Inventing your adventure

Stephen Loflin, author of Adventures Abroad: The Student’s Guide to Studying Overseas (Kaplan), has spent his career helping college students. He traveled with 600 of them on a Semester at Sea program and has worked at George Washington University and Georgetown University. He’s also the founder and executive director of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Loflin shared some of his expert knowledge with our Travel Study team.

What makes most students decide to study abroad?
The millennial generation is focused on experiences. It is important for them to create their lives in a way that is unique and personally fulfilling. Travel and spending time abroad has become an important priority for high school and college students. Most of the students featured in the book said that a study abroad experience serves as an adventure—a chance to learn about a foreign country and learn about themselves in the process.

You write that study abroad organizations recommend focusing on the study program rather than the place in deciding where to go. Why?
It’s best to define a set of goals that students expect to gain from their study abroad experience. A business major, for example, might look for good business programs in many different countries and compare which one is best for him or her. But as one student noted, it helps to find a place with a personal connection. If students have relatives from a certain country or are just intrigued by a place, it’s worth doing the research and possibly picking that destination.

What should students look for when searching for programs?
Students should review the course descriptions, how much room there is for travel and how rigorous a program will be. It is always important to find a program that allows for travel flexibility, so that time can be spent exploring and creating experiences.

The cost of study abroad may hold some students back. What do you tell students worried about not being able to afford it?
In the United States, I would say that finances should never be a barrier to educational opportunities. Utilize the Internet to search for scholarships, organizations and fellowships that will pay for taking time to study abroad. Many organizations, including the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, offer scholarships that are specifically to assist students with paying for study abroad. Plan ahead. If you decide nine to 12 months ahead that you wish to enroll in a study abroad program, it gives you time to take a summer or part-time job, apply for scholarships, and so on. Students should also reach out to local community groups and companies that may be willing to fund or help fund their study trip. If the student agrees to return and give a presentation or update to the sponsor, this can be a very nice way for the community to support someone local and benefit from hearing about the experience.

What are your tips for adults wanting to study in France?
Because of life circumstances, it is often necessary for adult students to find more condensed learning situations. I would certainly encourage anyone at any age to find ways to learn about and experience other cultures and places. We have nontraditional students who are members of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and these students are also looking for opportunities abroad. Regardless of age, the same tips apply for all travelers: Learn key phrases in the language, learn as much as you can about the host culture before you visit, have goals for what you want to accomplish and have a budget.