Study Abroad Program introduces students to a world of opportunities

The goal of the Study Abroad Program at Purdue University Fort Wayne is for students to gain a different perspective on the world. What often happens is they also gain different perspectives about themselves.

“I do recommend anyone considering studying abroad to do a lot of thinking about it because it can be a fantastic experience,” said Bobby Way, a senior who spent the fall semester studying in Argentina. “I think about it every single day, and I try not to be that guy who always says, `During my study abroad…’ I don’t want to overstate it, but it was generally so much fun.”

By throwing him into “1,001 different scenarios where I didn’t know what to do,” the semester off campus—far off campus—pushed Way forward and helped him find more of who he is supposed to be. Now he’s considering an international law career, recently took a post as a Spanish interpreter, and wants more travel abroad.

According to John Jensen, PFW’s director of the Study Abroad Program and National Student Exchange, 71 PFW students during the recently completed academic year—a figure that includes 30 this summer—studied overseas. The favorite destinations are in Western Europe, but Japan and Korea are also popular, partly because of their increased presence in the U.S. entertainment culture.

There are also students coming to PFW from other countries, programs Jensen also supervises along with the Office of International Studies. Nais Zavatto, from Marseille, France, spent her entire senior year in Fort Wayne before leaving on May 15 to graduate in Marseille. Like Way, Zavatto said she’ll return someday.

“They have to do it because it is so much different, and you learn so much,” Zavatto said. “By coming to the U.S., I didn’t only get to meet American people, but people from other countries as well. When I was in France, I didn’t really take the time to do that, even though we have international people, and I regret it. I’m happy that I got that chance here.”

Zavatto said American students have different ways of learning, taking exams, habits, food, languages, and everything that adds to culture.

Jensen said that because of the international programs PFW works with, there are hundreds and hundreds of destinations students can visit to study.

“When students come in, they usually have an idea about where, and I like to try to get them to think about why,” Jensen said.

Many students say they want to go to England or Australia because they already speak English, but Jensen will ask them to consider if that’s the best place to study their subject, and says that should be the primary focus.

The surprising thing isn’t where students can study, but how the costs are so similar to a semester at PFW. Because of the international agreements, PFW students will pay the same rates for housing, tuition, and on-campus food plans, meaning the extra costs will primarily come from off-campus activities and airline travel, which may be included in financial aid plans as a legitimate academic expense.

“For a student who wants to go to Italy, they are paying the same cost as they are here other than any additional spending,” Jensen said. “That’s how we make it very affordable for our students.”

One crucial factor is when to go, with Jensen suggesting students consider from the summer after their freshmen year to the summer before their senior year. Because it can be tricky getting the academic documentation back in time for graduation, most travel during their junior year.
Even if they are just curious, Jensen said students should talk to him early—even during their freshman year—to discover the possibilities.

“I hate it when a student comes to speak to me during their senior year and says, `I finally got all my major classes done, I have only electives left, and I want to study abroad.’” Jensen said. “By then, it’s too late.

"Today’s students want to know all their options, so come talk to me early to find out what they are. Spending time overseas is a personal growth experience and has a tremendous influence. Everybody is trying to figure themselves out, and this is a crash course in it.”