A word from the wise..

The NCSU Study Abroad fair was held last week to help shed some light on what programs are offered for NC State students. These programs ranged anywhere from New Zealand to Denmark. Students had a chance to meet with faculty that are sponsoring the trips and also speak with students to gain a better understanding of what they actually did on their trips. I decided to conduct an interview with one of the students to see what they actually thought of the program they went on through NC State.

The interview was with Sam Alcorn, a junior at NC State University in Criminal Justice. He recently spent this past spring semester of NC State in the beautiful Sydney, Australia.

Me: Why should students study abroad in Sydney, Australia?
Sam: Well, because it was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my life and there is no better time to get out of the country than while you are in college and do not have a full-time job.
Me: In what ways has traveling to Australia altered your outlook on life?
Sam: It has given me a broader perspective of things that I never would have had if I had stayed in Raleigh, NC the rest of my life. I think it's important for everyone, if they have the means, to study abroad and experience cultures that they never have before. It broadens your perspective on so many things in life and provides you with a totally different experiance in college.
Me: How is the NCSU Sydney, Australia program different than others?
Sam: Well, for one thing it's a little bit farther than some of the other more popular ones, in Europe for instance. That is why this program is more expensive than a lot of the others. It is definitely worth it though, to study abroad in such a beautiful country on the other side of the world.

 Sam Alcorn in Royal Nation Park, Australia

The Sydney, Australia program sounds like a very unique, exciting study abroad destination, however, it does seem a bit pricey. The application charge for a semester in Sydney at Macquarie University, in Sydney is $605, through ISEP who works in conjunction with the NC State Study Abroad programs. The programs that are directly through NC State required only a $200 application fee, which is a lot more reasonable.

The first step to actually stepping outside of the box...

Studying abroad for me will mean stepping outside of my comfort zone and stepping outside of the box. Are you willing to step outside of the box with me? How do we go about doing this though?

1.)First, I searched online for my universities study abroad website Once I got there I began to surf around the website to get a good feel for what it will actually take to study abroad. I found information for a study abroad fair that is being held here at NC State University.
2.) Next, I am going to visit the NCSU study abroad fair on September 16th. There I will have the opportunity to meet with advisers and faculty that will guide me in the right direction as I look over the study abroad programs being offered. If you are trying to study abroad too, first check out your university's study abroad website and see if they are holding a similar fair. These fairs are very informative and will provide you with pamphlets and informational guides for the programs being offered at your university. You can also speak with people that have actually been on these trips to get the inside scoop.
3.) After visiting the study abroad fair, I am hoping that I will have found some interesting programs to choose from. I will begin to research the specific locations of each program to find out which one seems most appealing to me.

 Here is a short video clip I found at the NC State University Study Abroad office website:

"Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained..."

Isn't that what they always say? Well I have decided that I desperately need to travel the world and discover what's really on the other side. This blog will document my journey on picking the perfect study abroad destination. Study Abroad Advice

-Jess