When I started studying at Whittier College, one of the things I was extremely excited about was studying abroad. Now that I’m a junior, I finally have the opportunity to travel to England for two weeks to study one of my favorite authors, Jane Austen.
Whittier College offers many options for those who choose to study abroad. One option is to join a faculty-led study abroad program which is shorter and easier on the bank account than semester or year-long programs. The faculty-led study abroad programs take place during JanTerm (in between fall and spring semesters) and MayTerm (after spring semester). These study abroad programs are usually worth three credit courses and there are several classes to pick from each year.
In order to decide which study abroad program to join, I attended information sessions presented by the professors. The first one I went to was for a course in Greece that included a focus on mythology and a trip to the Greek islands. The 3-week itinerary was organized but a little out of my budget due to the three extra days on the islands. After this, I went to the informational meeting for a trip to the United Kingdom centered around the author Jane Austen. This one didn’t have a set itinerary, but it was less expensive and in my area of interest, literature, as I am an English major. So, I chose to sign up for the study abroad trip to the United Kingdom.
My family was extremely excited and supportive when I told them about my decision to enroll in the Jane Austen course and travel to the United Kingdom. They weren’t scared or nervous about my decision to study abroad because I had already saved enough money from my summer part-time job. I also had the Global Poet Scholarship, a study abroad scholarship that is offered to all Whittier students after their third semester. Without this scholarship I don’t think I would have been able to study abroad at all during my time at Whittier. The cost for the course in the United Kingdom was about $3,500. Once I applied my Global Poet Scholarship, the cost went down to about $1,500. After that, I just needed to budget for my plane ticket and lunches while on my trip. Compared to study abroad programs that other universities offer, this is a steal!
In order to enroll in any of the study abroad programs at Whittier College you must have a passport, which you should apply for at least six months before your travel date. Right now, it’s taking longer to receive your passport because of delays caused by COVID-19. Other things you need, depending on your destination, is a scheduled COVID-19 test before you leave. The Office of International Programs at Whittier will let you know all the rules and regulations of the country you are traveling to during the information session before you join the program. They also do a really good job at keeping you informed as you get closer to leaving.
Overall, studying abroad is one of the reasons why I choose to come to Whittier College because they made it affordable, and not too long so I’m able to study abroad without being away a whole semester. I know I get homesick easily so this was the best option for me on top of having the Global Poet Scholarship. Along with having a very communicative Office of International Programs, the study abroad process has been running pretty smoothly.
