Factors to Consider

Factors to Consider

• Program Structure 

  In general, student support services, academics, and structure vary by program. There are four types of program structures, which are indicated at the top of every program brochure page:

  

  • Study Centers: Typically, these programs offer high student support services as well as facilitated excursions or other activities. Students only take courses at a study away program center with other study away students, either taking a set curriculum, or choosing from a limited list of courses. The required coursework likely includes or offers an internship or ISP component.
  • Hybrid: Students are still working with an approved program provider, and still can expect to have significant programmatic student support and activities, but the difference here is that students are also enrolling in courses at local universities. Students take a mixture of courses at those local universities and at the program center. Students take courses with local and/or other international students and other study away students. Some internship or ISP opportunities may be available. The program typically organizes additional activities or excursions for participants.
  • Facilitated Direct Enroll: Students register at local universities, but have some help in doing so from a program staff who is familiar with working with study away students. Other student support resources may also be available. Students take most, if not all, courses with local and other international students. There may be fewer program-facilitated activities.
  • Direct Enroll: Students register directly at local universities without the support of a provider. Macalester offers advising support, but the student is responsible for navigating the enrollment, course selection, and housing processes independently and within specific set deadlines. Students will need to be proactive in identifying and advocating for resources they need before arriving and once on site. Students take courses with local and other international students. University-facilitated activities vary greatly, depending on the school.

  Read program provider descriptions here. 

   

  Encouraged reflection when selecting an appropriate program structure:

  • What support resources do I use at Macalester?
  • Will I need similar types of support during study away?
  • Which program type will help facilitate my success during study away?
  • If the program I select does not have similar support structures to those I utilize at Macalester, is it possible for me to find or create that type of support for myself?

• Academic Content

  The primary focus of studying away is the STUDYING part – so you should be considering academic content offered by the programs to choose. Here are few things you may think about: 

  • Coursework not offered at Mac
  • Location-specific courses or courses on the local area/region (for example, studying tropical ecology with hands-on, field-based experiential learning in Costa Rica)
  • Different perspectives (for example, studying ancient history in Athens, Greece to learn it from a European perspective AND to visit the sites in person)
  • Discipline-specific courses (for example, studying art on a program that offers a wider range of art-focused courses than Macalester)

• Learning Opportunities

  All Macalester students are expected to continue building intellectual independence and deepening your self-­awareness during study away, and there are many ways to accomplish this.

  • Focus on cultural learning.
  • Apply your knowledge through learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
  • Focus on language learning.
  • Expand your learning through opportunities, curricular and otherwise, that are unavailable at Macalester.

  All of these goals can be accomplished during study away, but not all programs include all options. Reflecting on what is most important to you is the first step in narrowing in on the type of experience that will help you accomplish your goals.

• Personal Factors

  And of course – YOU are the one studying away, so it’s important to reflect on your own personal factors. 

  • Your own identities will impact your experience studying away, just as they impact your experience studying at Macalester. 
  • Different identities may become more salient in a different cultural context, so it’s important to reflect on this too.
  • Explore study away Equity Resources.
  • It’s also important to think about the types of support you receive at Mac. If you need the support here, it’s likely you’ll need it abroad. Think about: academic accommodations, dietary restrictions, counseling needs, health concerns, etc. Not all programs can provide the same accommodations, so it’s important to start that conversation early. 

• Personal Impact

  A final aspect to think about as you consider a study away location and program is your impact on the world and people around you. Obviously, travel to most of our study away programs requires a flight, and we recognize that study away is certainly a contributor to our campus carbon emissions. But, what might be other ways that you can be intentional about sustainability during study away? It might be:

  • Reduce your travel while in-country (like the concept of “slow travel” by taking trains instead of planes)
  • Be intentional about staying local and immersing yourself in your city or region
  • Learn about sustainability practices of your host country and community
  • Consider your consumption while in-country (water, electricity, transportation methods, etc.

  While on study away, you impact our Earth and climate, but also the people with whom you interact. It’s important to think about how you might ethically engage with them – such as your host families, classmates, professors, anyone you meet. How will your own identity, background, and experiences impact them? You might not know the answers, but we encourage you to consider these questions and be intentional when you choose a location and program.