With the deadline to submit applications for study abroad rapidly approaching, some students may seem less concerned with where they are going than if they should go and expect a safe return.

April 1 marks the cut-off date for programs offered through Penn State's Office of International Programs (IP). IP is receiving the same number of applicants to study abroad but with an added concern for these travels, said Kristen Rimany (graduate-higher education administration), a peer advising coordinator for IP.

"There are students who are applying and showing concerns about what happened in Madrid, for example, but for the most part, we make sure the programs the students are applying to are safe," Rimany said.

Even with this newly growing concern and safety alert in the news recently, Rimany said applications are coming in with great numbers.

"These things can happen, and you don't want to stop living your life, so all programs planned will still go on," she said.

Jenna Krostich (sophomore-marketing) is one of the many students planning to go abroad next year.

"I'm going through Penn State to Spain. I have always wanted to go to Spain because I've taken Spanish since middle school, and I want to go to Europe," Krostich said.

Though her concerns are limited after the train bombing in Madrid, Krostich said there should still be some danger in traveling.

"I feel like anywhere you go, there is a risk. Even here, there is a risk for terrorism," she added.

Justin Gottlieb (junior-psychology), who was in Spain during the time of the Madrid train bombings, said in an e-mail message that his greatest fear about being abroad is the lack of motivation coming from most European countries to fight the ongoing threat of terrorism.

"Spain and other countries seem to believe that by staying out of world affairs, they will protect their people. But this could not be further from the truth," Gottlieb said.

Instead, he said it is necessary to combat terrorism in order for freedom and safety to prevail.

"This is not the first time in the history of any country when freedom was threatened ... I can only hope that the world will unite as one and ensure freedom and safety for all," he said.

Students like Gottlieb, who is currently studying in Madrid, will not have to worry in the immediate future about programs being canceled. This is because all but one program offered from the school are continuing, even with some international hardships, Rimany said.

The one program that was canceled was Tel-Aviv University in Israel.

"We canceled the Israel program last year because of what's going on over there. We feel it's not safe to send students over there at the moment," Rimany said.

Manny Cohen (junior-film and video) said his sister is currently studying abroad in Israel through another American program, and he is worried about her time there, but she does not.

"She likes Israel because our dad is there, and she has friends, so she was never concerned about her choice to study there or for safety issues," Cohen said.

"I'm the one concerned with her safety," he added.

Cohen said his sister's program has restrictions, but he is not sure of all of the details. He said she is not allowed to ride the bus, campus security has been increased, and student travel within the country has been limited.

With the worries Cohen has, he still said Penn State should not have canceled the program to Tel-Aviv University.

"I don't think they should cancel the program, just take extra precautions and more security. Students just need to be careful, no matter where they are," he said.

Rimany, who said the Middle Eastern country of Egypt is on the list of possible countries to study, added the students abroad there now do not feel as though their safety was being threatened.

"I don't believe there will be more safety precautions made because many students who went to Egypt said they didn't feel endangered even with the anti-American sentiment," Rimany said.