Dear Jayhawk,
As the new director for Study Abroad I want to wish you the very best for the new academic year! I know it will be another important year of your life when many decisions have to be made that will affect your future. I want to ask you something: have you ever thought of studying abroad? Well, I want you to give yourself a chance to explore the different options of studying abroad with which our office can provide you.
You see, now is the time to live life to its fullest. Now is the time to explore and widen your horizons. In an ever more interrelated world it is important to learn how people in other cultures think, work and relate to each other. Studying abroad also gives you a chance to discover yourself. The Study Abroad Office is there to help you fulfill your dreams. There is no time more suitable for a study abroad experience than the present time.
Soon enough you will be graduating and before you know it you will have a job with two weeks annual vacation. Then you may get married, have children, and at the time when your children go to college, you will say to yourself, "Why didn't I go abroad when I had the chance?" It was just the other day when I met a KU senior starting her last semester who told me that there was one thing she regretted that she had not done during her KU years: participating in the Study Abroad program. But now it was too late...
Think of it! What is it that is holding you back? Is it fear that it is going to cost too much? Is it fear that you are not going to graduate on time? Is it fear that you might not be proficient in a foreign language? Maybe you never thought of studying abroad? Maybe no one in your family studied abroad before? Maybe it is hard to see the long-term benefit right at this point.
Well, if you asked any student who has returned from studying abroad he would more than likely tell you that it was the best thing he ever did in his life and that he would do it again if he could. Many students would tell you that they borrowed money to go abroad, but that this loan was the best investment they could ever have made in themselves.
By the way, did you know that there are many programs, especially exchange programs, which don't cost much more than going to KU? And there are also many programs where you can study in English and receive credit towards graduation.
My advice to all of you no matter what your major
might be is to give yourself the opportunity to explore the options so that you won't regret it later. The sooner you find out what the opportunities are, the better. There is absolutely no reason why study abroad would delay graduation if you plan your study abroad experience as an integral part of your KU curriculum. For instance, you can complete your foreign language requirement during a summer program abroad if you have already taken two semesters here at KU. I would suggest you start looking into this as a freshman. But wherever you are in your studies come in to see us! We might very well have the right program for you. Students from KU go on more than 60 programs around the world.
Prepare yourself for the 21st century and get a competitive edge on your KU transcript. Many employers like to hire students who have studied abroad. You become self reliant and confident through taking care of yourself in another culture and you acquire skills that will work for you in any situation. In addition, when you are abroad, you will meet people from other parts of the world and learn about their cultures. You will travel and learn as much outside the classroom as inside.
Do yourself a favor! Visit the Study Abroad Office in 108 Lippincott. It may very well change your life!
Sincerely,
Margareta B. O'Connell
Margareta B. O'Connell Director Office of Study Abroad
WHO STUDIES ABROAD AT KU? Fall, Spring and Summer 1995-96 Semester enrollment totals by school. Degree-seeking KU students only
School Semester Enrollments Duplicate enrollments*
CLAS 321 41
Allied Health 1 0
Architecture and Urban 62 9
Design 54 17
Business 17 3
Education 20 12
Engineering 34 3
Fine Arts 66 1
Graduate 38 19
Journalism 13 1
Law 1 0
Medicine 0 0
Nursing 0 0
Pharmacy 2 0
Social Welfare 2 0
*Number of students enrolled in more that one school
Study Abroad Myths and Facts
MYTH #1:
Financial Aid and scholarships are unavailable for study abroad.
FACT:
Students remain enrolled at the University of Kansas through the Office of Study Abroad; thus, students are still eligible for most KU financial aid and scholarships.
MYTH #2:
Study Abroad is much more expensive than studying on campus.
FACT:
Programs whose tuition, room and board costs are close to those of studying on campus are available!
Can you afford not to study abroad?
MYTH #3;
Studying abroad will delay my graduation.
FACT:
Students from most disciplines can fulfill degree requirements and maintain progress toward a degree while abroad. Study abroad and graduate on schedule!
MARGARETA B. O'CONNELL
DIRECTOR
Office of Study Abroad Staff
BARBARA GEARHART ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, FINANCE
NANCY MITCHELL
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ADVISER
ELLEN STRUBERT ADVISER
LAURA LEONARD
ADVISOR
SUSAN MACNALIX
INFORMATION SPECIALIST; COORDINATOR OF SUMMER PROGRAMS
MELISSA JGUEMOJU
FINANCE ASSISTANT
SALLY VAN METER SECRETARY
HEATHER GRIMMER RECEPTIONIST
Kansan Production
DENA PISCIOTTE
MASS IMPACT MANAGER & DESIGN
JULIE PEDLAB
SALES COORDINATOP
LURY MONTANO-LAUREL
DESMOND LAVELLE
MARK MCMASTER
KELLY KEPLER
KELLI STEPHAN
APREL LA MOURIE
GROFF KRIEGER
ASSISTANTS
Page 2
Fall 1996
Jayhawks Abroad