What does it really mean when someone says, “study abroad changed my life?” Can a semester outside of the United States really make that much of an impact on your future self? We unpack this commonly heard statement below by highlighting some scenarios that show how study abroad can lay the foundation for important life skills:

Independence

You are studying abroad in Berlin, Germany, a city with a complex public transportation system (seriously, look at this map!). You’ve only been in country for a few days. You have a 9:00am class and live in a part of the city where few people speak English- the metro is your only option to get to campus on time, but you haven’t taken it yet. You haven’t even bought yourself a metro pass! Oh yeah, and in your rush to get ready, you’ve misplaced your guidebook of the city. What do you think you would do in this situation?

Adaptability

You are studying abroad in Bangkok, Thailand. You’ve never traveled outside of the U.S. and are a commuter student at UMBC, living at home. You’re very comfortable with your lifestyle and routine. Bangkok, on the other hand, is significantly different than your life at home. Since being in the country, you have been served rice for breakfast, you have a hand-held water sprayer in your bathroom shower, and you just can’t seem to find the kind of deodorant that you are used to using. How do you think you would react to these seemingly small, but nonetheless, differences from your home life in the U.S?  

Cultural Competency

You are studying abroad in São Paulo, Brazil and staying with a host family close to campus. There is also an international student from France living with the family. A month into your stay, you are all sitting around the living room one night and a conversation forms between the French student and your host family regarding customs and traditions in Brazil versus France. Even though you’ve been thinking a lot about the cultural differences between Brazil and the U.S., you’ve been too timid to discuss them with your host family, because you’ve never had a conversation like this before with someone from a different cultural background. How do you think you’d approach this situation and what might you gain from having this type of conversation with your host family?

Independence, adaptability, and cultural competency are only a few examples of ways that study abroad can have a long lasting impact on a person.

It’s important to remember that studying abroad isn’t life-changing just because you went. In many ways, it’s what you do to carry your experiences and lessons-learned forward. For example, a person does not become culturally competent from one conversation- it takes multiple conversations and actions to develop this skill. It is an ongoing commitment to learning who you are and what your role in the world is meant to be. But study abroad is a great place to build this foundation.

If you’re starting to think study abroad might be in your future, we’ll end on three important tips to keep in mind as you consider whether or not study abroad is right for you:

• Study abroad is a learning experience. You will definitely have fun and there will be opportunities for relaxation; however, it is important to view it as a learning experience, not a vacation.  Challenge yourself with the classes you choose to take, make an effort to speak the native language, and try to gain as much knowledge as you can about the culture.
• There are varying levels of immersion. Different study abroad programs will offer different levels of cultural immersion. Conduct research and consider what level of immersion is best for you. Do you want to take classes in a different language or classes taught in English? Do you want to live with a host family or in an apartment with other U.S. students? Do you want to go on an exchange program where you are essentially by yourself, or with a group of other students?
• The earlier you plan, the less likely you’ll feel the financial pressure of studying abroad. Study abroad doesn’t have to break the bank, if planned properly. One of the benefits to waiting a few semesters before you go abroad is that you have enough time to save up money, not only for the initial tuition costs, but also for your in-country expenses. You can also talk to the Study Abroad Office about possible scholarship/financial aid opportunities.

UMBC’s Study Abroad Office: http://studyabroad.umbc.edu/

*In order to meet with a study abroad advisor, you must first attend a Study Abroad 101 Information Session*

These take place:

218 Administration Building

Mondays, 12-1pm

Thursdays, 3-4pm

Tips for Making Study Abroad Work for Any Major:

http://www.diversityabroad.com/study-abroad/articles/tips-for-making-study-abroad-work-for-any-major

The historic Men's Basketball upset of #1 seeded UVA in the NCAA tournament has shined a light on UMBC for not only its success on the court, but also in the classroom. They swim! They run! They score! But did you know that UMBC's Student Athletes also conduct research and create art? Check out these Student Athletes who will be presenting their research and creative work at URCAD on April 25th:

Courtney Mattson, Biological Sciences (Cross Country/Track and Field)

Title: The Role of Olfactory Cues in Male Mate Choice in Etheostoma zonale

Location: Poster 10-11:30am UC Ballroom

Hannah Aris, Engineering (Cross Country/Track and Field)

Title: Characterization of CMI-7000 Membrane for Implementation in Resource Recovery Systems

Location: Poster 10-11:30am UC Ballroom

Courtney Culp, Visual Arts (Soccer)

Title: Color of Me (Animated film)

Location: Film Festival, 3pm UC 310

Jethro Ssengonzi, Engineering (Swimming)

Title: Surface Phenomena Driving Natural Surfaces

Location: Poster, 10-11:30am UC Ballroom

Matthew Kane, Biological Sciences (Cross Country/Track and Field)

Title: Scratching the Surface of Bahama Oriole Pine Forest Nesting

Location: Poster, 1-2:30pm UC Ballroom

To read these and other abstracts, visit the URCAD page! 

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), a research component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is the lead federal agency for aging, age-related disease, and Alzheimer’s disease research. The NIA Intramural Research Program’s (IRP). Diversity in Aging Research Pipeline Program (DARPP) seeks to enhance diversity within the workforce of aging-science researchers. The goal of the program is to provide professional development opportunities within the NIA IRP for underrepresented minorities and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Opportunities exist in several NIA IRP laboratories pursuing varied types of research. More information about the NIA intramural program and participating faculty can be found at: https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/labs/diversity-aging-research-pipeline-program

Candidates must have a Ph.D. (or M.D.) degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, bio- informatics, genomics, epidemiology, neuroscience, biopsychology or a related biomedical science field. Prior experience in aging research is not required. All applicants must be from a population underrepresented in the biomedical sciences, and have less than 5 years of postdoctoral experience. Candidates may be U.S. citizens, permanent-residents, or foreign nationals. Salary will be commensurate with research experience according to the NIH intramural pay scale.

Interested applicants should e-mail curriculum vitae, a brief description of their research interests, and 3 letters of reference to:

The DARPP Selection Committee c/o Mrs. Taya Dunn Johnson

Send email to: dunnt@grc.nia.nih.gov with Subject Line: DARPP Application – Last Name

Review of applications will begin April 1, 2018.
The application deadline is April 30, 2018. Interviews will be conducted in May 2018.

HHS and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers.

The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs.