Students attend study abroad program
The Study Abroad Fair held Tuesday drew a steady trickle of students to the 20-plus tables in the International Lounge
There were 19 programs at the fair, as well as several others affiliated with USU. Affiliated programs work with the school to transfer credit and financial aid and have tuition costs similar to USU, making study abroad easier.
Sarah Leineweber, a senior enrollment coordinator representing the program Australearn, said her experience studying abroad in Brisbane, Australia, three years ago was life-changing. She said she has even been back to visit.
“I think study abroad should be mandatory,” Leineweber said. “It makes you more well-rounded, more understanding and adaptable.”
USU has programs to send students to nearly 40 countries on six continents. Programs of study include languages, education, humanities, business, political science, history, art and engineering.
Most programs at the fair were represented by someone who had traveled with the program. One Japanese university was even represented by two women who flew in from Japan.
This semester about 15 USU students are studying overseas, a lower number than average, said Joanne Decker, assistant to the director of Study Abroad. She said there are also 15 students from overseas at USU.
Florian Zwetti, an exchange student from Bavaria, Germany, has been in the states about three weeks. He said he likes the schools in America better than in Germany.
“In Germany, you more or less just concentrate on learning,” Zwetti said. “You don’t have the chance to do other things.”
Zwetti said things like school sports and music aren’t available in Germany, so he’s taking advantage of the activities offered at USU and joining the jazz ensemble to play trumpet.