Students with disabilities and Cal Poly Study Abroad

By Lindsay MacLeod

For most students, just planning a study abroad trip is stressful, however, for many others with some sort of disability, studying abroad seems beyond stressful and even almost impossible.  Students who have a disability, don’t let this discourage you from studying abroad because it doesn’t have to!

As I’ve said time and again, one thing I have definitely learned from all my study abroad research is that Cal Poly really wants every single one of its students to have the opportunity to study abroad.  This even means that Cal Poly will help overcome obstacles that are seemingly huge problems in planning a study abroad trip, such as travelling with disabilities.

Unfortunately, not every study abroad trip is located in a facility that is completely accessible for people with disabilities, and some of the trips taken may be extremely difficult, however, there are other trips that definitely will cater towards students with disabilities.  The best plan is to make an appointment to meet with a Study Abroad Advisor of Program Supervisor as far in advance of the application deadline as possible.  Talk to them about what programs will be the best to participate in and how to go about arranging everything, including special accommodations if necessary.  Cal Poly has even released a statement about study abroad for students with disabilities: “Cal Poly will attempt to arrange reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, although it is important to note that countries and educational institutions differ in their infrastructure and ability to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Certain sites are better equipped to assist students with disabilities, and we recommend speaking to a Study Abroad Advisor or Program Supervisor early on in the application process about any and all needs for accommodation.”  The Cal Poly Study Abroad website also suggests that students do some research on the country they are going to attend regarding how they accommodate people with disabilities.  Also, students should be open to all different study abroad programs as possibilities so that they can attend the one that best suits their needs.  This may mean that students with disabilities don’t get to attend the program that is their top choice.  It is also extremely important that all faculty and staff members of the program know about a student’s disabilities and what needs to be done in order to help the student.  Finally, the website recommends knowing how to discuss disabilities with people who are native to the host country.  They may have questions, and students will obviously want to understand and answer them.

In case none of the Cal Poly study abroad programs work, there are also programs specifically created to help students with disabilities.  One such program is Mobility International USA, which “aspires to empower people with disabilities through international exchange, information, technical assistance and training to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in international exchange and development programs.”  There is also a program called Access Abroad, which is a federally funded project (that) seeks to enhance existing study abroad opportunities for students with disabilities. This is currently the most comprehensive resource for students with disabilities and study abroad.”

Ultimately, there are many options for students with disabilities who want to study abroad, and there is absolutely no reason that they should be unable to participate in an international program.  If any of this information applies to you, talk to an advisor and start planning your study abroad trip now!

Oh the places you will go: CSU Study Abroad programs offered around the world

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California State University International Programs

By Lindsay MacLeod

I’ve spent a lot of my time on this blog talking about the faculty led programs specifically at Cal Poly.  While they are all amazing programs, they don’t necessarily appeal to every student at Cal Poly, and so, now it’s time to talk about the California State University International Programs that are offered, and which every CSU student is eligible for.

There is a total of 19 countries that students can visit if they choose to partake in a study abroad trip offered through the CSU system.  The countries offered are amazing and give students the opportunity to travel virtually anywhere in the world!  Students can choose to go to Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Ghana, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.  Within these countries, there are even 33 different cities that students can then choose to study abroad!

Attending a study abroad program offered by a different Cal State University can be a really good option for students who can’t find a Cal Poly faculty led program that fulfills class requirements or interests them.

According to a brochure I received from the Cal State study abroad office, they offer the following majors:

• African Studies
• Agriculture
• Anthropology
• Architecture
• Art
• Biology
• Business
• Chinese
• Communications
• Computer Science
• English
• Economics
• Engineering
• French
• Geography
• German
• History
• Hospitality Management
• Japanese
• Kinesiology
• Latin American Studies
• Mathematics
• Middle Eastern Studies
• Music
• Parks & Recreation
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Theater
• Zoology

It’s obvious that the Cal State system wants its students to have the opportunity to study abroad.  As I listed above, they offer tons of majors in addition to classes within these subjects that many students still need in order to graduate.

Even though students are strongly encouraged to study abroad, there are still some requirements that are definitely important to know about.  Most programs require a minimum of a 2.75 or 3.0 grade point average.  They also need applications to be submitted by February 1^st for most programs, and by May 1^st for students travelling to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.  Keeping these in mind, students should start planning for their trip now, whether it is by raising grades or by getting a head start on the application process.

One of the greatest aspects of Cal State study abroad is that it is actually the “most affordable study abroad opportunity available to CSU students,” and the price is actually fairly similar to what students pay at school now.   Another great benefit is that study abroad experience looks great on a resume and may just be the extra piece of information that employers need when deciding whom to hire for the job.  Even though these are both great reasons for students to be encouraged to study abroad, it really comes down to the basic fact that study abroad is an amazing and life changing experience.  It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, and, students at Cal Poly, take advantage of the amazing programs that are offered

Dealing with Culture Shock

By Lindsay MacLeod

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, culture shock is defined as a sense of confusion and uncertainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an alien culture or environment without adequate preparation.  One of the biggest issues with study abroad is that many students experience culture shock.  Knowing this, it is extremely important for students to be prepared to feel a sense of culture shock and then know how to deal with it.

In an interview with Cal Poly freshman, Leila Tebyani, who is studying abroad in Peru next year, study abroad students tend to experience a “culture shock W.”  She told me that she had attended an information session about her Peru trip, and the advisor had explained that the emotions students would be feeling throughout the trip would be similar to that of a “W.”  What he meant by this was that at first, students start out extremely excited to be in a new country, but as time progresses they get homesick, feel out of place, and their emotions slide down to the bottom of the W.  Then, they get acquainted and realize they love studying abroad in a new country and that in many ways, the new country is far superior to the United States.  At this point, they have travelled back up the W.  Then they return home and are sad that their trip is over and miss being in their specific destination, bringing them back down the W.  Finally, they settle back into their home life and look back at their trip fondly, making them happy and at the top of the W.  Of course, this may not be the exact situation for every student who studies abroad, but it is probably quite close.

Since culture shock is so common in students who study abroad, it’s important to know how to deal with it.  One of the most recommended tips amongst other students who have been through study abroad is to really get involved in the country you travel to.  Join clubs, put yourself out there to make friends, and attend all of the events that are planned for your trip.  Being exposed to the new culture will make the transition much easier.  Next, an interesting technique to adjusting to new cultures is to keep a journal and write down stories about what you experience.  Compare them to your experiences at home and have fun learning about both your home country and your new host country.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions!  Talking to students who are either foreign to the country or natives will really help you.  Also, talk to counselors and teachers because it’s their job to make the experience as amazing as possible for you.  The more you learn on your trip, the easier it will be to get used to being in a new country.  Do some research before you get to the country so you have a good idea of their history and what is going on in their current government, economy, and other social aspects.  Ask natives what they think of these things, and you will really learn a lot!

In the end, what really matters is that while you’re studying abroad you want to experience as much as possible.  Getting involved, being curious, and not being afraid to ask for help when you’re feeling confused or homesick are all really important things to do.  It should be the time of your life, so don’t let a little bit of culture shock change that.

Cal Poly Faculty-Led Study Abroad Trips

Photo Attribution:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsphotos/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Cleland Wildlife Park

Kangaroo Island

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yandi/ / CC BY 2.0 Floating Islands

Ayutthaya

Sukhothai

How to Budget Your Study Abroad Trip

By Lindsay MacLeod

In today’s economy, we’ve had to learn to skip some of the luxuries we used to have in order to save money.  Unfortunately, this can mean not studying abroad for many students – at least that’s what many people think it means.  For those of you who are on a tight budget, and even for those of you who aren’t, there are actually many ways you can have the time of your life studying abroad and even save money.

The very first thing you can do that doesn’t even quite involve saving money is to compare the costs of the different programs.  For the faculty led programs, for example, there is a wide range of costs.  For the Australia program, the estimated cost is $12,600 to $13,900.  The cost for the London program is $12,000 to $12,500.  The Peru program, however, is only $7,957 to $8,707, and the Thai program is also less costly at $7,971 to $8,871.

It’s important to take note that a lot of the expenses that are counted in the program estimates are for things such as food, which obviously can vary from person to person.  Also, cutting back on personal expenses such as souvenirs and dining out often can greatly decrease the cost of your trip.  Of course I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy anything or that you aren’t allowed to experience the native cuisine, but rather, just be careful where your money is spent and only allow yourself a few times to indulge.

Don’t forget that student loans and financial aid are still completely acceptable when studying abroad.  If you haven’t already, apply for financial aid at the FAFSA Web site.  If you’re eligible, you can receive enough money to cover the entire cost of your trip.

Even after FAFSA, there are more ways for you to apply for scholarships.  Cal Poly even offers its own scholarship for students in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Services.  They award these “International Scholarships for Education in Agriculture” to at least 20 students at a minimum of $500.

There is also a number of National Scholarships offered.  Some are aimed towards students who have limited financial means, and others serve to help students with specific grade point averages.  What I found most astounding is that these scholarships can range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to $20,000!

Even though times are tough, students shouldn’t have to sacrifice studying abroad.  As I said, there are so many opportunities to get money through financial aid and scholarships, and sometimes even just watching your spending can make the difference between studying abroad and staying at home.  Start budgeting and applying for aid now, and you can go on the trip you’ve always dreamed of.

Australia, London, and everything else

By Lindsay MacLeod

Making the decision to study abroad can have a huge effect on your college experience.  Of course, it should be a positive effect, and so, it is important to know specific information about the programs offered.

At Cal Poly, one of the most popular forms of studying abroad is participating in a faculty led program.  For students interested in wine and viticulture, I would seriously suggest the Australia trip.  The program takes place every year during winter quarter so that students are even given the opportunity of having two weeks of free travel time after their courses have ended.  Some major highlights of the trip include a trip to Kangaroo Island and even an “Aussie Day at the Beach.”  Another extremely popular program is the London study.  This program offers courses for students who are interested in the art, music, history, and architecture of London.  Students even have the option of going on a weekend trip to Paris, and a day trip to the very famous Stratford-upon-Avon.  Possibly one of the most unique programs Cal Poly offers is its Peru Study.  Classes are taught in English by Cal Poly professors, and the material covers information relevant to Peru and Latin America.  They specifically focus on communication and geography.  In only 5 weeks, students can earn 12 units of credit and even visit breathtaking Machu Picchu.  Finally, for Cal Poly students who have a real fascination in foreign cultures and business, I would strongly recommend the Thai trip.  Students take anywhere from 12 to 16 units of business, humanities, and psychology classes.  Plus, one of the little known facts is that this trip even takes students elephant riding and bamboo river rafting!

Cal Poly students who don’t find any of the faculty led programs to be interesting can participate in an exchange program.  Students in the College of Agriculture Food & Environmental Sciences, Architecture & Environmental Design, Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts, and Science & Math can apply to be an exchange student at universities around the world that offer similar programs.

When Cal Poly doesn’t have what you want, look into the programs offered by other California State Universities.  From Mexico to France and Germany to Japan, students who are enrolled in a CSU can participate in programs in 19 different countries.  This is such an amazing option to have.

After researching Cal Poly’s study abroad programs, one thing has definitely come to my attention: Cal Poly wants every student interested in studying abroad to be able to do so.  So for those of you who still haven’t found anything satisfactory, there are a number of affiliated programs that basically offer classes that are transferrable to Cal Poly, but aren’t actually taught through Cal Poly.  With this option, almost the entire world becomes a possible destination for Cal Poly students.

After spending so much time looking at all the different programs Cal Poly offers, I began to fantasize about seeing the Eiffel Tower or going to Stonehenge.  Researching studying abroad makes it feel so much more tangible and going on all of the different trips seems so exciting!  If you have the time, there is no reason not to just go for it and study abroad.