Stats and Scholarships

The Stats

In the last 5 years the number of students studying outside of their home country increased by 40%.

While 1 of every 16 students in sub-Saharan Africa studied abroad only 1 out of every 250 North Americans studied abroad; the lowest rate in the world.

As globalization through technology continues to bring countries together more closely, the importance of cross-cultural experiences and communication is crucial to moving forward socially and in business. What does this mean for US students? We have a lot of catching up to do! However, the price tag on a global education can often be daunting. Below are a few scholarships to aid you in your path overseas. Many have fast approaching deadlines, so don’t delay!

The Scholarships

Gilman International Scholarship Program

Deadline: Oct. 9, 2007

When: Spring 2008

What: Up to $5,000 for undergraduates. An additional $3,000 for those seeking to study: Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and specific dialects of Turkic, Persian, and Indic.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia

Deadline: Oct. 17, 2007

When: Spring 2008 and early 2008-2009 Academic Year

What: Up to $3,000 for summer, Up to $5,000 for a quarter/semester, Up to $7,000 for an academic year. All for undergraduates studying in East or Southeast Asia.

Marshall Scholarship

Deadline: Oct. 3, 2007

What: All expenses for graduate study at a British university.

George J. Mitchell Scholarship

Deadline: Oct. 5, 2007

When: 2008-2009 Academic Year

What: All expenses for graduate studies in Ireland.

Fulbright Program

Deadline: Oct. 19, 2007 *Your school may have a different deadline.*

What: All expenses for one year to teach, research or study in over 100 countries. Must have a bachelor’s degree to apply.

Information courtesy of Abroad View Magazine.

Posted by Susannah.

We have a star in our midst! Danielle, a Global Experiences intern in Florence, recently did work with a television station that caters to tourists by airing cultural events, exhibitions, and other happenings in Florence. She was able to write and then star in a piece on a new art exhibit in the city.

Check out her video on You Tube. (Italian Version or English Version)

How A "Study Abroad" Bill Becomes Law

Remember that cartoon “How A Bill Becomes Law” from your junior high civics class? Me neither, but that’s ok. The point was that your voice matters.

Did you know that only one percent of all U.S. undergraduates study abroad each year? That amounts to just over 200,000 students a year. Not that impressive when you consider the breadth of international knowledge required in today's global society.

That’s why Global Experiences and other members of NAFSA, the nation's largest association for international educators, recently spent a day on Capitol Hill meeting with Members of Congress and Senators to talk about study abroad.

You can help too! The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act will be voted on in the next few weeks in the House of Representatives and the Senate. An extremely important bill for anyone interested in study abroad, national security, language learning or international business, the legislation provides that, within 10 years of enactment:

• Not less than one million U.S. undergraduate students will study abroad annually; and


• The demographics of study abroad participation will reflect the demographics of the U.S. undergraduate population; and


• An increasing portion of study abroad will take place in nontraditional study abroad destinations and especially in the developing countries.

Please help us to promote study abroad by writing your Members of Congress and Senators regarding the Simon Study Abroad Act (H.R. 1469 in the House of Representatives and S. 991 in the Senate)!

Click here to learn more about these bills and to submit an online letter of support to your Representatives.

- posted by Mike

Global Experiences provides customized international internships, teaching English abroad certification courses, fashion experiences, high school service learning programs and other unique international experiences.

Show Me the Money

One of the top reasons many students choose not to study, intern or volunteer abroad is due to the cost. Most people don’t realize that companies, the government, non-profits and even their own schools are just itching to send students abroad to see and experience a world outside of their home university and have worked hard to provide funding avenues to make this possible.

Don’t give up on going abroad due to the cost before really taking a look at the options you have available. To go abroad, I myself paid a fourth of what my home institution would have cost me for the year. Not a bad deal for a priceless experience.

You can find funding everywhere from Private Funding and Scholarships to Government Funding, Institutional and University Funding, or even Public Funding. Not to mention Loans which you could pay back from a job you got using connections made on your internship abroad! Both Print Resources and Online Resources can guide you in your search. So, take heart; there is no lack of resources (or money!) available for going abroad.

Posted by Susannah

Bazaar Bargaining

I’m not sure what it is, but the folds in my wallet seem to stiffen when I'm abroad, and the once stingy contraption remains open for the entirety of my trip, ready at the first hint of anything cool to cough up all its possessions on the spot. To combat the problem of overspending, I've written down a few ideas and tactics that help me keep my wallet relatively full, even if I am finding it open more than usual.

1. Don’t buy anything right away! Even it you “just gotta have,” you can most likely “just gotta have it” somewhere else, and it might be cheaper. Take a walk through the entire market to see prices from a few vendors. Chances are that they sell similar things and have different feelings about offering you a lower price.
2. Once you pick out the item and the place to buy it try to engage the owner in a general conversation. Shopping is more a social event than business transaction. If you can speak the same language ask how long he or she has been selling the goods and other questions about his business or the area. If you are unable to have short conversations then ask the price of a few items. Don’t look overly eager to buy any one thing or they will hike the price up.
3. After you ask the price don’t be afraid to shake it off with a laugh or look of disbelief. Make a face like you just ate a batch of sour grapes. Ask the price of something else before returning your interest in the original item. If you’ve gauged the market price and know what you are willing to pay for the item, it’s perfectly fine to let the vendor know that you think he’s boosted his prices.
   
4. Venders will not show you any respect or offer their best price if you respond to his initial offer with a ridiculously low number. Remember, you’re not trying to rip anyone off, just get a fair price. Keep your lowball offers at about 50%, maybe 25% if you're going to buy a few items.
   
5. Lastly, don’t be afraid to walk out. But be sure not to just rush out in a huff. Take it slowly. Gived the vendor a chance to stop you or at least offer a lower price. Even hesitating just before you walk away to briefly inspect a different item works wonders. Always thank the vendor for his time and remember that you can always return if you realize that whatever the price, you “just gotta have it.”

Posted by: Marc

Can I afford an international internship?

We get this question a lot. Check out this new site for various funding options for study abroad and international internships: studyabroadfunding.org.