Study abroad program offers students opportunity to see new countries
Julija Kaselyte
MCC students, both local and international, have an opportunity to spend a few weeks of summer studying abroad and gaining new experiences.
According to the MCC website, students can now apply for 2014 study abroad program that offers an opportunity to travel to Mexico, Costa Rica, and some European countries such as Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Spain.
Application deadline is February 28. Depending on a program, students can study abroad between one and four weeks and earn between 1 and 7 credits.
Study abroad coordinator Yvonne Schmidt said the two-page application is simple and has to be turned in along with a one-page double-spaced letter of interest, an unofficial transcript and two letters of recommendation.
“All you have to do is to give a form of application to two professors and have them completed,” Schmidt said.
Students have to submit the applications to the study abroad coordinator located in the International Education Office in Building NU6.
Schmidt explained that the applications will be forwarded to the program directors who will contact students in a few weeks.
She said most of the directors will interview students to make sure they are a good match for the program.
“Once you’re accepted you put $250 confirmation deposit which applies to your program fee,” Schmidt said.
The coordinator also said there will be some scholarship availabilities that students could apply for until March 2.
“A maximum of a scholarship is $1000 and no student is guaranteed a maximum amount, a lot of it has due of how many people apply for certain part of money. We don’t have a specified amount,” Schmidt said.
She also said the awards will be announced mid-March and the program fee is due March 21.
Schmidt said international students can go study abroad, depending on a passport they have, because some of the countries might require a visa. Also, foreign students have to pay out of state tuition.
MCC study abroad programs are taught in English and there are no prerequisites to speak a foreign language.
MCC student Amaris Dinh has studied abroad twice. The first time she spent 3 weeks in Costa Rica and then went to study in Spain for a month.
She said in Costa Rica the jungles were their classrooms and students had to be flexible with the weather, but in Spain she stayed in host families.
“We got used to lots of hugs and kisses on the cheek, ate real Spanish food, and watched the Spanish news and soccer with our families,” Dinh said.
Dinh also said there a few downsides of going to study abroad, such as missing family, friends, and mom’s cooking, but overall it is a an unforgettable experience.
“Studying abroad has helped me learn to be flexible especially when a plan didn’t turn out like we wanted; we had to go on and find something even better to do. It allowed me to better my Spanish speaking skills,” Dinh said.
