Keep in Mind
Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a study abroad program:
- In cases where a student studies abroad through a program (e.g. IES in Rome), the student is expected to take at least 2 courses at the local university. The remaining courses can be taken either at the local university or at the program center in the local language.
- Students who attend programs in non-English-speaking countries are expected to fulfill the appropriate language requirements.
- If the country in which a student wishes to study abroad is on the approved list, but their particular program of interest is not, the program will probably not be approved by Columbia. However, if students have compelling academic reasons for preferring their particular program over one of the approved programs, they may present their rationale, in writing, for the consideration by the OGP.
- If the U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Advisory Warning for a particular country, Columbia may restrict their approval for programs in that country while the Advisory is in effect.
-
Peer
mentors, or students who have returned from studying abroad, are
available to prospective study abroad students for questions about any aspect
of their experience.
- Student evaluations of each program are also available for you to review.
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| "Sinai Girls" by Marissa Harary CC' 05 |
Selecting an appropriate program is a critical part of study abroad preparation. Students are encouraged to take time to find
out as much as they can about programs of interest using a variety of the resources that are available to them. If any of the information on the list of
approved programs is unclear, students should contact the OGP at .
In choosing a study abroad program, students should look through the list of Approved study abroad programs and narrow down program choices according to a few criteria and your own goals for your time abroad . Some factors to consider:
- Country preference
-
the languages you speak & your language level
- program length
You should review the program's overall philosophy and goals, housing policy, orientation programs, academic courses offered and the availability of courses which are relevant to your major, and language proficiency requirements.Good research resources include general study abroad information books, applications and catalogues for various programs, and other students' evaluations of their study abroad experiences.