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Selecting a program is a deeply personal decision. Students from the same Major or Minor may have vastly different goals for a global program.

 

As a result, there's no such thing as "the perfect program" based solely on your Major or Minor.
Below are a few questions to consider when determining the program that not only excites you, but feels right.

 


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What type of experience am I looking for?
  • Compare housing options, community engagement opportunities, field-trips, and meal plans offered on every program. A great opportunity to explore programs is during our annual Global Opportunities Expo held every October. Otherwise, you are welcome to contact programs via email or phone using the Program Contact List.
  • Review Program Models to help you narrow your program search based on the type of immersion you hope to have. For example, do you want to take courses alongside other U.S. students, or do you want to be surrounded by international and local students?
  • Connect with previous Study Abroad Returnees from Santa Clara to hear about their stories using the Student Experiences page. 
  • Understand how your own identity may play into your experience abroad to help you better engage more easily with other students’ and host country residents’ personalities, ideas, perspectives, forms of expression and backgrounds using the Diversity & Identity Abroad page.
How does this program align with my academic needs?
  • Before exploring global opportunities, create your 4 Year Course Plan with your Academic Advisor. The 4 Year Course Plan helps you better understand the types of courses you need to stay on track to degree at Santa Clara. You will then use your 4 Year Course Plan to identify study abroad programs that will fit your academic needs. 
  • Consider searching programs by major which will provide the best chance to continue progress toward your degree in a particular major.
  • Compare programs based on academic alignment (as well as personal and professional goals) using the Course Planning Workbook.
  • Consider expanding your search using the full program database, based on the area of study you would like to pursue. For example, you may decide you want to focus on courses that could satisfy minor and core requirements, rather than major requirements.
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Before going abroad, I ensured that the classes I was taking transferred back as valid credits for my major, minors, or core requirements before adding on additional classes that sounded interesting to me. This allowed me to stay on track for graduation.

Jianna Domingo, Class of 2023
What is my budget?
  • Understanding your budget for a study abroad experience will help you feel more confident about the feasibility of this opportunity. Costs are a valid concern, and we've built resources to help you determine what your budget for study abroad looks like. Learn more about  the costs and scholarships opportunities on our Affording Study Abroad page. 
  • Submit a Financial Aid Estimate to One Stop to determine how your current loans, scholarships, and grants would transfer over to an SCU-approved study abroad program. For further Financial Aid questions, contact One Stop at onestop@scu.edu
  • Create and maintain your personal budget before departure and while abroad using these tips.
What are my goals post-graduation?
  • Competitive applicants can clearly articulate why a particular study abroad program will help them acheive their personal, professional, and academic goals. Before comparing programs, brainstorm your goals using the Setting Goal Workbook. Be sure to revisit your goals as you narrow down your program preferences to further explore each program.
  • Incorporate your goals into your application essays. The Essay Writing Guide is a helpful tool to help you craft your essay responses. 
  • Planning to enter the workforce after you graduate? Boost your resume by selecting a program that allows you to participate in an internship for-credit while abroad. Or maybe graduate school has your name written all over it? Develop your research skills by selecting a program that allows you to conduct research while abroad. Incorporating these types of goals and opportunities into your global experience will help you stand out in the application process.
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Studying Abroad is an invaluable experience and something that is really difficult to do after you graduate. Push yourself to go somewhere and gain a wonderful experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.