Before I finish my four years of university, I would like to experience studying abroad. It was a dream of mine since my sophomore year of high school. I remembered how I would research schools that offered programs for International Exchange students. I also enjoyed watching vlogs on Youtube of students who were studying in a different country. These students informed viewers with their personal advice and the pros and cons of living in an unfamiliar place. I imagined how eye-opening of an experience it would be to learn the customs of other cultures and to interact with people who didn’t speak English.

At San Jose State University, they offer multiple programs for studying abroad. You can choose whether to participate in a program for the whole academic year, one semester, or during the Winter/Spring/Summer breaks. Within these programs, there are different options. For example, the amount of credits you earn might be limited. If you choose to do this program during the break, you will have fewer credits compared to an academic year.

Last semester, I visited one of the Study Abroad fairs on campus to receive more information. One of the programs I discovered has designated locations for each type of major. For instance, Business majors traveled to Spain. During this time of the year, I was declared as a Child and Adolescent Development major and I found out that the location set for my major was Denmark. To be honest, I did not know much about Denmark but I was still interested in visiting the country.

My biggest concern about studying abroad are the expenses. Traveling, cost of tuition, room and board, and food can be very expensive. I know that there are scholarships that can help students with paying their finances, but with millions of applicants that help isn’t guaranteed. I would most likely have to take out a few loans.

I hope to study abroad during my third or fourth year. But, we’ll see what happens.

See you next time,

Eryka