Studying abroad's dreaming process sets the tone

Students choose to study abroad for a variety of reasons. It could be out of sheer boredom or wanting to branch out and learn of another culture. Either way, it’s a growing fad.

A fall 2011 survey by the Institute of International Education found 53 percent of campuses indicated an increase in students studying abroad. Only 30 percent reported a decrease, and 27 percent reported no change. In the year before, 55 percent noticed an increase while 32 percent said there was a decline.

Joanne Canyon-Heller, Roosevelt University assistant provost for international academic programs and summer session, talks about a "dreaming" process for studying abroad.



“When I start talking to students -- usually at orientation in their freshman year, or when they go to the orientation for transfer, or when I do a study abroad fair -- I start saying to them, ‘I need to see you now.’” Canyon-Heller said.

“And I see them, now; I mean, I have appointments almost all the time seeing students, because we have to go through the dreaming stage.”

During this stage, a student has to look at all the possibilities. For example: where you want to go, looking at paperwork, seeing if the student qualifies to go abroad, and searching for scholarship money opportunities. In short, will it all be possible? Because the process of getting the opportunity to study abroad gets more strenuous.

“I mean this is a job; this (trying to study abroad) becomes a job for them.” Canyon-Heller said.

She says she doesn't want students to be late in missing out on the opportunity to go abroad, because thereafter, they have to actually apply, get letters of recommendation, transcripts -- all of which are need to be completed in a 10-day window -- and then meet with an academic adviser, work with the financial aid department, and get a visa.

Roosevelt University junior Kristin Ramirez is planning to study abroad in the fall.

As far as the dreaming process went, it was "hectic" but "doable," she says, because she was looking for a school abroad that offered what she needed in her major. Ramirez said that was "definitely" the hardest part for her.

As Canyon-Heller puts it, “After you get through the dreaming, the action (application process) part is really important, and when you don’t take action, it means you don’t get to go; and that’s the key.”