Mentor Advice
Question
Why should students study abroad in non-traditional countries?
6 Replies from Mentors
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PeterJunior Year StudentFairfield UniversityStudying abroad in a non-traditional country may help you to get a better experience abroad because you are challenging yourself in ways most people never seek to.
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MichaelJunior Year StudentLoyola Marymount UniversityStudying abroad in a non traditional country, such as India, China, or Latin America, gives the student a chance to experience a culture radically different than our own. While studying in Europe is vastly different than in America, the religious, economic and ethnic make up is very similar to America. The vast majority of the world is made up of developing countries, and studying abroad in one of these non-traditional destinations gives students an eye opening opportunity to experience the “real world”.
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Miloni GandhiAssociate Director, International Recruitment, Office of AdmissionsUniversity of Southern CaliforniaNon traditional countries are many times harder to get to in the sense that they haven’t been commercially popularized, therefore it is often more difficult to find an excuse to go. Also, many times people fear the unknown, and don’t want to go to places they are not familiar with on their own. By studying abroad in a non-traditional country, you will be able to go someplace completely different and at the same time be surrounded by a group of peers who share similar interests as you. There is also a greater chance that you will have more intercultural interaction with locals if it is a place where foreigners are not prevalent. From a practical sense, many non traditional destinations are softer on the budget. Non traditional countries also push students out of their comfort zones more than places where you can find all the same products as home, and force the student to think outside the box.
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Barack Hussein Obama44th and current President of the United StatesUnited States…we have to listen carefully to each other. We have to focus on places where we can find common ground and respect each other's views, even when we disagree. And if we do so I believe we can bridge some of our differences and divisions that we've had in the past.
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AmyGraduate StudentUCLAMany of the non-traditional countries will be the most beautiful places you may ever experience (for example, Greece, South Korea and South Africa). The guidance available from your study abroad program and fellow students will offer you the support and resources you may need while you are there. Choose a country or a program that matters to you, even if it is not a place that other people might be attracted to. And, talk to a study abroad advisor; they will be able to tell you exactly what to expect there. Also, if you are looking for funding, especially prestigious funding resources like a Fulbright grant, traditional countries are much more competitive. So, I know some students who pursue their studies in non-traditional countries and then plan their weekend trips or travel before and after their program to more traditional countries nearby.
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Christa SandersAssociate Director NYU in GhanaNew York UniversityStudying abroad in a non-traditional destination provides numerous opportunities for personal growth, a deeper understanding of world cultures and true cross-cultural immersion. In many instances there are unique opportunities to be involved in volunteer work and impact local communities in need. This experience in itself can be life changing. An experience in a non- traditional setting can also prove to be an added plus when seeking employment. Studying in a non- traditional location demonstrates one’s ability to adjust to almost any environment as well as distinguishes one’s resume from others. Studying abroad in a non-traditional place helps make one a truly global citizen.