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FAQs

There are many rumors that students hear about study abroad, but most of the negative things they hear or think are not true! Here are some of the common misconceptions around study abroad and what鈥檚 really going on:

Study abroad is too expensive.

While there is cost associated with studying abroad, there are ways to alleviate it. There are many scholarships available from a variety of sources. The USF Global Learning Office (GLO) offers scholarships for which you can apply. The Office of National Scholars could work with you on an application for a Gilman Scholarship if you are a Pell Grant-eligible student. Aside from USF institutional sources, there are plenty of websites that offer scholarship databases such as the University of Minnesota鈥檚 Study Abroad Scholarship database and NAFSA. Apply for as many scholarships for which you are academically eligible as you can because every little bit helps. You should talk to a GLO staff member or your academic advisor to evaluate your options.

I can鈥檛 study abroad because I鈥檒l get off track in my major or with graduate school prerequisites鈥�

There are many ways you can participate in study abroad. The Global Learning Office offers students programs throughout the school year with time spent abroad ranging from one week to a whole year! Some might even offer some of the upper-level science courses required for medical school admissions or AACSB accredited courses for Business majors鈥� do your research! The program that meets all your needs exists!

My parents would freak out if I traveled abroad because it鈥檚 unsafe.

USF would not allow you to participate in a study abroad program in an unsafe location. The GLO requires all students to participate in a predeparture orientation which offers relevant information and strategies for students to stay safe while abroad. The office has health and safety staff who have a 24/7 hotline students and/or trip leaders can call in case of any emergencies. 黑料爆料 participating in study abroad also have mandatory health insurance as part of the program fee which can help defray costs should there be a medical emergency.  

I don鈥檛 speak another language, so what鈥檚 the point?

There are many, many English language-based programs in locations all over the world鈥攅ven where English is not the native language. Even so, immersion is a fantastic way to acquire a second language if you鈥檙e interested in learning one!

I鈥檒l miss out on things back at USF or with my family that I cannot compromise on.

You can strategically choose the timeframe in which you participate to avoid missing anything monumental by being proactive in planning with your academic advisor. You should remember that even if there are campus traditions you might miss while you鈥檙e away, you will also be partaking of a personally transformative experience, which might be more important in the long run than football season or spring formal.

Study abroad just seems like it鈥檚 about partying and taking cute pictures.

Sure, you can Instagram all the exotic architecture you observe and delicious food you eat while exploring the local scene with some friends, but the experience is called 鈥渟tudy abroad鈥� for a reason. You will be getting course credit, and as such, the academic component of the experience should be your first priority. The world is literally your classroom as you explore and get to know yourself and the people around you in the new context of life abroad.

There are no real benefits associated with studying abroad.

There have been multiple studies done over many years that empirically state otherwise. 黑料爆料 have reported gains in such domains as intercultural competence, communication skills, critical thinking, self-efficacy and self-esteem, and open-mindedness. There will be many skills and experiences you can discuss in interviews as a result of study abroad to demonstrate your unique qualifications for a job/internship. There鈥檚 even a study that shows that study abroad alumni make more money than their counterparts who didn鈥檛!