Study Abroad

Originally appeared in the HuffingtonPost.

Now that students have settled into classes, study abroad fairs are taking place throughout the fall on campuses across the country. Students will be bombarded with food, photos and friendly faces encouraging them to go abroad. For most college students in their first or second years, the allure of studying abroad can be intoxicating. That’s because students tend to initially focus on the “abroad” part, a word that conjures up any number of romantic personal impressions based on movies, travel books and firsthand reports from friends and family members who have vacationed abroad. Eclipsed by the glamour and intrigue of it all is the “study” part.

But make no mistake about it, studying abroad is a seriousundertaking. It challenges students on a personal level. It will have an impacton their college career. It costs money. Deciding whether to go, therefore, isa very big decision, and one that should not be made lightly. In fact, Irecommend that students – and their parents – start thinking about study abroadin freshman year to take as much time as possible to consider the pros andcons.

So why do people study abroad? In research I conducted for my recently released book, A Student Guide to Study Abroad, students who had studied abroad inthe past five years cited these top three reasons: experience anotherculture/country, travel and personal growth. Secondary reasons include careerprospects and marketability, learn a language, and recommendations from afriend.

But when I followed up with employers across a vast spectrumof industries and sectors, asking them what they liked most about potentialapplicants who had studied abroad, they cited very practical applications ofthe experience:

• Creative problem -olving experience in unfamiliar situations

• Adaptability within culturally diverse environments

• Excellent listening and communication skills

• Practical knowledge of a specific culture and language

With the exception of language skills, these benefits fallinto the all-important “soft skills” category growing in importance in theworkplace. There is no doubt that studying abroad enhances a student’s resume,boosting her chances to impress a potential employer with her global outlook.But how do students – and their parents – decide which program is best?

It’s a big question and one that requires research andplenty of sifting because there’s a great deal of information out there. Thereare many factors to consider, such as cost, the time to go and for how long,where to go, and how best to prepare to get the most out of the experience.Moreover, all programs are not equal.

To help students get the most out of an experience abroad,programs should require intense language and academic preparation, researchprojects and presentations. Whether your program last three weeks or a fullyear, students should begin with significant cultural and intellectualpreparation well before leaving campus and conclude with an involved reentryand reintegration course.

For students interested in reaping the rewards describedabove by employers, they’ll need to choose a program that has a solidreputation for academic rigor and cross-cultural outreach. These programsshould have entrance requirements and not just be open to anyone who can pay.Ideally they are integrated into your academic curriculum. Here are somespecific program aspects to look for:

Local language coursework. Content classes (history,literature, business) taken in languages other than English demonstrate andimprove language proficiency.

Diverse student bodies. Programs that attractparticipants from all over the world will be richer culturally. They alsofoster greater proficiency in cross-cultural teamwork, thus better preparingstudents for similar work environments.

Regionally relevant content. Going abroad tostudy in a specific geographic and cultural context can enhance academicstudies. Ideally, programs designed around a specific topic will includeintroductions to area experts and access to local information sources andperspectives.

Curricula-driven study abroad. Some programs bring global students together to work on a regional problem, such as water-userights, fair-trade practices or cultural preservation. Working as a global teamin an academic context is excellent preparation for global jobs.

Locations matters. Prospective employers areincreasingly interested in where applicants studied abroad. Branching outbeyond the traditional European destinations and into countries such as China,Brazil, India, Mexico or Turkey, for example, signals an enhanced awareness ofgrowing global economies – and a direct link to the places many organizationsare expanding and growing.

In my talks on campuses, many students express an interestin “just having fun” while studying abroad, so they’re planning on taking a fewclasses pass/fail and traveling around. They want to know, is that so wrong? Itall depends on what the objective is. College is a time for fun and travel,yes, but it’s primarily for becoming career-ready and developing skills thatwill lead to employment upon graduation. Study abroad offers students anopportunity to do both.

There is so much to consider when choosing astudy abroad program. That’s why I teamed up with Dr. Allan Goodman, Presidentand CEO of the Institute of International Education, and Sir Cyril Taylor,Founder of AIFS, to write a practical how-to guide,AStudent Guide to Study Abroad.It’s packed with practicalinformation, 100 easy-to-follow tips and dozens of real-life stories writtenfor both students and their parents as they sort through the many details ofthe study abroad experience.