Alicyn Curtis is a Study Abroad Advisor in the Education Abroad Office at UMBC (located on the 2nd floor of the University Center). We reached out to her to help Extra Credit readers gain an understanding of the steps involved with studying abroad, as well as the impact the experience can have on a student’s life.
EC: Break it down as easy as you can, what are the steps students need to take if they want to study abroad?
AC:
1) Attend Study Abroad 101! Study Abroad 101 is the first step on your Education Abroad journey! It's an important 30-minute presentation given by our staff members to educate you on the basics: the types of programs we offer, eligibility requirements, scholarships, upcoming events, applying your financial aid, and navigating our website.
EC: How has study abroad been impacted by Covid-19. More specifically, is this still impacting where students can go or what programs are recommended?
AC: Students can travel to locations designated as Level 1 or Level 2 by the U.S. Department of State. We have programs in a variety of different locations and work with many program providers that best support students and their needs.
EC: What should students consider when trying to select a study abroad program?
AC:
- When and where would they want to study abroad?
- How many courses do they have left in their degree plan?
- Are they interested in taking courses toward their major/minor/certificate or general electives?
- Are they planning to use financial aid and scholarships toward their study abroad program?
- How much does the program cost?
- What type of support will they require while on a study abroad program?
EC: Is there an aspect of the study abroad planning process that many students, in retrospect, wish they had spent more time on/focused on?
AC:
- Finances. Students may not realize the extra costs that go into studying abroad. We prepare budget sheets for students that include those costs but it's important to research how much things like local transportation, food, clothing, etc. cost in the local country, on top of the associated program fees for tuition and housing.
- Visa. Students participating in semester-long or academic year programs will need a visa depending on their location. Obtaining a visa can be a lengthy process so it's important to work with their program provider and host university to secure their visa promptly.
EC: Apart from some of the more well-known or "cliche" reasons to study abroad, why do you think students should make this part of their college experience?
AC: Studying abroad is truly a transformative and life-changing experience. You may not realize it while you’re in the moment but you'll gain new skills and insights about yourself that you might not have thought about.
EC: Can you dispel the myth that Science/Engineering majors can't study abroad?
AC: Absolutely! STEM majors can study abroad, any term, and at any location! Our office works with a variety of programs that have courses in STEM disciplines for all terms. Please attend Study Abroad 101 and schedule an appointment with me to learn more. I'd be more than happy to help students find a program that best fits their needs.
- Our UMBC Exchange Program at Newcastle University in the UK offers courses in a variety of STEM disciplines.
- A study abroad affiliate provider we work with, USAC, has a program in Valencia, Spain that has courses for STEM majors.
EC: Are there any current UMBC study abroad programs you'd like to make a shameless plug for right now?
AC:Of course! I'd like to recommend our three Winter 2025 UMBC Faculty-Led Programs! Applications open in April so I highly recommend students apply. :) I would also like to recommend our UMBC Exchange Program with Swansea University in Wales!
- UMBC Faculty-Led: Phage Hunters in Barcelona, Spain led by Dr. Steven Caruso
- UMBC Faculty-Led: The Practice of Management: Global Perspectives in Panama led by Professor Sidas "Sy" Saulynas
- UMBC Faculty-Led: Comparative Politics and the Italian Political System led by Professor Carolyn Forestiere
- UMBC Exchange: Swansea University. Swansea University is located on Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, Britain's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As Wales' second city, Swansea enjoys a full range of social, cultural and sporting amenities and excellent transport links: London is under three hours by train, and Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is less than an hour away. Swansea has allocated several £1000 grants for UMBC. Contact the Education Abroad Office to request to be nominated for a Taith programme bursary.
EC: If you yourself could study abroad right now, where would you go and why?
AC:If I could study abroad right now, I would go to Thailand! I would love to learn about Thai culture, visit Buddhist temples, and explore the national parks and nature reserves.
EC: For fun - any good stories from your own study abroad experience?
AC:This happened when I was teaching English in South Korea in a small town called Jinhae in the countryside. I was on my way to work, I always took the bus to the academy I worked at. An elderly Korean woman gets on the bus, sits next to me and smiles. I smile back and say "Hello" in Korean. She greeted me back and told me my hair, which was in a protective style called box braids, was pretty and was curious about how I styled my hair. For the entire bus ride, I spoke with her, in Korean, about my hair, Black protective hairstyles, and showed her pictures of my natural hair. It was one of my favorite conversations because not only was I able to share a piece of my culture, but I was able to do so in Korean without any issues. I'll never forget that!