The Education Abroad Program coordinators hosted an education abroad fair on Wednesday, Feb. 1 to encourage students who are interested in studying abroad to learn more about different programs and what is offered.
The fair, which was held in the Union Ballroom from 11am-1pm, had many resources available to students who wanted to learn more including scholarship information, advisors for different programs, students to talk to who have gone abroad in the past, free pizza, and the chance to win different prizes.
“We went to a bunch of different temples and just got to experience a lot and it was really interesting to see how nice people were there,” said Cara Courtright, a UW student who studied abroad in Thailand,
“I think going abroad at any time is really cool. It’s a very memorable experience, getting to try different foods and getting to see how even transportation is different. Architecture is different too.”
Many students shared good experiences of their trips to study abroad. A common goal of theirs was to take a trip abroad before they graduate.
“I always had a goal to go abroad before I graduated, and I’m a senior so this is my last semester, so I wanted to go over the J-term before my last semester to experience new things,” said Benjamin Newell, a student who traveled to Rome,
“I did an Italian culture course, which was just focused on what makes Italians Italian in comparison to other countries. We did a lot of history, ate a lot of food, went to wine tastings, and learned about architectural history.”
Among student advocates for studying abroad, representatives from England, Central America, Germany, Poland, and China spoke with students about what they could experience in different countries.
“I’m a law student. So, a lot of what I do is just so depressing. It’s so focused on the U.S. perspective and I wanted to get out of the country to see the international side of conservation and how we can model those roles in U.S. infrastructures,” said Nick Espenan, a student who traveled to Patagonia.
For students who are interested in studying abroad but are worried about the cost of tuition and travel expenses, there are many resources available online regarding scholarship opportunities and financial aid.
“I think everyone should try to go abroad at least once. It’s a good goal. Even if it’s just for two or three weeks, which is a perfect amount of time. You get a crash course on the culture” said Newell.
If you are interested in learning more about the Education Abroad program at UW, please visit https://www.uwyo.edu/uwyoabroad/.
