Opportunities abound for UWS students who want to study abroad. At the Study Abroad Fair Thursday in the YellowJacket Union, over a dozen destinations were highlighted for students to receive information about traveling to other countries as part of UW-Superior's Study Abroad Program.

Among others, UWS students can study in Bosnia, Costa Rica, South Korea, Paris, Indonesia, Scotland, Mexico and even anywhere in the United States. UWS student Alyssa Gostonczik attended school in Scotland for the fall 2010 semester. She enjoyed studying geography, British history, business law and journaling.

“Some of the classes went toward general credits, and some went toward my major,” she said. “I got to live in a palace, and it was great cultural immersion...it was the same price to study abroad as it was to stay in Superior.”

There are many different opportunities for students to travel and study – a two week stay in Scotland or Paris or two semesters in Korea, and some countries have opportunities for summer studies. A new opportunity coming in 2013 will be a J–term stay in Ghana researching community development.

But for those who would like to get out of town without flying over large bodies of water, the National Student Exchange could be a good prospect. Erika Kappes went to New Hampshire to study Elementary Education. “It’s a great way to figure out where you want to go after graduation, or for graduate school,” she said.

For Anya Russom, Korea sounded great. She came home after the spring semester, but ended up going back for the fall semester because she loved it so much. “I got to live with other students from around the U.S., and I got to know many Korean students who taught me so much,” Russom said.

According to Cherie Sawinski, Interim Director of International Programs, about 175 UWS students are going on short- or long-term study abroad trips this year.

“At the moment, our students are abroad in Costa Rica, Germany, Morocco, and South Korea. Several students are applying for the Benjamin Gilman Scholarship this week with hopes to study in Bali, Fiji, Scotland and South Korea,” Sawinski said. “Scotland is, by far, our largest program. Students can study there for a semester, summer session or the new Festival Fringe course for two weeks in August, where they partake in theatre events at the largest arts festival in the world.”

With so many places to study, many students are taking the opportunity to study abroad for the multicultural aspect, the difference in education techniques, and the excitement of being in another country. These students are enthusiastic about sharing their experiences with others. “If we could gather all our study away returnees in one room you'd hear story after story of the transformational experiences,” said Sawinski. “One just wrote to tell me that the 100 days she spent in Scotland last spring were, by far, the best days in her life."

If you would like to learn more about studying abroad, stop by the Office of International Programs in Old Main 337 from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and ask about the opportunities that are available for you.