Unlock Your Future: Explore with Cerca Abroad

Embarking on a journey to study abroad is a thrilling opportunity that brings about personal growth, cultural immersion, and academic enrichment. Every year, thousands of students dream about broadening their horizons by studying in a foreign country, gaining life-changing experiences, and acquiring valuable skills. However, finding the right platform that offers you an enriching yet affordable educational experience can be challenging. Fear not, because Cerca Abroad, is here to revolutionize the way students experience study abroad programs.

Founded in 2017, Cerca Abroad initially offered medical shadowing internships, providing hundreds of aspiring medical professionals an insight into their future career. The company quickly garnered a reputation for delivering excellent educational programs combined with real-world engineering solutions. However, their services didn’t stop there. Over the past few years, Cerca Abroad expanded its program portfolio to encompass various in-person and remote internships in agricultural, engineering, environmental, veterinary, health, health & safety, marketing, and software fields.

CERCA Abroad student photo on an agriculture & Viticulture Internship

Cerca Abroad acknowledges the increasing demand for specialized education, hence they have branched out into offering Erasmus+ funded MSc degrees & courses. Students interested in fields such as electromobility, marine/maritime ICT, and precision agriculture can now gain a world-class education, coupled with the experience of studying abroad. This makes Cerca Abroad an innovative game-changer in the realm of international education.

What makes Cerca Abroad truly stand out is their transparent pricing model. With a mission to offer top educational experiences at a reasonable cost, the company has eliminated hidden fees and unnecessary extras. This transparency allows students to budget effectively, freeing them from financial worries and enabling them to focus solely on their academic and cultural immersion.

Moreover, studying abroad with Cerca Abroad is not just about the educational curriculum. It is about the entire experience. By offering its participants a taste of different cultures, they emerge with a more holistic view of the world. This cultural immersion can shape a student’s character, build their resilience, and make them a more open-minded individual.

Studying abroad is more than just a chance to travel; it’s an opportunity to redefine your future, gain unparalleled experiences, and build international networks. Cerca Abroad is well-positioned to make this a reality for students around the globe. With its broad range of programs and steadfast commitment to quality education, students can confidently embark on their journey to explore, learn, and grow with Cerca Abroad.

CERCA Abroad student photo – Medical/Dental/Physio Shadowing in Greece

Moreover, the ability to understand and adapt to diverse cultures, as well as learning to communicate and work effectively in a different cultural context, adds significantly to a student’s portfolio, setting them apart in today’s competitive job market. Cerca Abroad supports this aspect of growth through their immersive internships, ensuring that the participants gain not only academic and professional expertise but also intercultural competence.

Additionally, the networking opportunities that come with studying abroad are invaluable. Students can connect with professionals in their field, leading to potential job opportunities, references, and lifelong relationships. This forms a global network that can significantly aid their future career paths.

Cerca Abroad’s holistic approach towards international education helps students achieve their maximum potential, arming them with academic knowledge, cultural competency, and a strong professional network. For more information about their programs and offerings, do not hesitate to visit the Cerca Abroad’s homepage on Abroad101! The perfect study abroad experience awaits! Invest in your future and explore the vast opportunities at Cerca Abroad. Embark on this life-changing journey today!

Discover Costa Rica: A Top Study Abroad Destination for High School Students Seeking Cultural Immersion and Adventure

Costa Rica, a small Central American country known for its lush rainforests, biodiversity, wildlife, and pristine beaches, is an ideal study abroad destination for high school students seeking adventure, cultural immersion, and educational experiences. In this article, we’ll take you through some of the highlights Costa Rica has to offer, based on program reviews and travel experiences!

Arcos Journeys participants with their host family chickens in Atenas.

Atenas: Authentic culture and perfect climate

Atenas, a picturesque town located in the central part of Costa Rica, is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere. Nestled amidst the rolling hills of the Central Valley, Atenas offers visitors a charming blend of traditional Costa Rican culture and modern amenities. Surrounded by lush coffee plantations and verdant countryside, the town boasts a pleasant climate year-round, claiming the title of “The Best Climate in the World” by National Geographic. With its friendly community, colorful architecture, and stunning vistas of the distant mountains, Atenas provides a safe and explorable town for high school students. Additionally, the town’s central location makes it a convenient base for exploring the diverse attractions of Costa Rica, including national parks, volcanoes, and pristine beaches. Atenas truly embodies the essence of the country’s pura vida lifestyle, making it an enchanting destination for high school students seeking an authentic Costa Rican experience.

A golden sunset over the pacific ocean on an Arcos Journeys excursion.

Manuel Antonio: Pacific Beach and Biodiversity 

Manuel Antonio, situated on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is a tropical paradise renowned for its stunning natural beauty and abundant biodiversity. This small coastal town is home to the renowned Manuel Antonio National Park, a jewel of the country’s protected areas. The park encompasses lush rainforests, pristine white sand beaches, and an array of wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, and colorful tropical birds. Visitors can hike through the park’s well-maintained trails, leading to breathtaking viewpoints and hidden waterfalls. With its vibrant blend of nature and adventure, Manuel Antonio provides a perfect balance between relaxation and exploration. Manuel Antonio is a tropical paradise that captivates visitors with its natural wonders, making it an unforgettable destination for high school students.

Arcos Journeys high school students pose in front of the majestic Arenal Volcano on their hike at Bogarín Nature Trail in La Fortuna.

Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna: Adventure and Wellness 

At the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna region, students can partake in adventure sports like zip-lining through the forest canopy and hiking through the lush landscape. Alongside these adrenaline-pumping activities, students can also enjoy rejuvenating hot springs nestled in the lush landscape near the Arenal Volcano. The hot springs offer a unique and relaxing experience in the heart of nature where students can soak in a series of naturally heated mineral pools with various temperatures and sizes.

GUANACASTE caption: A relaxing afternoon on Conchal beach, known for its white sand and shell-covered shore.

Guanacaste: Blue Zones and Breathtaking Beaches 

The Guanacaste region is home to one of the world’s only Blue Zones, where people live exceptionally long and healthy lives. High school students can discover the secrets behind this phenomenon, learn about local traditions, and explore the region’s stunning beaches, such as Brasilito and Conchal. Guanacaste beaches offer a variety of activities, including surfing lessons, snorkeling, and wildlife watching, providing unforgettable experiences for high school students.

One of the best ways to explore the rainforest is on horseback.

For a truly immersive and authentic Costa Rican experience, consider the High School Program – Tropical Discovery, Blue Zones & Spanish” offered by Arcos Journeys Abroad. With a focus on the “Pura Vida” lifestyle, this program introduces students to La Fortuna’s tropical environment, wellness practices in the Guanacaste region, and much more. Students visit the famous Bogarin Nature Trail, known for its multitude of sloths and go horseback riding through the jungle. Directed by the experienced Arcos staff, students will be in safe and professional hands as they explore the natural beauty and local culture of Costa Rica. This program also includes Spanish language lessons, ensuring that students not only experience the country’s stunning landscapes but also develop a deeper understanding of its people and culture. Parents can trust that Arcos Journeys Abroad will provide a secure and enriching experience for their high schoolers.

Arcos Journeys participants celebrate a cumpleaños with their host family, cake and a piñata.

Living with a Costa Rican host family offers a unique and enriching experience for high school students seeking an immersive language program such as the Spanish Language and Costa Rican Culture Program with Arcos Journeys Abroad. Costa Rican families are known for their warm hospitality and welcoming nature, making students feel like a part of the family from the moment they arrive. Sharing daily life with a host family provides an opportunity to practice and improve Spanish language skills while gaining a deeper understanding of Costa Rican customs, traditions, and way of life. From enjoying delicious homemade meals of gallo pinto and casados to participating in family gatherings and celebrations, living with a host family allows for an authentic glimpse into the local culture. Through this immersive experience, high school students not only foster meaningful connections with their host family but also develop a greater appreciation and respect for the Costa Rican way of life. Living with a Costa Rican host family truly offers a transformative cultural experience that creates lasting memories and friendships.

Arcos students lead enriching educational activities for children at a local school.

Volunteering in Costa Rica is one of the most rewarding and meaningful ways to experience the country. The Community Service & Eco Tourism Program with Arcos Journeys Abroad is the ideal opportunity for high school students wanting to make a positive impact while immersing themselves in the country’s rich culture and breathtaking natural wonders. This program combines community service initiatives with eco-tourism activities, creating a well-rounded experience that contributes to local communities. Participants engage in various community projects, such as volunteering at schools, conservation centers, or local environmental organizations, actively participating in initiatives that address pressing social and environmental issues. From reforestation efforts to beach clean-ups, participants actively contribute to the preservation of Costa Rica’s remarkable biodiversity. In addition to community service, participants have the chance to explore the country’s stunning landscapes, including national parks, tropical rainforests, and pristine beaches. Through guided eco-tourism activities, such as hiking, wildlife spotting, and engaging in sustainable tourism practices, participants develop a deep appreciation for Costa Rica’s natural beauty and gain a deep e understanding of the importance of environmental conservation while creating lasting memories.

High school students make hand-made tortillas in the Arcos Journeys Abroad Costa Rican cooking class.

Costa Rica is a remarkable destination for high school students looking to explore, learn, and grow through study abroad programs. Whether it’s the lush rainforests, the majestic Arenal Volcano, or the picturesque Pacific coast, this diverse country has something for everyone. And with the help of Arcos Journeys Abroad, students can fully immerse themselves in the Costa Rican way of life, gaining valuable life skills and unforgettable memories along the way. Don’t forget to read study abroad reviews and consider the top study abroad destinations to make the most of your international education experience!

An Interview with Kate Foster: Student of the Semester!

CYA student Kate Foster has been making the most of her time in Greece.

A self-proclaimed mythology fan, Kate was attracted to Greece’s rich history long before she arrived here. For her, living in Athens has provided her the chance to explore various aspects of the country’s history. She has had the chance to visit famous ancient sites from the Acropolis to the temple at Delphi to the palace of Knossos. Just two weeks ago, Kate even ran the 5k race of the Athens Authentic Marathon. But these experiences are only one part of her study abroad experience.  

As a biology major, most of Kate’s classes here are aimed to fulfill her general education requirements back at her home institution of University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. However, she has been doing much more than just studying. When she’s not in class or on CYA field trips, she dedicates a lot of her time to volunteering in the local community. Every week, Kate has been shadowing well-known surgeon Doctor Spyros Smparounis at the Metropolitan General Hospital.

When the doctor has patients, Kate interacts with them firsthand, learning about their illness and how to treat them with the Doctor. Kate even had the opportunity to witness a surgery in the room! On less busy days, Dr. Smparounis gives Kate lessons about illnesses and medical emergencies and how to treat them. As an EMT, Kate was interested in the differences between the Greek and American healthcare systems. Here in Greece, there is a universal healthcare program as well as private options. Meanwhile, in America, healthcare is mainly private. This week, Kate will sit in on a lesson from Dr. Smparounis about the cutting edge da Vinci Robotic Surgery System. Getting the chance to work closely with a renowned surgeon and developing a friendship is “once in a lifetime” Kate declared.

When she’s not working with Dr. Smparounis at the hospital, Kate also been volunteering with an organization called Medical Volunteers International (MVI). MVI is a non-profit that provides medical assistance to refugees. Once a week, Kate goes to one of their women and children’s clinics and assists doctors as they see patients. On their busiest day, fourteen patients came through during the few hours she was there. She gets to work alongside the doctors as they listen to patients about their symptoms, ask follow-up questions, and determine a diagnosis.

Unlike at many internship and volunteering experiences in the US, at MVI Kate gets to provide real input and contributions to the doctors she works with. She says that this work has given her the chance to see “what’s actually going on and how the process occurs and to look at the symptoms and go ‘okay, I think it’s this.’” Every time she goes in, she gets another opportunity to put the skills and knowledge she has gained in the classroom to the test.

One of Kate’s favorite parts of her volunteer work is that she feels she’s been able to provide more continuity at the clinic than usual. The doctors she works with are volunteering their time and efforts, so they often stay for about two weeks before switching out with a new doctor. Kate, on the other hand, has been helping at the clinic every week since mid-September. Since she has been coming for weeks now, she feels confident helping doctors recognize recurring patients and checking on their previous problems before helping them with new ones.

This is far from Kate’s first time venturing out into the medical field. She is a certified EMT, has worked in a burn clinic and trauma center, and has shadowed a variety of different medical professionals already. But even with all this experience under her belt already, she feels that her experiences here in Greece have been unique. While shadowing in the US is just “watching,” she describes her work here shadowing and with the volunteer organization as more “interactive” and “involved.” She’s had the chance to speak up and give her opinion to real medical professionals in a way that she hasn’t had the chance to in the US. While she has loved the work she has done in the US previously, she admits that “it’s one thing to learn it in the classroom but its another to actually go and to see what you’re learning in class in action and to see the consequences of it.” In her volunteer work here in Greece, Kate has gotten to witness the healing impact her help has had on real people.

This healing impact is all the more meaningful because Medical Volunteers International assists refugees. For Kate, this has been different than caring for patients at a hospital back in the US. Without the work of organizations like MVI, it can be extremely difficult for refugees to find medical care. In countries like Greece, where so many refugees have arrived in the past few years, this kind of humanitarian aid is critical. By seeing up close the situations of these refugees, Kate has gained more than just medical experience from her volunteering – she feels that her work at MVI has “opened up a whole new realm of sympathy.”

When it comes to for future CYA student who are considering volunteering, Kate’s advice was simple: “don’t be hesitant… it’s going to be great.”

For her amazing work throughout her time at CYA, Kate has been named the Student of the Semester for fall ’19! Bravo Kate!

An Important Study Regarding the Impact of Intercultural Educational Exchange Programs

A recent publication reports on the impact of educational exchange and study abroad programs conducted by the Federation of The Experiment in International Living. The work, by Dr. Alvino E. Fantini, Professor Emeritus, SIT Graduate Institute, titled: Intercultural Communicative Competence in Educational Exchange: A Multinational Perspective (Routledge, 2019), is based on two extensive research projects that explored the nature of intercultural communicative competence (ICC), its development during intercultural exchange (summer, short term, and semester programs), and the impact of such experiences on the lives of both students and hosts up to 20 years later.

Conducted in eight countries — Brazil, Ecuador, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Switzerland, and the United States — the research involved over 2,000 students plus over 200 host families, exploring the significance of exchange experiences in transforming people’s lives. Based on both quantitative statistics and qualitative narratives, the study also identified program components that most promote intercultural development, highlighting host family home stays and host language proficiency as most significant.

This important contribution to the intercultural communication literature, bases its multinational perspective on an extensive literary search in six languages spanning 50 years in order to identify ICC’s multiple components, to develop comprehensive assessment tools, and to assess ICC development and its impact on exchange participants.

For further information, click on the following link: https://www.routledge.com/Intercultural-Communicative-Competence-in-Educational-Exchange-A-Multinational/Fantini/p/book/9780815369677

Assessment instruments in multiple languages used in this research can be obtained on this website (click on “Instruments”): https://alvinoefantiniphd.godaddysites.com/.

Abroad101’s Advisor Newsletter Winter 2018

Thanks for taking a few minutes to check-in with Abroad101.  Now in our 10th year, Abroad101 continues to be the only website focused on capturing the impact of international education through student-generated reviews.  For those of you who use our system, this is a reminder to send invites to your recent returnees.  For those of you considering new ways to raise awareness of study abroad participation, Abroad101 is here to help.

What Are Study Abroad Reviews?

  • Reviews are Published Program Evaluations
  • Reviews are Testimonials
  • Reviews are Points of Pride
  • Reviews are Social Media
  • Reviews are Popular

When students publish their program evaluations they become reviews, and when they are on Abroad101, they also become Social Media.  As Social Media, these first-hand accounts of experiences abroad becomes a great point-of-pride for students.  They become powerful reference material for future students and parents.  As social media, reviews have many uses, enabling:

  • Universities to promote study abroad to their own students
  • Students to research programs and view first-hand accounts from their peers
  • Parents to set their expectations
  • Advisors to keep informed of outcomes and student satisfaction
  • University Administrators to gather data.

Students are encouraged to share their finished review with their friends, family and other students.  Students are also prompted to include their review in their Linkedin profiles and to reference the review in cover letters and grad school applications.  The ability to include photos and writing samples can boost the pride a student takes in their review.  Each day, Abroad101 reviews are fed into Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets by our editor, school advisors and students.  Sharing further spreads their impact. 

Make Public Your Program Evaluations

We encourage you to take the leap and become fully transparent by turning your private study abroad program evaluation process into a public review process.  When every student is required to complete a review in order to received credit, you get more candor, usable data and testimonials of the impact of study abroad.   We can’t help but think this transparent process positively impacts participation at these institutions and with Abroad101, you can do this for free.  What brings so many reviews online, is the full-feature software that Abroad101 provides to universities.

Take a look at a few of our Best Practice Leaders:

  • Brandeis University
  • Middlebury College
  • Trinity University
  • Wellesley College

Institutions like these trust Abroad101 as their program evaluation partner.  Abroad101 is a time-tested, integral part of the study aboard experience at our partner schools.  The Abroad101 team provides training and support for any issues that may arise in the process and we’d welcome being a more integral part of the education abroad experience at your institution.

Make a Review a Re-entry Exercise

Even if your school has an existing evaluation system in place for returning study abroad students, we hope you’ll still consider the student’s point of view and incorporate a study abroad review as part of a student-focused re-entry exercise.  The rationale goes as follows: if a student can coherently state what happened to them in writing, they will be much more prepared to discuss their experiences with friends, family and in future encounters as the student moves toward their next steps in life.  Showing they can express their emotions, in a published format is a big step forward and a reason to complete a review.  With a great sample of their writing and an expression of their new world view., you will help your students better prepare for their future by making a review part of the study abroad process.

Why Abroad101?

The Abroad101 review is 38 questions in length and is designed to walk students through a reflection of who they were before they left, who they are now and what they hope for their future.  As part of this process, they will rate 9 different aspects of their program and provide some insight and tips for future students.  Taking 20-30 minutes to complete, the review can help students put their feelings into words and start the process of communicating their experiences in concise and coherent ways.   They can add photos and turn their review into a point of pride, a capstone to their education abroad experience.

It’s for Faculty-led and Exchange Programs Too:

Abroad101 is happy to list your faculty-led programs in our system.  For your exchange partners, we have a catch-all “Direct Enrollment & Exchange” listing for every university abroad.  You are welcome to use Abroad101 for each of these types of programs in addition to the students on third-party programs and foreign schools.

Let us show you how.

We’re happy to provide you with a tour of the Abroad101 software, its features, advantages and benefits.  Please contact us for a 20-30 introductory walk through of the site and the system that manages is.  As we’ve been saying for 10 years – Its fast, free, easy!

Abroad101 remains free program evaluation software due to the support of our advertisers.  Many study abroad providers and foreign universities and schools pay for advertising in our directories of programs and that keeps us in business.  We thank them, and you for the opportunity to help enhance the field of international education.

Best wishes,

Mark Shay,

CEO / Abroad101

+1-212-321-0928

mark@abroad101.com

http://www.StudyAbroad101.com

Abroad101’s Advisor Newsletter Fall 2017

We know you’re heading into a busy time of year, so we thank you for taking a few minutes to think about broader issues like using reviews to advance study abroad on your campus.  As we celebrate 10 years of serving American college study abroad, Abroad101 and our study abroad reviews are as popular as ever.  The best news is that Abroad101 is still free for schools and going strong.

Have You Seen Your Students’ Study Abroad Reviews Lately?

Each day Abroad101 receives dozens of program evaluations from students that have been invited by either their home university, their provider or their host institution.  We publish each review as a complete web page and tally them in listings by program, provider, host institution and also in portals for each home school.  As of today, 31,963 student reviews are on Abroad101 making it the largest source of study abroad stories.  Visit the site, enter your school name in the search box in the top menu bar and see what your students have to say!

Moms & Dads Use Abroad101

The target audience for Abroad101 is American college students looking for a semester, summer or short-term abroad.  We list third-party, exchanges and faculty-led programs.  Parents of prospective study abroad students are a big portion of our traffic.  Based on Google Analytics data, we estimate that 20-25% of the visitors to Abroad101 are parents, searching on the keyword “reviews” and trying to learn more about the options their children are considering. 

As an advisor, you will find that your recommendations are validated when prospective students and parents read reviews.  Providers will often use reviews in their discussion with students and parents as they find a well-informed student makes for a more successful student.  Reading reviews will help parents become more comfortable with study abroad and to help them set expectations on what lies ahead.  We hope you’ll mention Abroad101 Reviews in your parent communication and put a link to Abroad101 on your website to better prepare all.

How to Get Students to Write Reviews?

So often we hear that it is hard to get students to do anything, let alone spend 20-30 minutes on a review.  This is especially true when students feel that the activity has no benefit for them.  However, they are inclined to share their stories if the exercise gives them a chance to tell their story, and that is exactly what they do on social media for hours a day! Think of a review as social media for study abroad and a place for students to showcase their story and talk about themselves.  Our time-test review questions will do the rest.

If the student believes the review is good for them, they will generally participate.  That takes some groundwork before they go abroad and as they prepare to return.  One idea to get more engagement is to incorporate a review in your re-entry programming and use the review process as a step toward preparing the students to share their experience with others.  Just like career counselors who tell students to prepare a good resume for a job search, we hope that study abroad advisors will help their students prepare for their return home by guiding them to submitting a thorough and candid review.

Using Abroad101 as Free Program Review Software:

A number of schools use Abroad101 as their official program evaluation software because it is designed to draw an insightful student account of their time abroad.  These evaluations are also great for future advising and orientations.  The service is offered free to American colleges and universities, supported by advertising from program providers and foreign universities. The software offers:

  • Capability to approve/disapprove reviews
  • Invite Tool to improve participation
  • Graphs and Reports to tally student responses
  • Manage an approved programs list
  • Option to list faculty-led programs or in-house programs of your choosing
  • Compare your results against others
  • Add custom questions to the standard review

The Abroad101 team is happy to answer any of your questions by email or phone.  We also welcome the opportunity to walk you, and members of your staff though the system with an online demo of the back-end features of Abroad101 to see if our free program evaluation tool is right for you.  The demo will show how you can see reports, compare your results with other institutions, set pre-approved/recommended programs and add custom questions to the standard Abroad101 review.  Abroad101 also has promotional material for you to share with your students, so please let us know how we can help you.

Check-out the other “TripAdvisor for Study Abroad”

We recently came across a cool app for students to use while abroad.  It compiles the favorite restaurants, things to do, towns, and more from US study abroad students.  Read more about the Rayka App

Happy Fall!

 

Abroad101 March 2017 Students of the Month

 

Abroad101 donates to study abroad fundraisers that are set up by hopeful students who hope to study abroad. Working together with GoEnnounce we choose a student mission to be highlighted and then award a donation to start off the fundraising efforts. March 2017 students winners tell us about their coming study abroad trips to England, Costa Rica, Panama, Spain and South Korea.

Sydney Lundquist, our 115th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner is currently a senior at Washington and Lee University. She is an excellent student who is majoring in Biology and has received numerous awards and distinctions such as the W&L Biology Departmental Award and the Scholar Athlete Academic Honor Roll. Along with this, Sydney is also very involved in volunteer work, clubs, societies and extracurricular activities, and is dedicated to environmental sustainability, basketball and her faith.

Sydney’s goal is to eventually earn a Ph. D in conservation ecology. For now the plan is to Study Abroad in England and attend the University of Cambridge in October 2017. She will be working in Biological Sciences for Zoology research examining freshwater mussel conservation. This unique opportunity and experience will provide the chance to explore and understand new ecosystems, work with conservation ecology professionals, grow as a leader and ecologist and provide her with the unparalleled opportunity to explore the world.

We wish Sydney all the best at Cambridge and hope that she will have a life changing experience there!

Learn more about Sydney’s mission here.


Congratulations goes to our 116th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner, Kendall Shanks! One of Kendall’s passion is to learn languages, she is learning French and plans on studying Spanish, Mandarin as well as conversational Italian in college. During high school while working on an article about the struggling English-language learner program in her school district, Kendall’s eyes were opened  about the struggles the non english speaking students encountered. This one article shaped her plans for the future. She decided to work to protect members of the community that are silenced and disenfranchised.

Kendall’s future plan is to earn a degree in Global Studies and a minor in International Relations. She has been accepted to attend the Global program at Long Island University, in New York. The program will start in the fall of 2017, and she will spend one year in Costa Rica, living with a host family.  For Kendall, being able to study abroad will give her the unique opportunity to understand the issues refugees and immigrants face in their native countries.

Kendall started her fundraising Mission and will use the funds to pay for the tuition abroad.

To check out Kendall’s Mission and donate to her cause, click here!


Cecilia Mercier, is our 117th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner!

Cecilia is currently a junior at Southeastern Louisiana University, in Hammond, where she is majoring in International Management with a minor in Marketing. Her biggest passion is to travel and to discover new places and to constantly learn more about diversity, ethics, and cultures. She speaks fluent French, Spanish and English. To be able to speak several languages has helped her a lot when traveling, and it has also made her more open-minded and aware of different cultures. Through traveling Cecilia has not only become a better person but has also learned how to adapt to any kind of environment and situation and to communicate with people from different backgrounds, countries and cultures.

In order to graduate and obtain her bachelor’s degree in International Management, Cecilia is required to go Study Abroad this upcoming Summer 2017.  She will be attending the “Business, Economics & Marketing in Panama” program and will spend 10 days in Panama. Cecilia has always been fascinated about the country of Panama, and is really excited to go there.  There, she will be talking to local business owners and people that have experience working internationally, so this will be a once in a life time learning experience for Cecilia and she is confident that it will help her for her future career.

We wish Cecilia all the best in Panama and hope that she will have a life changing experience there!

To check out Cecilia’s Mission and donate to her cause, click here!


Our 118th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner is Marissa Small-Towns who is a student-athlete at The College of Charleston pursuing a major in International business and a minor in spanish.

When not competing in track and field meets around the southeast, Marissa finds herself in the library, volunteering on behalf of her team and finding ways to enhance her Spanish speaking skills outside of the classroom.

Marissa is fundraising for a Maymester program in Seville, Spain. This program is through Spanish Studies Abroad. The program will provide 3 credits which are necessary to complete a Spanish minor, and it will also assist in completing the study abroad requirement for the International Business Major. In addition Marissa hopes to immerse herself into another culture, which will help her prepare for a career in International Business and Spanish. She believes that it is very important to practice speaking Spanish in another country and out of the classroom, because speaking with native speakers is an enriching experience and offers opportunities to learn about the culture, local customs and words and speech that you might not necessarily learn in the classroom.

To check out Marissa’s Mission and donate to her cause, click here!

 


Sashalee Rashford, our 119th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner, will be going to South Korea for the summer with ISA (International Studies Abroad)! As a music business major Sashalee feels that it is important to learn about the industries around the world and how they work in those specific areas. During the Fall semester her senior project involved researching the history of the music industry in Korea and over this past summer Sashalee began to teach herself the basics of the Korean language. As you can tell, Sashalee is taking this opportunity very seriously!

The funds that are raised for this summer program will go towards class tuition and excursions. Sashalee has been saving for this trip and working hard to obtain scholarships for the trip as well. It’s a worthy cause and we hope Sashalee is able to learn many things about the music business and South Korea this summer.

We wish her all the best in South Korea and hope that she will have a life changing experience there!

Learn more about Sashalee’s mission here.


The Abroad 101 Student of the Week initiative awards a student who created a Mission for a study abroad program on GoEnnounce with a donation to their fundraiser. Learn more about this partnership from Abroad101 CEO Mark Shay and GoEnnounce founder Melissa Davis here.

Stay tuned for our next Abroad101 Students of the Week!

Abroad101 News for Advisors – January 2017

As Abroad101 begins its 10th Year, we’d like to say Happy New Year and thanks.  Thanks to the many advisors who use reviews to assist students in finding programs and setting expectations.  Thanks to the many administrators who require their students to submit reviews as their official program evaluation; and thanks to program providers and foreign host institutions who buy the ads that keep the service free.  Here’s to the next 10 years!

It is 2017: When did you Last Update your Evaluation Process?

Programs will often have a process where they engage the students in a final day evaluation exercise.  Taking it one step further, and pushing the student to publish their evaluation as part of the re-entry process is something that helps everyone.  Using the review as the student’s official personal statement can turn the bland evaluation into a dynamic point of pride.  It’s a productive re-entry exercise when the student can put their feelings into words and describe their discoveries, growth, maturity and overall gains made while abroad.  Abroad101’s 38-question review is an effective means to do this.  Asking the students to bring their laptop, tablet or smart-phone to class is one way to assure high or full participation in the process.  We have others.

Paper Evaluations into Online Reviews

We recognize that even with today’s tech savvy youth and Wi-Fi enabled campuses, capturing evaluations/reviews online has its challenges.

  • It’s OK to collect your data via paper
  • It’s NOT OK to store your data on paper
  • It’s JUST WRONG to share your data on paper

If you have paper evaluations, we suggest you allow us to turn them into Abroad101 reviews.  For a modest account management fee and a very reasonable per evaluation fee, we will scan your reviews and allow you to take a big step to modernize your evaluation process.

Using Abroad101’s Dashboard Tools for Benchmarking:

Having summary date is good, using it to measure progress is even better.  Millsaps College has long used Abroad101 as the evaluation tool for its faculty-led programs and recently their SIO provided a copy of the report he used in their regional (SACS) accreditation.  In it, he described how he used Abroad101 and our “Graphs” report.  Here are a couple of excerpts:

“Prior to using Abroad101, the OIE used its own personal evaluation system. This was, for one, a very time-consuming and labor-intensive process for the already strapped staff. But more importantly: in order to more accurately compare statistics with overall study abroad experiences, to compare provider programs with Millsaps faculty­leds, and to more easily collect and interpret data, the OIE has decided to use Abroad101 as its evaluation source.”

“Perhaps most importantly, partnering with Abroad101 allows us to send comprehensive assessment/evaluations to our returned study abroad student, while minimizing the work for our extremely small office by streamlining the evaluation process for us. They also provide easy-to-use tools to assess the data from the completed evaluations.”

Each advisor account on Abroad101 has a graphs report.  You’ll find it on the left side of your account dashboard, toward the bottom of the tool list.  Click to generate a graph of one of the following ratings categories: Overall, Academics, Program Administration, Housing, Food, Social integration, Health Care, Safety. Cost of Living.  You’ll also see how your students rate against the 30,000 reviews across Abroad101.

Connecting Reviews to your Enrollment or CRM System

We have been working to get Abroad101’s process of program evaluation and our set of questions as a standard part of everyone’s study abroad.  The students give us a lot of data that a number of institutions are using in their analysis and management of education abroad.   Abroad101 is set up to pass that data to you in several ways:

  • The “Graphs” tool mentioned above also compares in more depth for program operators/providers.
  • “Export to Excel” function that creates a spreadsheet with all of the data collected in each review, including any custom fields that you have added.
  • “API” is a computer system linkage that allows your system to dynamically pull the review in using a unique API key and the review serial numbers.

The Power of the Review Serial Number

The Export and API functions are even more powerful when this data can get tied to the student’s account in your enrollment system.  Key to this linking is the Abroad101 review serial number.  Each Abroad101 review gets a unique serial number and if you enter that serial number after “/reviews/” it will redirect to the full program link.  As an example, serial # 29619 can be viewed here http://www.studyabroad101.com/reviews/29619

If the advisor or the student enters the serial number into your student information system, you can forever refer to the review.  We recently posted an article with one creative way the serial number can be utilized in Terra Dotta Software and similar systems.

Review them ALL – Faculty-led, Exchange and Third-Party!

Abroad101 allows you to manage program evaluations for each type of study abroad program, or them all.  For example, Abroad101 has more than 1,900 foreign universities listed on the site, each with a listing for direct enroll & exchange.  Through Abroad101 your students can review any of the 4,000 third-party programs or if you’d like, we can add your own to the 4,200 faculty-led/university-run programs in the directory.  University-run programs listed on Abroad101 even have the option to be listed as home-students-only which means they will be listed as closed to outside students.  You will still get all the advantages of Abroad101’s reporting, data collection and the publishing tool for students to generate insightful, powerful and career-boosting testimonials of their experience abroad.

It all Starts with an Invitation

To get any of these projects going, you do need reviews and the best way to get reviews is to invite, or require your students to submit one.  It has been our experience that students won’t take the time to review a program unless told to do so.  You can encourage them, offer them incentive, insist a published testimonial will be a good jump start to their careers, or tell them it’s required, but tell them something to make these tools work for you.  Direct or link them to the program page on Abroad101 where they will find a “Write a Review” icon or have them start here: http://www.studyabroad101.com/reviews/new

In the End, Reviews are Good for the Students

Student reviews will be published on the Abroad101 website and each will become its own webpage.  This creates a great place to feature experiences and use those experiences to open doors to a future career.  Employers are looking for people with an international background and a review on Abroad101 is a perfect place to jump-start career searches.  We suggest that you encourage students to think of a review as a writing sample, a chance to showcase who they really are.  A well written review can show future employers and other recruiters that the student can be constructive in their criticism, take responsibility for outcomes, be reflective and be forward thinking.  Students should state their new worldview and use the review as a place to shine.  If there are a couple pictures of community involvement or doing good deeds, this helps to really separate them from the pack.

Thanks for taking the time to explore Abroad101 a little further.  We’d welcome a chance to further demonstrate the system through a web demo.  If you are interested, please contact us to schedule a session or with any questions you have about your account.

Abroad101, THE Study Abroad Review Website.  Since 2007, Abroad101 is Fast. Free. Easy.

 

Abroad101 Advisors Update – Fall 2016

Abroad101-reviews-logo-web

Have You Seen Your Study Abroad Review Portal Lately?

Each day Abroad101 receives dozens of program evaluations from students that have been invited by either their home university, their provider or their host institution.  We publish each review as a complete web page and tally them in listings by program, provider and host institution, plus in portals for each home school.  As of today, 29,442 student reviews are on Abroad101 making it the largest source of study abroad stories.  Visit the site to see your student reviews!

  1. Start at the university page:
  2. Enter your institution’s name in the search box and click to see your portal.
  3. If you want the ability to manage this portal and use the free software, simply reply with your contact info and we’ll get you a login.

Moms & Dads Use Abroad101

The target audience for Abroad101 is American college students looking for a semester, summer or short-term abroad.  Provider managed, exchange and faculty-led programs are all listed.  Parents and Advisors that support students end up being a big portion of our traffic.  Based on Google Analytics data, we estimate that 20-25% of the visitors to Abroad101 are parents, searching on the keywords like “study abroad reviews” and trying to learn more about the options their children are considering. 

As an advisor, you will find that your recommendations are validated when prospective students and parents read reviews.  Providers will often use reviews in their discussion with students and parents as they find a well-informed student makes for a more successful student.  Reading reviews will help parents become more comfortable with study abroad and to help them set expectations for what lies ahead.  We hope you’ll mention Abroad101 Reviews in your parent communication and put a link to http://www.StudyAbroad101.com on your website to better prepare all.

How to Get Students to Write Reviews?

If you are one of the many institutions that has a legacy process for program evaluations or cannot require students to complete reviews, it will take some work to get reviews part of the study abroad conversation.  So often we hear that it is hard to get students to do anything, let alone spend 20-30 minutes on a review.  This is especially true when students feel that the activity has no benefit for them.  However, they are inclined to share their stories if the exercise gives them a chance to tell their story, and that is exactly what they do on social media for hours a day!

If the student believes the review is good for them, they will generally participate.  That takes some groundwork before they go abroad and as they prepare to return.  One idea to get more engagement is to incorporate a review in your re-entry programming and use the review process as a step toward preparing the students to share their experience with others.  Just like career counselors who tell students to prepare a good resume for a job search, we hope that study abroad advisors will help their students prepare for their return home by guiding them to submitting a thorough and candid review.

We’ve published some articles with messages that should resonate with students, including:

Why Should I Write a Study Abroad Review?

Top 5 Reasons to Write an Education Abroad Review

Getting More from Abroad101

Abroad101 is a tool to help you advance study abroad on your campus and is used by some of the most successful institutions in the field.  Our goal is to see more students going abroad and getting the most from their experience.  We also want those that go to be better informed beforehand and we want to help them turn that experience into a career building stepping stone when they return.  The Abroad101 team is happy to answer any of your questions by email or phone.  We also welcome the opportunity to walk you, and members of your staff though the system with an online demo of the back-end features of Abroad101 to see if our free program evaluation tool is right for you.  The demo will show how you can see reports, compare your results with other institutions, set pre-approved/recommended programs and add custom questions to the standard Abroad101 review.  Abroad101 also has promotional material for you to share with your students, so please let us know how we can help you.

As we approach our 10th anniversary, we’d like to say THANKS for all your support.

You can also see the best of the review stream through social media:

Facebook | Twitter |  Pinterest | Instagram 

Leave your Kids (Abroad) Alone

two gifts quote

The year: 1986. The place: My childhood home in NY. The scene: The kitchen where a tan, old school phone with an unruly curly cord hangs on the wall. The language: Portuguese.

On one end of the phone was Sergio, my exchange student “brother” from São Paulo, Brasil. On the other end, what felt like a million miles away, were his parents.   Receiving a call from them was a BIG deal back then. With that phone call Sergio morphed from my English speaking, high school attending “brother” into a young boy from São Paulo who spoke a foreign language. To me, it felt like a completely different person was standing in the kitchen speaking loudly into the phone. The connections weren’t great back then and the call surely was expensive. Magically, with the click of the receiver, American Sergio returned to our family’s view.

Today, Sergio’s son, Gabriel, is living in my home as a year long high school exchange student. As I write this, he is at varsity (American) football practice. He is as adventurous as his brave dad was back in 1986, playing a sport he had only watched tirelessly on TV and the internet.

As a result, I have a bird’s eye view of what it means to be a parent and to miss your child when s/he is abroad. I see Gabi adapting to his new home city, processing and speaking in English 24/7, eager to engage in the world around him. And through Facebook chat and video, I hear his parents’ bellowing in pain from missing their beloved son. As a parent myself to a 20 month old, I can only begin to appreciate what another 14 years of time with my child will translate to when he eventually heads abroad for an extended period one day.

Yet, I cannot help but reflect back on that very vivid scene of Sergio talking with his parents on the phone. So what does any good interculturalist do upon reflection? She asks questions! I logged into Facebook and called Sergio in Brasil to ask him about how he is coping with his son’s absence AND to discuss his family’s plans to come to the US to spend time with us over the holidays. Yes, despite the title of this piece, Sergio and his family WILL come visit us this winter.

Sergio and family

My “brother” Sergio and son, Gabriel approximately 13 years ago. His wife (left) and I (right) hold their twin daughters. Photo taken in Brasil on New Year’s Eve (2002)?

I reflected with Sergio about the scenario above. He thought about it briefly and stated that it is much easier to talk to his son than it was for his parents, yet he has to restrain himself from doing so every day. He wants to talk about the latest Jason Bourne movie that he saw after he heard that Gabi and my husband, Tony, went to the premiere together last week – something they would have done together if Gabi were home in Brasil. He wanted to hear all about his first day of American football practice. He wants to know what he thinks of our city, our home, and what it is like to have a 20 month old brother after having sisters. It is natural to want to stay connected to your child, but Sergio knows how important it is that he allow him space during this tender period of being a new exchange student.   He remembers well how he immersed so seamlessly into our family and community in New York…and how he wants that joy for his own son. He and his wife have told me many times – no matter how much they miss him, they are more happy for him than anything.

I called another friend whose two daughters are both abroad – one is in Europe for 3 weeks while the other is on a study abroad program for a semester. I asked her about how she is adapting to the absence of her girls. Her response was that she misses them but has been very careful not to over communicate in that fragile first week or two, as that is when the bonding needs to happen. They don’t schedule times to talk and she has only “facetimed” once with her daughter in Europe.   She finds it strange that they have had the occasion to text their daughter in South America for random things (e.g. what is the Netflix password!) but otherwise they’re intentionally keeping some distance. When I asked if they planned to visit their elder daughter at the end of her study abroad program they said they’re thinking about it. When I pushed further, she indicated that they felt it would be okay to visit at the end of her semester program as it would give her a chance to show confidence in the language and experience without interrupting her studies. They would not visit if the program were shorter than a semester and wouldn’t do so in the middle of the program – and they may not even do so.

Sergio said the same – if Gabi were coming to the US for a few months only, he’d not plan to visit. But he is adamant that a visiting over the holidays for two weeks when his son will be here for an entire 12 months is acceptable because they won’t interrupt his studies, sports, or friends’ gatherings.

Why should a loving parent not visit a son or daughter on study abroad? After all, you miss each other, so what is the harm in doing so?

There are my two reasons NOT to visit your child on study abroad:

  • You may interrupt their flow: Study abroad requires immersion, space to make mistakes, learn a new language, gain confidence, engage in a new way of being in this world. When you visit your child while on a shorter term study abroad program, you unintentionally are stepping into his/her ability to find and maintain flow in their new surroundings. It is analogous to having to hit pause in your daily life to trot your parents to see everything that you’re experiencing in record time, doing none of it justice. It also doesn’t allow for your child to reflect deeply on the experiences, places and people that are just beginning to capture their attention. If you “leave them be” they will simply have more time to participate in their new culture and to let the new connections in their brains form solid pathways without having to revert back to what they know, their default way of being. So, don’t interrupt their flow, no matter how much they tell you that you HAVE to come to try the gelato in their favorite shop in Venice.
  • Your child will become more independent and learn more life skills: If you stay away from that airport you will likely observe, upon his/her return, that you gifted your child with a better chance of kicking independence into high gear. I see it with Gabi – he is speaking in English only, asking questions of others to gain information that helps him navigate his surroundings, engaging in new friendships even though it is scary to approach people you don’t know, washing his own laundry, unloading the dishwasher, making his own lunch, talking with his football coaches directly, and so much more. If you want an independent kid, don’t get on a plane and ask your child to hit pause on growth in their new home country in exchange for the ability to educate you and reinforce their learning for you. They will tell you ALL about it when they’re home while showing you their confidence and how empowered they have become. Additionally, if you’re willing to wait that long, you may find that you are truly the only person on the planet willing to sit through all 7,000 photos and hear all of the stories – an opportunity to bond with each other in a reflective learning space – and they’ll certainly appreciate that.

As difficult as it is to not get on the plane, staying home also offers YOU an opportunity for growth. What can you do with your time instead of checking in on your child? Here are 3 ideas:

  • Engage in new activities: Sergio started going to the gym each day, as he has found a lot more free time since his son is away for the year. Perhaps you can surprise your child by studying the language class of his/her study abroad country at home. With less face to face time with your beloved child, you have a chance to find your inner child! Sign up for an art class, join a book club, or pull out that list of places locally you have been meaning to visit. Take your child’s adventurous spirit and apply it at home.
  • Reconsider your adult relationship: Your child will eventually return home with a heightened maturity. Think about how you can relate to your “baby” as an adult – someone who has not only ventured away for college, but to an entirely new country and language. Make a list of items to discuss with him/her upon return such as “What has changed for you and how can we incorporate that into our home?” and “What do I need to be aware of to be supportive during your transition home?”
  • Talk to YOUR parents: Reflect on your own transitions in life and how your own relationship with your parents ebbed and flowed over the years. What stands out for you? When did you most need them to let you cut the apron strings? How did they deal with you taking the leap and trusting the net would appear? Journal some of these memories to rely on when your own child needs space and freedom from the family unit.

With that said, Sergio and I are planning for his family’s visit over the winter holidays. We decided that a year IS a really long time not to see your child and that we want to support a wonderful gathering, not only for his own family but for Sergio to visit his New York “hometown” for a reunion of host parents, friends, teachers, and families. I look forward to such a reflective experience, not only with him, but with his son too.

What are your thoughts about letting a son or daughter navigate the education abroad experience without a visit from a parent? I invite you to comment below!

 

missy gluckman

 

Missy Gluckmann is a traveler, educator, interculturalist, trainer, speaker and career coach specializing in international education and careers across cultures. Originally from New York, she has lived abroad three times, most recently in Cuenca, Ecuador, and is currently enjoying the gorgeous mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. She founded Melibee Global and Better Abroad as a way to inject creative tools into international education, with an emphasis on study abroad. You can connect with on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.