2008 Woodie Awards
The Broader View of Going Abroad
Deena Mueller
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Commentary
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Before Christmas, many sophomores need to make decisions regarding where they'll spend next year. At Colgate, studying abroad seems standard. Sixty percent of us do it at least once! Colgate is known for its outstanding study groups in places everywhere from Scotland to Australia to Venice. Not to mention the added bonus of avoiding an upstate New York winter, and escaping the confines of Madison County for a semester. Why wouldn't you go abroad?
The ramifications of attending school off campus for a semester are minor. It simply means that there are fewer juniors than any other grade. However, as the day approaches when students start jetting off to European universities, the land down under, and internships in D.C., many students realize there are negatives sides to their study abroad plans.
From early on in my Colgate days, I had a study abroad plan. I knew where and when I wanted to go. Now as the application deadlines draw near, I'm getting cold feet. I'm starting to realize that socially, financially, and academically a semester abroad is going to be a challenge.
Until the beginning of this school year I was still adamant about doing both semesters of junior year overseas, but I've changed my mind. I will only go abroad one semester. I justify this by saying that it would be nearly impossible to double major and go abroad a full year, and that's true. However, in the back of my mind I know that social concerns have heavily influenced my choice. Will I grow apart from my friends if I'm gone all year? Will I return senior year feeling left out. I have junior friends going abroad next semester; come December I won't be ready to say goodbye to them forever! Even just leaving for one semester, I know some things will change.
Granted studying abroad, and even college in general, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. And first and foremost it's suppose to be about education. Theses decisions should be based on what friends are doing or how I think it might affect my social life. But still, the risk of straining important friendships has factored into my plans.
The ramifications of attending school off campus for a semester are minor. It simply means that there are fewer juniors than any other grade. However, as the day approaches when students start jetting off to European universities, the land down under, and internships in D.C., many students realize there are negatives sides to their study abroad plans.
From early on in my Colgate days, I had a study abroad plan. I knew where and when I wanted to go. Now as the application deadlines draw near, I'm getting cold feet. I'm starting to realize that socially, financially, and academically a semester abroad is going to be a challenge.
Until the beginning of this school year I was still adamant about doing both semesters of junior year overseas, but I've changed my mind. I will only go abroad one semester. I justify this by saying that it would be nearly impossible to double major and go abroad a full year, and that's true. However, in the back of my mind I know that social concerns have heavily influenced my choice. Will I grow apart from my friends if I'm gone all year? Will I return senior year feeling left out. I have junior friends going abroad next semester; come December I won't be ready to say goodbye to them forever! Even just leaving for one semester, I know some things will change.
Granted studying abroad, and even college in general, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. And first and foremost it's suppose to be about education. Theses decisions should be based on what friends are doing or how I think it might affect my social life. But still, the risk of straining important friendships has factored into my plans.
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