Eastern Michigan University students joined together Wednesday to discuss all the different opportunities on study abroad locations, financial aid and the length of time spent in a different country. The informational answered any questions the students may have had and gave the students an opportunity to decide what program they would like to be a part of, as well as the country they would like to visit.
Eleonora Katsambouris, the Study Abroad Advisor, discussed with the students how to go exactly where they wanted to go and what they can do financially to pay for the trip. She also talked about the different programs that fit into the school year, whether it be in the fall, winter or summer semesters. Being a college student tight on funds, the last thing a student may have in mind is going overseas and traveling the world, but Katsambouris explained that study abroad can be very affordable.
“It may be cheaper to stay in the dorms in Korea, than in the dorms at Eastern,” Katsambouris said.
The main concern with study abroad is the cost, and many students may not have been informed that any scholarships or financial aid can be used towards study abroad. There are so many different scholarships that will help pay for the cost. The Gillman scholarship, for example, gives between $4,000 and $8,000. There are federal scholarships, departmental scholarships and crowd funding to help fund study abroad.
“There are many scholarships for women and things of your specific identity,” Katsambouris said. “And there are also pell grants that can help pay for the semester of study abroad."
Traveling study abroad students have three options of travel, and one option is the faculty lead program which is held in the winter. This program is lead by an Eastern Michigan University faculty member, and students receive a grade for the course while in a different country. Most of the learning in this program will be done on the road.
Next is the summer program, which is a mix of faculty and partner courses. And then, there is the exchange program, which is for either a semester or a year and consists of an exchange student coming to EMU in place of an EMU student going to Japan.
On Sept. 30, there will be a big informational program held for all students interested in studying abroad. It will consist of detailed information about taking further steps to studying abroad, two free passport pictures, and a chance to enter to win a $500 study abroad award. Any students who find an interest in traveling the world should take the time out to be a part of the second informational held in the Student Center Ballroom A.
