A Study Abroad Fair presented by the Bagley Center occurred Wed. Oct. 15 in the HUB from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Numerous students stopped by to grab information about studying abroad as well as chat with representatives from different study abroad providers.
Twenty-two study abroad representatives were present from all over the world and talked with anywhere from twenty to fifty students about the benefits of studying abroad as well as many different options of places to travel.
Ryan Johnson, a senior majoring in business, studied abroad in Budapest, Hungary last spring. “I studied abroad and it was definitely the best time of my life,” Johnson said. “I highly recommend it to business majors and anyone else,” he added.
Representatives discussed various things such as the comparison of the experience to the U.S., the benefit of cultural interaction as well as the fact that the credits will transfer for courses, so that students do not miss any time towards graduation. To be able to speak another language or have knowledge of a foreign culture greater than other Americans in a job field gives an advantage to students who have journeyed to another country.
The experience money-wise is comparable to the tuition for out-of-state students at PSU, making that a pull for many students out of the area who could pay as much to go to a University in Plymouth, NH for the same cost as another University across the globe. Travel expenses are not included in many study abroad packages but things such as cell phones and medical insurance are.
“This was our second fair,” said Jessica Morel of the Bagley Center. “The first one we did last February but this one was a little bit more well received in the Fall semester,” she added. Because many of the representatives travel to get to Plymouth, it is easier for them to get here in the fall than in the winter months.
“It was more of an experience where students could take a look at what might be out there without necessarily having to come to the Bagley Center,” Morel said. The benefits of the fair being in the HUB is that students passing by are attracted to the fair, many of which may never have thought about going abroad.
The State Department was also present in the HUB Oct. 15 processing passports. The fee was only 100 dollars as opposed to the average of 120 dollars because the Bagley Center gave a break to students by issuing free passport photos. To issue a passport a valid birth certificate is required, which many students were unaware of that day.
The State Department will be back during International Education week, which is from Nov. 17 to Nov. 21. On Nov. 18, the State Department will be issuing passports again in the HUB from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Beginning in June 2009, bordering countries of the U.S. will require that U.S. citizens have a valid passport upon entering their countries. A more detailed explanation of this new policy can be found at Travel.State.Gov, the website of the U.S. Department of State.
The PSU deadline for studying abroad this spring is Nov. 15, while the PSU deadline for summer and fall programs is in April. Students who are interested in going abroad are encouraged to stop by the Bagley Center for more information.