Lizzy Hackl | Culture Editor | ehackl@butler.edu
Studying abroad offers Butler students the opportunity to take courses, intern, research, serve or student teach.
Students can study abroad on any continent (except Antarctica) or in the United States for two weeks, the summer or a semester-long adventure.
Junior Riley Schmidt awaits her opportunity to take courses in Australia next summer. She will also visit her friend, junior Nate Dodge, who will be studying abroad in New Zealand, for hiking and other outdoor adventures.
“I think sometime in my life a vacation will take me back to Europe, but I don’t think it will take me to Australia,” Schmidt said. “I really want an entire semester to explore the excotic animals in a tropical environment, while learning about the indigenous people of Australia.”
Jill McKinney, director of study abroad, said studying abroad impacts students on a personal, academic and professional level.
On the journey of personal discovery, studying abroad provides a learning environment, an increased awareness of the interconnectivity of the world’s people and economies and a stronger understanding of one’s own capability to succeed in life.
“This increased self-confidence is one of the largest takeaways from study abroad, in my opinion,” McKinney said.
Studying abroad helps students meet their educational goals with courses not offered at Butler. McKinney uses biology as an example.
“A biology student cannot take a marine biology course at land-locked Butler; but that student can access an incredible course at an university in Sydney, Australia,” McKinney said.
Students who study abroad have the ability to communicate and work with cultural biases and a diverse group of people that future employers value.
McKinney advises students to go for it and apply to study abroad.
“I feel that the college years present a time in life where there is more access to time and resources to make it possible to be abroad for an extended period of time,” she said. “Those who return from study abroad reflect on it being one of the best decisions they made while in college and are often still learning from the experience years later.”
The Fund for Education Abroad will accept applications today until Jan. 10 for their FEA Scholarship, which contributes up to $10,000 to fund and promote diversity in study abroad for LGBTQI, disabled and minority students and those pursuing language instruction and non-traditional destinations.
Butler’s Center for Global Education advises that students attend one of the monthly information sessions one year before they want to study abroad. This will leave plenty of time to apply for or renew a passport, to pick the best program and to arrange all the necessary personal and academic details.
