by Daniel Covington
On Monday, November 17th, the long-awaited 26-27 study abroad showcase debuted! This was a day I was excited about for months: the opportunity to study abroad was one of the reasons I came to Centre College. This year there are over 20 programs! There are several different types of programs, of which the professor-led programs are typically the most popular. I would encourage anyone who is even semi-interested to read and look into studying abroad! Here are some common questions and answers:
What if I am interested?
The first step is to check out the Centre Global website. There you will find all of Centre’s programs. There are some requirements, such as GPA, so keep an eye out for that; also keep in mind the classes you have/want to take. Next, as you start to see some options that you are interested in, you can click the little heart button. This allows you to save all of the programs you are interested in in one place.
How do I apply?
After you have a few programs selected, it’s recommended to meet with someone from Centre Global. If you have any questions, just make an appointment with someone in the office, and they will be of help. Personally, I met with Vivienne Main. We were able to discuss my options and she provided helpful resources. After that, you can head back to the website and click apply. It’s important to have your potential choices organized and to apply to your top choice first, and you must indicate that on the application. If it was me, I would then open up my other one or two applications for any additional programs I would be interested in if I am not accepted into my first choice. Again, you must indicate which choice that program is when you open your other applications.
At this point, it is recommended to take your time and ensure that your application is answered as thoughtfully as possible, and that in all cases, you will have classes that will work for your schedule. When having my conversation with Vivienne, she made one thing clear: take your time. On Monday, when the applications opened, “some students had finished the applications” already. People get excited, but nothing is guaranteed, and there are a lot of moving parts and the answers to the application questions are a big deal.
It would also be a good idea to start looking to get a passport if you have not already done so. Vivienne also suggested reaching out to the professor leading the program. It’s always a good idea to ask them any details about classes and to get to know who will be leading that program.
So if you apply, please take your time. Good luck!