The Study Abroad Fair attracted students and faculty alike to the Atrium, Center for the Arts on Wednesday, Sept. 19 to learn about academics and adventure outside the US.
Every semester, UB and many other schools, send students to study abroad. With over 55 countries and 400 programs to choose from, every table was busy with students eager for information.
"I would say that per semester about 125 students study abroad. Overall, we send about 500, and that's pretty split between summer and academic year," said Melissa Polasik, director of study abroad programs.
According to Polasik, there was a lot of promotion for the fair and she was happy to see a good turn out.
"We wanted freshmen to come and learn about the different possibilities so that they could incorporate it into their academic planning," she said. "It's also for sophomores and even juniors who are interested in it - a spring semester for a junior is still not too late."
Polasik added that studying abroad opens many opportunities for students that they may not be able to experience after they graduate.
"Often after students graduate, they start careers and it can be hard to get out and see places outside the US. Just getting that exposure to other countries and other cultures is important," she said. "It's a great opportunity."
Danish exchange student Christian Vorm, a junior physics major, speaks fondly of his experiences at UB.
"I like it very much; it's a much bigger place than in Denmark, and there are all kinds of things happening like football games. It's much different," he said. "Like the school spirit - we don't have that in Denmark."
Meghan Roth, a senior Spanish, sociology and psychology major, went to England with SUNY Cortland and to Ecuador with SUNY Erie Community College and says that there are many cultural benefits to studying abroad.
"It really broadens your horizons and makes you realize that there's another way of doing things, and you get to learn a lot about different kinds of people," Roth said.
According to Roth, students should not let expenses get in the way of a foreign study experience.
"It's not that much more expensive, and you can get aid and loans, and this is the only time of my life when federal funding is going to pay for (you) to study abroad," she said.
Some of the more popular countries to visit in the study abroad programs are places like the UK as well as surrounding areas.
"Italy is quite popular and the UK, Australia, Spain is another one. At UB there are a lot of students who are interested in the Asian countries like Japan and Singapore," Polasik said.
Jody Baunstin, a junior psychology major, wants to study abroad in Florence, Italy, even though she may not receive credits toward her major.
"Its just for that cultural experience," she said.
According to Polasik, there have been several new developments in the study abroad program.
"We're focusing more on the academics so that we have a better understanding of what courses can transfer so that we have more detailed academic knowledge to better advise students on their options," she said.
The UB study abroad programs also have unique aspects that not many other SUNY schools have.
"We have a semester program in Cuba, which a lot of universities aren't able to do," Polasik said. "That makes UB stand apart a little bit from the other schools."
According to Polasik, students are able to study for a semester at the University of Havana.
"We have a special license through the treasury department to have this program for students with Spanish language skills," she said.
Polasik feels that the fair has done well informing students about opportunities to study abroad but wants students to remember that the main purpose of such programs is academics.
"Affordable scholarships are out there; plan early so that it works with your academic plan," said Polasik. "The academic focus is really very important for us, we believe really strongly in that."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
