7 Questions

As you consider your off-campus options, you might want to start by asking yourself the following questions:

1. What do I hope to gain from the off-campus experience, in terms of personal and academic growth?

2. What are my interests in an off-campus experience and to what extent are they academic, social, personal, economic, religious, etc.?

3. What attitudes do I need to make the off-campus experience a successful one: open-mindedness, tolerance, patience, independence, respect, sensitivity, etc?

4. What considerations do I have with respect to time, foreign language ability, health, etc. that may restrict the range of off-campus options I can consider?

5. What experience do I already have living away from home that would indicate how I would possibly respond to being in a foreign country?

6. How do I respond to the cultural diversity I am exposed to already? To what extent do I make the most of opportunities already before me to interact with people from other cultures?

7. To what extent am I willing to invest time preparing for an off-campus experience (e.g.: studying the language, earning extra money to cover additional expenses, taking prerequisites, reading about the culture, completing applications, attending orientation meetings, etc.)?

These questions are posed only to get you started thinking about choosing the off-campus program that is most appropriate for you. We encourage you to seek advice from classmates, family, faculty, deans, or anyone who has experience overseas. Get as much information as you can before you make your final decision about the off-campus experience that is best for you.