Sometimes, an enhanced college experience cannot be fulfilled with pen, paper and a UT classroom.
The Spring 2012 Study Abroad Fair will be held in the UC Ballroom Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Study abroad program coordinator Heather Grigsby said the location this year will help attract student interest.
“The UC is central to campus,” Grigsby said. “Lots of students pass through the UC and it’s a centralized location to see what’s available.”
Students will have the opportunity to meet with about 40 to 50 tables of faculty members who will host summer abroad programs and mini-terms to outside vendors who run programs in multiple countries, such as China and the Dominican Republic. About 10 to 15 representatives of private study abroad programs are expected to attend.
“Deadlines for the summer programs come up pretty quickly,” Grigsby said. “Our purpose is to give students a place to explore all the things at once. It’s a good way to get a feel for all the opportunities. It’s one last chance to talk to all faculty and staff who run the summer programs because of the deadlines.”
For the summer programs, applications are usually due as soon as a week after the fair.
UT financial aid representatives will also be in attendance to assist students with any questions on financing their travels. Advisers from different colleges, such as the College of Engineering, will attend as well. Grigsby said engineering and other science- and math-based majors are more reluctant to study abroad.
“With engineering, their curriculums are very rigorous,” Grigsby said. “It may be difficult to have time to study abroad for a semester. We encourage students to do the semester because it’s longer and more immersive. We try to find courses to work with these very structured majors. This year we have faculty-led programs for these structured majors and advisers to speak with the students.”
Max Crabtree, a junior in pre-pharmacy and biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology, is interested in a study abroad program where he could focus on his science courses and pursue his passion.
“Personally, having grown up playing soccer my entire life, I would love to go somewhere in South America in order to pursue my passion for soccer, but more importantly for the diverse cultural experience and knowledge which I would be able to acquire through a direct perspective and understanding for different lifestyles outside of the United States,” Crabtree said.
A balance between social and intellectual growth when studying abroad is crucial for interested students, Grigsby said.
“It (studying abroad) will help you later when working in the real world,” Grigsby said. “It’s a great personal experience. You learn about yourself. You learn about what you can do, how to problem solve, and how you work with different people. It’s a great way to learn how adaptable you can be.”
Corey Hodges, a freshman in music performance, is currently applying for a mini-term session in Ghana. If accepted, he believes the majority of his studying will be conducted outside the classroom.
“I will be studying way more than is required,” Hodges said. “And what I mean by that is that I will be studying with my eyes. I will be paying special attention to the people, the trends, the city and the overall environment. This is a trip that means more to me than a simple grade of an ‘A’ can express.”
