Ambassador Ruth A. Davis, director to The National Foreign Service Training Institute for the United States Department of State, can also attest to the merits of study abroad. Ambassador Davis credits her career path in the foreign service to an undergraduate experience in study abroad.  As a Spelman student, she spent 16 months as a Merrill Scholar studying and traveling in Europe and the Middle East.

Today, Ambassador Davis speaks two foreign languages fluently and is in the highest echelon of our government preparing diplomats for the new millennium.  Moreover, she is a powerful spokesperson for including diversity in every phase of American diplomacy.

One of her most powerful speeches, Not for People Like You describes her ability to overcome some of the challenges she faced as a youth when the world was not as open to diversity for all people, as it is now.

Some people can point to the very day they decided to turn heaven and earth over, if that's what it took, to be successful in this life!  I can do that!  Let me tell you about it.  When I was a teenager growing up in a very segregated South and I wanted to earn some spending change in the summertime to make my life a little more pleasant during the school year, I did not have the benefit of an 'equal opportunity' or the luxury of a summer job program to help me locate suitable employment.  So, I did domestic day work for a white family.

"One day, the lady of the house told me about her vacation in the Caribbean.  She described beautiful islands, a veritable paradise.   She said the workday was short.  The people she knew worked only from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  I allowed as to how wonderful that was and hastened to add how much I'd love a work schedule like that.

"Without missing a beat, and without malice of forethought, this woman said to me, 'But, Ruth, such a work schedule, that's not for people like you.  I mean it's for professionals; professionals like my friends.'  I was thunderstruck!  Unknowingly, she had launched a challenge!"

"Years later, as I chatted amicably with King Juan Carlos of Spain, or on several occasions with Queen Sophia, I thought, Ah! Ha! This walking and talking with kings is this for people like me?

"Similarly, and more recently, I pondered, are you sure that this is for people like you, when I experienced what had to be the most exciting moment of my life?  I took a solitary but splendid walk down the red carpet to present my credentials as Ambassador, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Benin.

"I speak of myself not from pride or arrogance, but because I am grateful for my experiences.  I cite these examples strictly as challenges to you to always look far beyond the nay sayers.

Living in a different country provides unique cultural immersion opportunities as well as the occasion to travel to more than one country and learn a different language.  Study abroad is a vital link to obtaining a global perspective and the skills to live and work in an increasingly global society.  Imagine being able to convert U.S. dollars to British pounds or French francs while traveling on an assignment in Europe. Imagine still the need to travel to a job sight in Munich and purchasing a few Deutsche marks from your local bank for immediate cash upon arrival.  If you have your passport and you have traveled independently before you graduate from college, you are halfway to finding a job that will catapult you into the world of international business.  The future will present many challenges to today's graduates and those who wish to jump-start their careers are setting their sights on international travel and study as an integral part of their undergraduate curriculum.

Suppose you are a college student who has dreamed of traveling to far off places for as long as you can remember.  You watched Mission Impossible and imagined yourself in Prague not just during the filming process but involved in the intrigue of an international mystery.  Perhaps you viewed exotic places on the Discovery channel or you may even be a regular viewer of CNN to capture world news for your political science or sociology class.  Having been an armchair traveler for sometime now, you are probably ready to meet the challenge of study abroad.  Study abroad is a vital link to global competence and very high on the list of practical skills that one learns is how to purchase goods and services with foreign currency.  You will look at conversion rates and be able to do bargain shopping in the big department stores in France with the same skills that you employ at MACY'S.  Even before you master the language, you master the monetary system and control your finances while getting acquainted with new customs, transportation systems, housing and school.  Let's think about how savvy you will become before you have completed your first week of travel abroad.  Some of the skills will be learned during the planning process before you leave your home campus!  You already know the benefits. Let's see if we can answer some of the questions that are still lingering in your mind.

Getting Started

Once you decide that study abroad is for you, make an appointment to see your study abroad advisor.  Programs are arranged in a variety of different ways from campus to campus.  You must visit the designated study abroad advisor on your campus before you decide on where you want to go.  While it is important to have a goal and a plan, be open to the options that your advisor offers you.  The advisor will help you to gather additional facts and also help you to determine your coursework and the process for obtaining transfer credit for the courses that you complete in an educational setting abroad.  This individual may be a faculty member or an administrator and he or she will guide you through the process of finding the right program that suits your specific needs.  You may be lucky enough to find a program that provides an internship for you to obtain practical work experience abroad.

Through a variety of different interviews, your advisor will help you to decide on a semester program, academic year or summer program.  Let's take a look at the academic year.  Be patient, don't rush through the planning process.  A good plan that you and your study abroad advisor agree on will almost guarantee you a successful experience abroad.   The advisor will make sure that you get the necessary approvals from your academic advisors and the faculty who will review your coursework and approve it for transfer credit toward your degree before you go and after your return.

Academic Year Abroad

The academic year abroad is best suited for sophomores and juniors who can allocate the extended time away from the home campus.  It can also be valuable for students who really want to master a high level of proficiency in a foreign language.  If your major or career choice will require the use of a second language, it is wise to plan early because this type of program is designed so that you may spend an entire school year abroad.  However, you must be careful to select a program that does not conflict with the time that you would normally begin or end the school year on your home campus.  For example:  the academic year in England may begin in September and end in July.  In Ghana and other places in West Africa where established programs exist for American students, the academic year may begin in October and end in July.  If you choose to travel after the school year ends, you would have limited time to work and earn money for the following semester back at your home campus.  And there are also considerations for summer school.  Time is one of the considerations that you must weigh while making your decision to study abroad.

Semester Abroad

Semester programs are great ways to spend up to four months living and studying in another country.  It is sometimes the most viable option for upperclassmen who may be limited by time constraints.  One can acquire a good grasp of a foreign language and working knowledge of local customs and traditions through cultural immersion and language instruction.  Most students who study abroad participate in a semester program.  Occasionally, students may obtain a work permit and extend their stay in order to participate in other learning activities such as paid internships and work opportunities.

Summer Programs

Short-term programs are great for engineering and science majors who may have time constraints because of a structured curriculum.  In this instance it would be best to explore two to eight week travel/study options that are often sponsored by the home institution.  Intensive language courses are also taught during the summer months.  While a longer time to practice the language would influence the level of proficiency, many students attest to the value of intensive language courses taught in the host country as being extremely beneficial no matter how limited the time may be.  Just walking around and hearing the language spoken, reading signs on billboards and ordering from the menu make it possible to cover in two weeks abroad what you have learned in one full year in the American classroom.   Once you arrive in a foreign country, you begin to learn the language and other skills at an accelerated pace. After you have decided on a time limit, the next step is to decide on the type of program you will enroll in.  Let's look at a few of the options.

Agency Sponsored Programs

Organizations that design and implement programs specifically for college students provide structured programs that include language instruction and academic coursework in different subject areas.  Because of the specialization process, the agency can provide a full compliment of services geared toward the maximum enjoyment of the student.  Some of the leaders in the field include the Council on International Educational Exchange and the American Institute of Foreign Studies.  Each organization provides discount travel, student support services abroad and approved courses for college credit.  In addition, scholarships are available that are merit based. The agencies also provide diversity scholarships for minority students.  Information about these agencies can be obtained on the World Wide Web. (See reference table at the end.)

University Sponsored Programs

Many universities are expanding opportunities for their students to study abroad by developing linkage agreements with foreign institutions.  These are attractive programs because tuition is based on the tuition one ordinarily pays.  Since the program is usually set up as a one-for-one exchange, the registration process for a linkage program can be very easy to complete.

Direct Enrollment

In this type of program, a student may apply to a foreign university as a degree-seeking student or a special student who desires to take selected courses.  The student pays the tuition designated by the foreign university.  In every case, the direct enrollment fees are much cheaper than an agency sponsored or university sponsored program.  However, a student who acts independently must structure his or her own program and this could prove to be a big challenge for the average undergraduate student.

Most Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the most frequently asked questions by students who are considering study abroad include the following:

Who can study abroad?  Undergraduates who are enrolled full-time and making satisfactory progress toward a degree are generally eligible to participate in approved study abroad programs.

Is my GPA important?  It is important to maintain a grade point ratio that reflects your academic ability and the effort you have made to achieve your educational goals; however, the criteria for eligibility will vary from program to program.  For example, to participate in competitive programs in the United Kingdom and Australia, it is necessary to have an above average GPA (3.0 and above). In most instances an essay is required and a participant can play up their best good citizen characteristics.

Can I apply for financial aid to cover the cost of tuition during my study abroad experience?  In most cases, federal financial aid in the form of the Stafford loan and Pell Grant can be used for an approved Study Abroad program.   Be sure to discuss your financial needs with the Study Abroad Advisor during the early stages of your interview.  The advisor may be able to help you complete your financial statement based on the expenses that you anticipate you will incur as a result of study abroad.  Get definite answers about scholarships and if they will apply to the study abroad experience.  Don't forget to complete the applications for those programs that award scholarships and/or travel grants.  Keep in mind that most scholarships are merit based.

Do I have to speak a foreign language?  Proficiency in a foreign language is not a requirement.  Remember, there are many programs that offer English as the language of instruction and program requirements vary.  You may be able to take courses in English at the American University of Paris or the American University in Cairo.  Your study abroad advisor can help you choose a program that is tailored for your specific academic needs and abilities.

Where can I go?   Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Ghana, Kenya and more than one hundred countries worldwide offer programs for American students who want to study abroad.  You can begin your search with Peterson's Guide to Study Abroad or you might do a search on the internet. Again, the places where you can go are unlimited. Where you go may depend not only on the course of study but the climate as well.  Do you like to ski?  You might choose a cold climate in Austria, Germany or Switzerland.  Are you a beachcomber?  You just might set your sights on Martinique to learn  French or Costa Rica to learn  Spanish.

If you are now convinced that study abroad is for you and you cannot find the advising resources on your campus, I would encourage you to contact NAFSA: Association of International Educators at www.nafsa.org.  Through this organization, you may be linked to the special interest group for Black and Muticultural Professionals in International Education.  More than 100 educators are currently listed and they are willing to talk to you and your parents about your plans to study abroad.  Moreover, NAFSA maintains a website and the most up to date listing of resources for students and advisors.  The website contains a worldwide database and directories of study and work abroad programs. Please note the address at the end of this article.  This list was compiled by William Nolting at the University of Michigan and is presented to you as a courtesy of the Section on United States Students Abroad professional membership for NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Resources for Students and Advisors: Worldwide databases and Directories of Study & Work Abroad Programs.  The websites in this section are the best ones to start with when searching for study abroad programs:
 

** = essential
  * = outstanding & broad interest
**Institute of International EducationVacation Study Abroad, Sara Steen, editor: http://www.iie.org/help/search.htm

IIE's very comprehensive, authoritative directories of study abroad are on-line as searchable databases (over 4,500 programs listed), as are IIE scholarship directories.  AYA lists semester and academic year programs.  VSA lists summer and short-term programs.  To search, remove the "X on IIE Resources and X only the book you wish to search.  Search possible using any category or combination of categories, used in IIE's detailed listings, e.g. location, academic subject, cost, level of study, students (U.S., international, host country), internship, volunteer, etc.  Full texts of the books are available to those at IIE member institutions only, with password provided by IIE(e-mail membership@iie.org for password).  Or, use web search with book in hand if non-member.  The IIE site also has complete information about all Fulbright scholarship and teaching exchange programs.  Look for redesigned site in early 1999. 

Reference cited in article:

**Peterson's Guide to Study Abroad,  http://www.petersons.com/
Peterson's website database lacks the detail of Peterson's hard copy Study Abroad books.  Information is limited to location and academic subjects (does not provide cost information, for example).  Search possible by either country or academic subject, but not both.  Provides addresses and telephone numbers but not e-mail or websites.

* Study Abroad, By Mark Landon, http://www.studyabroad.com
Website's databases list over 4,500 programs.  It has special data bases for language courses and experiential programs.  Information is limited to location and academic subjects (does not provide cost information, for example).  Provides addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses.  Links to program websites for only some programs.  Search possible by country, academic subject, or both.

*The Electronic Embassy, http://www.embassy.org
     Web site collects the home pages of the U.S. based embassies of all countries.  While these sites are not specifically about international education, many countries do provide cultural and educational exchange information, in addition to essential information for travel (visas,etc.), on their websites.

*Transitions Abroad Magazine, http://www.transabroad.com

Editor Clay Hubbs was awarded NAFSA's Homer Higbee Award for "Transitions Abroad," which is unique in it's coverage of all education abroad options, from study and work abroad to educational travel.  The online version includes recent articles, annotated guides to resources and country by country listings of programs for study, work, internships, volunteering, language study, etc.  Search function for entire site. 

*University of California-Irvine, International Opportunities Program
Concept by Ruth Sylte, updates by UCI's OIP, http://www.cie.uci.edu/~cie/iop
Extensive directories (not databases) of study abroad, summer programs, internships, research, teaching, volunteering and work abroad programs with links to many other education abroad web sites.

*University of Michigan International Center's Overseas Opportunities Office

By William Nolting, http://www.umich.edu/~icenter/overseas. Not a database, but a collection of articles, annotated links and print resources for study, work and travel abroad, including in-depth reports on work abroad options the most unique feature of this site.

*University of Minnesota, International Study and Travel Center (ISTC). 
  Concept by Richard Warzecha, http://www.istc.umn,edu/

University site includes several different searchable databases for: 
--Study abroad and internships (OSAD), www.istc.umn.edu/osad/Default.shtml
--Scholarships, www.istc.umn.edu/work/Volunteersearch.shtml
--Volunteering abroad, www.istc.umn.edu/work/volunteersearch.shtml
--Directory of work abroad websites, www.istc.umn.edu/work/worksearch.shtml
--Student travel information, www.istc.umn.edu/travel/travel-search.shtml

A comprehensive website with outstanding search provisions.  Listings give the greatest range and depth of information of the free online databases.  Full contact information including links to websites and e-mail provided for every listing, where available.  It has the most sophisticated and easy-to-use design of any education-abroad site. The number of study abroad listings is somewhat less than other database sites but it will be expanded in 1998-99.