World of options

Some students look to other colleges for study abroad opportunities

If the University doesn't offer the study abroad program you're looking for, there are other options -- such as looking to another university.

Alternatives to going through the University's Office of International Programs do exist, and students have the ultimate say in when and where their travel options will lead them, said Katie Porter, a study abroad adviser in the Office of International Programs.

Students are encouraged by the Office of International Programs to style their own plans, whether they choose to travel through Penn State or another university.

Roxanne De Cosmo studied in Rome during the Fall Semester, 1997, through the program offered by Temple University in order to meet more people from other universities.

"There were a broad range of people from everywhere in our group," De Cosmo (senior-marketing). "Studying abroad opens your eyes to what's around you."

Penn State offers programs that run concurrent with other Big Ten universities, Porter said. Therefore, students are not limited in their choices.

"We see a fair number of students that want to study abroad through other options," said Moradeyo Olorunnisola, admissions counselor in the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

University students who wish to study through other institutions or private organizations need to contact the school or organization to obtain information and detailed course descriptions, Olorunnisola said.

The institution the student will be studying abroad through must provide the student's official transcript to the University's admissions office, Olorunnisola said. The admissions office then determines the number of transferable credits the student will receive, she added.

Studying abroad through another university takes extensive planning. It is essential to set particular goals while working with advisers to continue drafting a plan that is best for you, Olorunnisola said.

"It took a lot of planning, but I think everyone should do it," De Cosmo said. "It's a great experience."

Such a great experience can teach students important lessons and influence their thoughts about the world and themselves.

"It is a lesson in personal growth as well as academic achievement," Porter said.