Do you want to Study Abroad in College?

Are you a high school student who wants to study abroad when you go to college? Are you interested in earning valuable college credit for study abroad programs, internships abroad, and/or international travel tours? Do you want to learn to speak a foreign language well? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you need to find a college or university that has a wide variety of study abroad opportunities and can award valuable college credit for your participation.  Too many colleges and universities make study abroad complicated and you don’t want to get stuck with one of them. Read Study Abroad in College for tips about how to select a college for study abroad.

Every year, Eastern Illinois University awards around $100,000 in cash scholarships for all kinds of study abroad programs and extra tuition waiver scholarships for exchange programs. In addition, we automatically waive EIU tuition and fees for all study abroad programs except faculty-led and exchange, which depend on tuition for operation. We have every kind of study abroad program you can imagine, from one week to one year:  internships abroad, faculty-led groups, service learning, exchange programs, direct enroll study abroad, student teaching abroad, and more. In addition, we keep study abroad programs affordable, “at cost” for students.

If you’re not from Illinois, no worries… first-time undergraduates from other states or anywhere in the world with a minimum 3.5 GPA or equivalent will be eligible for the new in-state tuition rate beginning in the Fall of 2010. If your high school GPA is higher than 3.5, take advantage of this incredible offer and experience how EIU integrates the academic and personal development of students. Not only can you study abroad, but you can also “study away” through the National Student Exchange (NSE). Students can study away for a semester at one of 200 member universities in the US, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands.

Why is study abroad so important? It sets you apart from your peers. When employers see a well-planned, organized study abroad experience on your resume, they know that you have curiosity, initiative, drive, and self-motivation. They know you’re open-minded and you desire to learn about people and world. They know you’re different from the other 150 resumes sitting on their desk. Study abroad sets you apart from the status quo and gives you a head start on life, both personally and professionally. Currently, only about 1% of college students study abroad… go, be different, have fun, and excel! Study abroad is one way to step up to the competitive job market and win.

Submitted by Wendy Williamson, Director of Study Abroad, Eastern Illinois University