UGA Logo UGA Office of Public Affairs top bar image UGA Home
Columns faculty staff newspaper News Service
Contact Us
Text-Only
top bar image
SEARCH
  Columns   UGA    
 
  october 13, 2008
  In this issue
  News
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Around Academe
  News to Use
  Go Figure
  Digest
  UGA Guide
  Newsmakers
  Faculty Profile
  Weekly Reader
  Cybersights
  Bulletin Board
 
  Back Issues
  Publication Dates
  Contact Us

campus newS

Study-abroad fair offers overseas learning opportunities for students
By Matt Weeks
mweeks@uga.edu

At last year’s fair, Colleen Larson (left), a study-abroad adviser, talks with Carla Crutcher about the Terry College of Business’ program in Spain. (Photo by Peter Frey)
It was the pictures that made him leave. The pictures and the stories, that is.

Brad Brizendine, a senior finance major from Atlanta, heard for months about the horizon-exploding experiences that his friends had participating in the study-abroad program, and he couldn’t take it anymore. He signed up for a UGA study-abroad program and spent last summer trekking across New Zealand and Fiji while fulfilling requirements to graduate.

“We felt we were learning more because we were actually in the middle of everything. It was a different from just sitting down in a lecture hall,” he said. “I can’t speak for the other programs because I haven’t done them, but I would recommend to anyone to go to the South Pacific.”

But for students who aren’t sure which program is the best fit or how to navigate the waters of an overseas semester, there’s a one-stop shop for all things study abroad.

The 24th annual Study, Work and Travel Abroad Fair runs from 10 a.m.– 3 p.m. Oct. 15 and 16 in the Miller Learning Center’s (formerly the Student Learning Center) fourth floor rotunda, a change from its usual location in the Tate Student Center.

Sponsored by the Office of International Education, the fair is staffed by 80 programs and companies offering students overseas opportunities. Many booths will showcase UGA programs, but students also can receive class credit by studying abroad with other institutions or even third-party programs that work with local universities in the host country.

From popular destinations in western Europe and Latin America, such as the UGA programs in Oxford and Costa Rica, to programs in countries such as China and Tanzania, the fair offers destinations on every continent and programs focusing on all areas of study. In addition, travel agents and companies who place students in work positions will be on-hand to offer their services.

More than 28 percent of UGA students choose to study abroad during their college career, a statistic that Kornelia Probst-Mackowiak, study-abroad coordinator, attributes in part to its cross-campus support and its increasing affordability.

“It costs the same as in-state tuition for all students, whether they’re paying that rate now or not,” she said.

However, not all programs are created equally, cost-wise. Students searching for less-expensive deals can visit the fair or one of the Office of International Education’s 50-minute “Options Abroad” sessions in the Bank of America building (110 East Clayton St.). These small sessions happen every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Interested parties should call (706) 425-3274 to sign up.
 


Columns is produced by the UGA News Service, a unit of UGA Public Affairs.
286 Oconee St., Ste. 200N, Athens, GA 30602-1999
Juliett Dinkins (jdinkins@uga.edu): editor (706) 542-8017,
Janet Beckley (jbeckley@uga.edu): art director (706) 542-8170, Peter Frey (pfrey@uga.edu): photo editor (706) 542-8086,
Matthew Weeks (mweeks@uga.edu): senior reporter (706) 542-8024, Sara Freeland (freeland@uga.edu): reporter (706) 542-8077
Questions or comments should be directed to columns@uga.edu

Back Issues | Publication Dates | Subscribe to Columns | Contact Us | Text-only Version

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2008-2009 University of Georgia. All rights reserved
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA 30602 | UGA Directory Assistance 706/542-3000
UGA Home | UGA Today | Public Affairs Directory