SUNY Oswego continues to send more than 20% of students to study abroad post-COVID-19, making it one of the top campuses in the SUNY system, according to the Education Abroad Office.

More than 400 students are sent annually to more than 30 countries through the campus program. Students who study abroad have the opportunity to effectively acclimate to a variety of different settings and cultures. As a result, they can gain a better understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Kiara Montero, a senior who is majoring in broadcasting and human development, spent a semester at sea through Colorado State University in the fall of 2022. She toured 11 countries, including the Netherlands, Portugal, Morocco and Spain.

“I loved it personally because it allowed me to push outside of my comfort zone and seize the opportunity,” Montero said. “I had the opportunity to experience newer cultures that I would not have had the opportunity to do in Oswego or the Bronx.”

According to the events calendar at SUNY Oswego, study abroad information tables are located in the Marano Campus Center. These sessions take place Tuesday through Thursday and last between two to three hours. Student ambassadors share their stories, guide students through the study abroad application process and respond to any questions or concerns they may have.

While considering studying abroad, one concern is money. To help university students pay for their travel and study abroad, SUNY Oswego offers a variety of scholarship alternatives. With the development of student funding and grants, the number of students able to participate in study abroad programs increased.

Montero also discussed the various funding opportunities available to students for studying abroad, as well as the steps she took during her process.

“As a student participating in the educational opportunity program, I submitted numerous applications for aid,” Montero said. “I also submitted applications for several awards, including the Louise Barwinczok Wilson ’74 Scholarship and the Colleen Brunner Memorial Scholarship. I occasionally set up meetings with the Oswego aid office to advocate for myself. To work with them to accomplish my objectives, I went above and beyond what was necessary and was fervently devoted to doing so.”

AFS-USA, a worldwide non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to encourage students who are interested in studying abroad, suggests that studying abroad improves career opportunities.

In addition to experiencing change in their personal life when studying abroad, students can frequently learn how to be more outgoing and make connections between these changes and their major.

Favoured-Joy Oghenekome, a junior majoring in global and international studies, spoke about how going overseas may help you get to know yourself better and figure out what kind of person you are. She traveled to Seoul, South Korea, in the spring of 2022. 

“The Study Abroad program creates a lasting impact on a student by testing their adaptability,” Oghenekome said. “It is okay to not be a traveler or stay close to home but studying abroad definitely lets you know what kind of person you are.”

She added that this opportunity gave her the chance to acquire various ideas and incorporate them in her major.

“As a global studies major, I am tasked with understanding the concept of globalization and foreign localities,” Oghenekome said. “Through the study abroad program, I was able to visualize and apply learned concepts. This helped me develop skills such as connecting ideas, enhancing cultural sensitivity and stress management.”

In addition to improving career prospects, studying abroad can encourage students to be more accepting of other cultures and receptive to understanding the distinctions between them and their own cultures.

“Although it can be costly, there are resources available to assist our students,” Lizette Alvarado, the associate director of the study abroad office, said.

There is a budget sheet that will detail the program’s estimated cost. Financial aid, however, alleviates that burden, and includes a portion that can be applicable to study abroad expenses, according to Alvarado.

She underlined the value of making use of the school resources, such as meeting with an academic advisor to discuss the courses that will be taken during the program. This guarantees that the student has proof of their study, which is frequently beneficial when seeking employment. Alvarado emphasized that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that should not be missed.

Photo via Pexels by: Spencer Davis