Abroad101 Featured Blog: The Traveling Writer

Abroad101 interviewed Alexis Grant from the Traveling Writer. She is also the author of Please Send Pants a story of her adventures through Africa. She has also written two e-guides: How to Build a Part-time Social Media Business and How to Take a Career Break to Travel (Released on Oct.17!)

Guest Blog: The Wide World of Gap Years

Our Usa Gap Year Fair guest bloggers Robin (Thinking Beyond Borders) and Kathy (Dynamy Internship Year) continue our introduction to Gap Year Programs and how to choose the right one!

Exploring gap year options is not always an easy task. Here are some quick tips to help you find all of the options and begin to narrow them down to the best fit for you.

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How To Plan Your Traveling Abroad

A semester is a long time. A semester can seem excruciatingly long when you receive that first syllabus which outlines your entire workload for the next four months. But a semester abroad goes by in the blink of an eye! You might think that you have more than enough time to go everywhere and see everything but it tends to go by quicker than you would imagine and before you know it you’re heading back home.

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The Language Abroad: Charlie Goes to Buenos Aries

Learning a second language is a daunting task! Everyone says the best way to really learn is to immerse yourself, and visit or live in a place where the language is spoken. If you don’t use it, you’ll never learn it! Semester abroad programs are often taught in English, and the language portion is not as emphasized. This is why Summer Language programs are so awesome! A summer abroad gives you the opportunity to focus on your new language without the distractions of other subjects. We interviewed Charlie, a Sophomore at George Mason University to learn about his experience on the GMU Summer Language Study in Buenos Aires.
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Guest Blog: Discovering the Gap Year!

Abroad101 is happy to introduce Gap year opportunities to our readers! Robin, from Thinking Beyond Borders, and Kathy, from Dynamy Internship Year, got together to direct USA Gap Year Fair and wrote a series of articles to introduce the concept of a “Gap year”. It’s a growing trend among high school graduates. Take a minute to learn about it whether it is right for you…

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How to Pick Your Travel Companions Abroad

It’s no secret that an opportunity to study abroad will inevitably lead to catching the travel bug. Traveling can easily be considered one of the best parts of studying abroad, where you will collect many memorable experiences that you are sure to never forget. Different destinations each weekend, numerous new cultures to experience, historic landmarks to visit…honestly, who can disagree!? But deciding who to spend those mini-vacations with can be difficult, especially if you have different goals or opinions about how you want to spend your weekends away. Continue reading

The Power of Networking

You will hear time and again how important it is to Network, we’ve all heard, “it’s not what you know but who you know!” Although it’s important to have the what to get the job, it’s often the who that will get you the interview!

The important thing about networking is that it requires time. You’ll never know if someone you meet today will be helpful to you in your career search down the line, so always get contact information and stay in touch! Remember, it’s not only older people who will have the power of connection, your peers will be valuable assets as well! If you’re looking for an international career, it is especially important that you stay in touch with the contacts (friends, teachers, etc.) that you made while studying abroad. Having international contacts doesn’t only sound impressive, but could be very useful!
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Presenting…Our 1st Annual Study Abroad Rankings!

In 2007, three best friends fresh out of college turned down corporate jobs to pursue their dream venture: building the first study abroad review website.  4 years, and 10,000 program evaluations later, our inner data junkies are ecstatic.  We are so proud to reveal findings across such a large collection of program data from the true experts: the students themselves!

So, how exactly were these rankings formulated?  Our algorithm weighs both quantitative averages as well as total review count, to ensure that our rankings are statistically significant.  Our mission is to maintain a transparent and unbiased community, and while we do not endorse any specific programs, we thank our committed students and university partners, and congratulate these exemplary programs for making the cut. Without further ado, enjoy the “Study Abroad Student’s Choice Awards!”

 

How Studying Abroad Can Lead To Teaching Abroad!

What is the most valuable tool I gained from my incredible semester abroad? CONFIDENCE in myself to venture out and experience more incredible things the world has to offer!

After a semester in Auckland, New Zealand and challenging myself to do wild things that I never imagined myself doing (i.e. flipping off a ledge 400 meters over the idyllic backdrop of Queenstown…attached to a bungee, of course), I gained a sense of independence and confidence that opened the door to an experience of a lifetime: teaching English in South Korea.

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