memorable experiences and study your discipline from a different perspective.
Many incoming students and some more experienced Whitworth students don’t know exactly where to start.
If you have even the slightest inkling of desire to study abroad, you should go talk to the one woman who knows everything about it: Sue Jackson.
Jackson is the director of the International Education Center, which is located in Hawthorne Hall.
Jackson believes that all students should study abroad at some point during their college years.
“I really can’t think of sustainably good reasons of why people should not [study abroad],” Jackson said. “There can be individual reasons why, but from an institutional viewpoint, you should do it.”
Many private schools, including Whitworth, push all students to go abroad. Universities work hard to make the opportunity available to everyone by offering scholarships and through the ISEP program.
ISEP stands for International Student Exchange Program and essentially, universities from all over the world trade their students with American students.
Through ISEP, students can go virtually anywhere in the world to study their discipline.
Jackson encourages students to take a semester abroad rather than only a Jan Term trip.
“Jan Term is a good foot-wetting experience, but I think to get a real immersion you need to go away for more than a month,” Jackson said. “I would say do a Jan Term, then go and do a semester or a year as well.”
Jackson would like to encourage anyone, especially freshmen, to set up an appointment with her to discuss options. It is especially important to get started in the planning process early, enabling you to map out which classes you will want to take abroad.
“There are the occasional seniors who wander in and realize they want to do something, and I welcome them with open arms,” Jackson said.
Each major is different and can be pursued abroad in different ways and different places.
Jackson said that the hardest majors to arrange a semester abroad for are education and pre-med. However, “there are options,” she said. “Summer is a great time for education students to study abroad.”
In comparison, the easiest majors to send abroad are the liberal arts majors, including literature, history, political science and business, Jackson said.
“I maintain that I will find a place that’s suitable. It might not be the place that you had as first on your list but I will find a place that is a good academic fit for you and probably a good cultural and personal fit as well,” Jackson said.
Over 50 percent of Whitworth students study abroad by the time they graduate.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for growth, it will make you a more conscious, global citizen. You can look at your discipline from completely different eyes and that only makes you a better student of your discipline,” Jackson said.
Contact Katie Palmer at katie.palmer@whitworthian.com.
Study abroad ‘an incredible opportunity’
Published: Monday, September 28, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
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