Hello and welcome to experience NC State.
My name is Amanda Gantz and I am a study abroad advisor.
Here at NC State, we encourage all students to consider a study abroad program because
it is a transformative experience that is accessible to all of our wolf pack.
Today, I want to give an overview of what study abroad is at NC State, what benefits
it has for you regardless of your major, the types of programs we have and what resources
you have available to you to ensure it is affordable and the best fit.
Benefits of studying abroad.
Still today, only one percent of US students study abroad, which means engaging in a study
abroad experience places you into a very limited pool of students which will in turn set you
apart.
Study abroad allows you to work on the skills that aren't as easily gained in a traditional
classroom, but they are sought out by future employers and graduate programs.
Skills like cross-cultural competence, adaptability and problem solving are at the top of the
list for employers when hiring.
And these are skills that you can actively gain and showcase on your resume through a
study or internship abroad experience.
As a STEM heavy institution, sometimes our students don't recognize the benefit of having
an international experience.
STEM students often focus on the hard skills within their curriculum, but study abroad
allows students to build the soft skills that are necessary to work in today's job market.
There are all kinds of great stats out there that show how much more likely a study abroad
student is to be employed over a non study abroad student.
And students with international experience are also more likely to have higher starting
salaries.
Students are also able to expand their academic knowledge in their field by taking courses
in another country, which widens their scope of expertise for their future careers.
The benefits from study abroad make it a truly transformative experience.
Requirements can vary based on the specific program a student is looking at, but the general
requirements are as falls: for summer programs students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA, with
some programs requiring as high as a 2.54, for semester programs students must have a
minimum 2.75 GPA, with some programs requiring as high as a 3.0.
Some programs are more competitive than others, so in order to be a competitive applicant
students may need a higher GPA to be considered.
All students going abroad must undergo a student conduct check.
If a student has a pending charge on their account, this could be something that prevents
them from completing a program.
In general, students spend their freshman year here on campus and then they are eligible
to study abroad the summer after freshman year.
So incoming students for Fall 20 are eligible to study abroad as soon as Summer 2021.
There are a couple of exceptions to this rule like if a student is coming in with more than
12 hours of college credit, but for the most part freshmen spend their first full year
on campus.
There are many considerations that come into play when selecting a program, but these are
common priorities that students should consider.
One thing might hold more value to a student than another and that is okay.
Each student is going to have different priorities and the level of importance of each priority
is based upon the individual student.
The common considerations are: a student's personal goals for the program, like do you
want to work on a language or do research while on your program.
Classes.
Are there specific classes you need to complete during your term abroad?
Language.
Do you want to work on a language or do you want all of your courses to be taught in English?
Language is not a requirement order to study abroad.
Cost.
How much is a program and what resources do you have to pay for it?
And location.
Considering each of these program aspects will help you narrow down your program choices.
Study abroad advisors like myself are here to help you make this decision.
So, please feel free to come to our walk-in advising or set up an appointment with one
of us to go over your priorities for a program.
There are multiple programs you can engage in at NC State and they offer varying opportunities
for students.
The programs can be broken down into three categories: exchange, direct enroll, group
programs and non-NC State.
Exchange and direct enroll programs are semester-long experiences for students.
Exchange programs allow students to pay their exact same NC State tuition and fees, as if
they were here on campus.
So this is a really great option for students concerned about study abroad cost.
I actually completed an exchange as a student for this very reason.
Direct programs are great options for out-of-state students, as these programs are typically
cheaper than what the student would pay here for out-of-state tuition.
Exchange or direct enroll programs allow for a more independent experience.
Group programs can go during any term, but typically there are offered in the summer.
Students go as a group of NC State students, and they are typically led by NC State faculty
or staff on their program.
The students are taking NC State courses, just another location.
This is a great option for students who wish to just go abroad for a shorter summer program
or wish to travel with other NC State students.
Cost for these programs do vary based on where the student is going and for how long.
Lastly, non-NC State programs are also an option for students.
These also go during any term throughout the year.
Students are not restricted to our NC State programs.
If a student finds a program on their own, they are able to complete that outside program.
Study abroad is meant to be an individualized experience for the student, and we do our
best to support that.
So students completing outside programs will still have an application in our system, so
we can help them with the transfer of their credits, and so they can still receive financial
aid.
The biggest priority for most students is going to be sticking to a budget for their
study abroad experience.
Every program on our website has a corresponding budget listed to help students in their research,
and so they know what to expect.
Take a look at these budgets, and then also be sure to consider factors like the cost
of living and where you want to go.
Choosing a program based on your budget is an effective way of keeping your costs down
with your study abroad program.
The great news is that students are able to use their normal financial aid packages, like
scholarships, grants, loans and VA benefits during the semester as long as the courses
abroad are fulfilling degree requirements.
Financial aid is also available during the summer, as long as students take at least
6 hours over the summer, which most of our summer programs incorporate.
In addition to student's financial aid packages, there are also tons of scholarships that students
can apply for right on campus.
In our office, we have one scholarship application they complete, which puts students under consideration
for multiple awards.
From our office alone, we awarded over 800,000 dollars in awards last academic year.
Students should also check with their individual academic departments, because oftentimes their
colleges may have funding set aside specifically for study abroad experiences.
Students are also encouraged to apply for national scholarships as well.
Our students have a great track record of receiving these national awards and we offer
our assistance with these scholarship applications.
We host specific scholarship information sessions and we also have funding sessions where students
can learn more about scholarships, how to apply and also how to budget for their programs.
There are tons of resources here on campus and in our office to help students prepare
for their study abroad experience.
Our campus has passport services where students can apply for their passport right in Witherspoon,
we offer walk-in advising hours at our office to get students started in their study abroad
experience, and we also have tons of events where they can learn about our programs.
Also right on our website, students can complete our study abroad 101 video series and read
about experiences from other students.
All of our program information as well as the useful resources I've mentioned, can be
found on our website, which is studyabroad.ncsu.edu.
Students are welcome to reach out to our general email address, which is study_abroad@ncsu.edu,
if they have any questions.
We are located at 315 Homes Hall if you'd like to speak with us this fall when you arrive.
Thank you, and be sure to reach out so we can assist you with your study abroad experience.