How to Select a Study Abroad Program

The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases. ~Carl Gustav Jung

Knowing yourself (and accepting who you are) is the key to finding your best-fit study abroad programs. For example, if you like living in a small town and are somewhat reserved, it’s probably not a great idea to start your experience out in an enormous city. It’s not that you couldn’t manage, but you’d probably have a richer experience in a smaller city, where you could live with a family, make friends easily, and walk or ride a bike to class. Study abroad is challenging enough, don’t push yourself too far.

During my first stint in the Peace Corps, I was placed in a small African village to live and work. My village was very remote and there were only about 1000 people who lived there. My job was to teach health education. Even though I didn’t like my job much, I felt comfortable with the people and community, made some good friends along the way, and knew who to speak with and where to go for all of my needs. As a result, I had a positive experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.

During my second tour in the Corps, I was placed in an urban youth development job in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. While the job was definitely more exciting, it was extremely hard for me to adjust to life in the big city. Thus, I asked the Peace Corps for reassignment to a small village. They told me that the only way that they could reassign me was if I gave up youth development work and went back to health education. I decided it was worth the sacrifice, and so I moved to a small village in the Andes Mountains.

To save yourself some headaches and from having to jump through hoops and more hoops, it is best to figure out what you want and need before you commit yourself to a study abroad program and location. Studying abroad is one of those things that you will fondly remember for the rest of your life, so take some time to think about what you want to get out of this door-opening opportunity. Think about fit, not glamour and excitement. Think about what might be best for you, not what someone else said was awesome.

Far too often, students make decisions about where to study based on hearsay. One student said it was awesome, so others think it must be a good fit for them, too. You don’t decide on a major or career because your friend told you it was cool, so don’t do it with study abroad. Preferably, your study abroad program and location should augment your education and future career, fit your personality, and challenge you to grow. You should be able to coherently explain to an employer why you selected a program and how it advanced your goals.

As you can imagine, there is a lot to consider when vetting study abroad programs: dates, duration, subjects, eligibility, credit, price, cost of living, instruction, housing, and location. You should also look at program types and structures. It can be overwhelming if you don’t have some idea of what you want before getting started. Nonetheless, your first step is to figure out what you want/need in a study abroad experience. The more careful you are about complementing your personal characteristics and career goals with a study abroad program, the better chance you’ll have for a successful experience.

The following worksheet will help you bring together all the factors that should be considered when vetting programs, and should guide you to make better choices.

First-Step Worksheet to a Successful Study Abroad Program

Why do you want to study abroad? (ex. personal growth, academic enrichment, career goals)

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Where are you interested in going? (Don’t rule out non-traditional locations as they are becoming more popular.)

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What do you hope to accomplish? (ex. improve foreign language skills, learn another culture, etc.)

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Would you prefer a special type of environment and/or atmosphere? (ex. big city, small town, etc.)
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What do you like to do in your spare time? (fun activities)

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What kind of courses do you plan to take? (subject matter) 

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How do you want/need study abroad coursework to factor into your degree program? (The more you choose, the more options you will have when it comes to selecting a program.)

        ◘ General Education  ◘ Major  ◘ Minor 

        ◘ Internship  ◘ Language  ◘ Independent Study

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How long do you want to be gone? (Note, most students wish they signed up for longer than they did… a semester goes by really fast.)

       ◘ 1-6 weeks  ◘ Semester  ◘ Academic Year

When can you be gone? (Check all that apply and circle one or two preferences.)

            ◘ Fall  ◘ Winter Break ◘ Spring 

            ◘ Spring Break  ◘ Summer

In what languages are you willing/able to take classes?

            ◘ English or  ◘ Another language: _______________

Are you interested in learning another language?

            ◘ No   ◘ Yes: ________________________________

            Your current level: ____________________________

What kind of housing best suits your goals?

◘ Hostel or Hotel       ◘ Flat or Apartment
◘ Host Family            ◘ Residence Hall

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Do you have any special needs? (vegetarian, disability, etc.)

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What size and type of institution/classroom best suits you?

           Institution Size:  ◘ Small   ◘ Medium   ◘ Large

           Classroom Size:  ◘ Small   ◘ Medium   ◘ Large

           Type:  ◘ Americanized  ◘ Foreign (something new)

How important is total cost in your final selection?

◘ Not important      ◘ Somewhat important

◘ Very important    ◘ I cannot go without help

How much money do you have to spend? (include any financial aid that will apply to study abroad) ______________________________

How much independence do you desire? (The more support and/or structure you want or need, the more costly the program in comparison with others in the same location.)

Very comfortable asking questions or figuring things out on my own.Lower Cost    Less structure needed

Not comfortable asking questions or figuring things out on my own.Higher Cost More structure needed

Other notes:
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Take this worksheet to your study abroad office so a trained advisor can help you identify some best-fit programs just for you, from the options available at your institution. When you begin to narrow down your options, then talk to students who have gone before you and read student reviews. There are many resources that can help you in this process.

While all of this may seem overwhelming, it’s really not once you figure out what you want/need. It’s also quite rewarding when you’ve come to a decision based on sound logic rather than dust in the wind. One thing that people tend to overlook in their youth is that each decision they make in life leads to another, which unfolds into a journey that leads to who, what, where, when, why, and how they continue to exist. When you get to be my age, you see that where you’ve ended up was all based on your decisions along the way. Then you have either an epiphany or a midlife crisis. :) 

This is a partial excerpt from the latest updated edition of Study Abroad 101 by Wendy Williamson.