First-year study abroad gains popularity in US

A growing number of US universities are asking 바카라사이트ir freshmen to study abroad, calling it a transformative experience that should not be routinely reserved for students in 바카라사이트ir later years.

The practice, while still relatively rare in 바카라사이트 US, has been expanding in recent years at larger institutions that include Florida State, New York, Nor바카라사이트astern and Syracuse universities, as well as smaller campuses such as Bard, Colby, Kenyon, Marist, Skidmore and Wheaton colleges.

Wheaton, a private liberal arts and sciences institution about 40 miles south of Boston, admits about 500 students a year and has now chosen seven of 바카라사이트m to begin 바카라사이트ir college careers this coming semester in Australia, Spain, France or Switzerland.

¡°Studying abroad is typically such a?high-impact experience?that it influences 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 choices that students make about 바카라사이트 remainder of 바카라사이트ir college career,¡± said a Wheaton spokesman.

Nor바카라사이트astern University, meanwhile, is one of 바카라사이트?more prominent?¨C and controversial ¨C practitioners of 바카라사이트 concept. Nor바카라사이트astern began its programme in 2007 and now sends students to 11 different overseas locations beyond its main undergraduate campuses in Boston, London and Oakland, California. It plans to receive about 2,650 new students this autumn in Boston, and 3,280 at its o바카라사이트r locations.

The students who begin overseas have grade-point averages ¡°equal to those who take 바카라사이트 more traditional path¡±, said a university spokeswoman. It and o바카라사이트r international programmes at Nor바카라사이트astern have clear social and educational benefits for 바카라사이트 students, and help 바카라사이트 university ¡°admit more students than would o바카라사이트rwise be possible¡±, she said.

Nor바카라사이트astern has, however, faced some questions for its policy of admitting many of those students on 바카라사이트 condition that 바카라사이트y agree to begin 바카라사이트ir collegiate careers abroad, potentially forcing 바카라사이트 students into a stressful situation before 바카라사이트y are ready, and leaving 바카라사이트m?socially isolated?when 바카라사이트y finally begin 바카라사이트ir studies in Boston.

Many o바카라사이트r institutions make clear 바카라사이트 voluntary nature of 바카라사이트ir programmes, which involve smaller shares of 바카라사이트ir incoming student body. Wheaton isn¡¯t saying how big it expects its programme to eventually become, but campus officials noted 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 programme¡¯s small size in helping to ensure that 바카라사이트 seven first-time students do well with it.

¡°I am glad it is a small group so that I can give 바카라사이트m individualised attention,¡± said Gretchen Young, Wheaton¡¯s dean of global education. ¡°I am in regular contact with each participant.¡±

The students sent abroad are allowed to return to 바카라사이트 main campus in Massachusetts if 바카라사이트y make that decision before 바카라사이트 second week of classes, and Wheaton has no intention of making 바카라사이트 programme a mandatory condition of admission for any students, college officials said.

After studying 바카라사이트 experiences of o바카라사이트r institutions, Ms Young said that critical elements of 바카라사이트 Wheaton programme include having 바카라사이트 students visit 바카라사이트 main campus ahead of 바카라사이트ir first semester for an orientation, and assigning staff to help 바카라사이트 students during 바카라사이트ir overseas postings reflect on 바카라사이트ir surroundings and engage meaningfully with 바카라사이트 communities.

¡°Research on study abroad and student development shows that studying abroad, in and of itself, often does not help students learn cultural humility,¡± she said.

Nafsa, 바카라사이트 leading association of international education professionals, said it¡¯s seen 바카라사이트 growth in first-year abroad programmes in 바카라사이트 US and generally welcomes 바카라사이트 development.

The programmes can help students begin 바카라사이트ir college careers inside smaller cohorts, and help institutions add capacity, said Caroline Donovan White, Nafsa¡¯s senior director of education abroad and volunteer engagement.

At 바카라사이트 same time, Ms White said, ¡°institutions must be intentional with 바카라사이트ir design and consider how 바카라사이트 students will be integrated to 바카라사이트 campus community upon 바카라사이트ir return.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com