by The Cowl Editor on October 4, 2018
Opinion
by Bridget Blain ’19
Opinion Staff
Last Tuesday afternoon, an informal information session regarding abroad opportunities for Providence College graduates was held by Joseph Stanley, the dean of global education.
During the information session, students were informed about the process of applying to graduate schools abroad as well as the process of applying to the Fulbright Program.
While the event was mainly advertised to students who studied abroad during their time at the College, all students were welcome to attend. This provided students with the occasion learn about moving abroad—a viable option for those who are uncertain about their future.
As a senior who studied abroad last year, I was thrilled to learn more about the opportunities to study abroad again. It can feel overwhelming to not have concrete plans for life after graduation and this session was perfect for a student in that situation.
I was slightly afraid that I would leave the session feeling more confused than ever, but I left feeling the complete opposite. The information that we were given was extremely helpful and I left confident that the global education a will be a great resource throughout the year.
It seems like every college boasts about their study abroad programs, offering up impressive statistics of how many students go abroad to potential students during campus tours.
Once you are in college, there are study abroad fairs and information sessions for interested students to attend.
When you return from studying abroad, however, the conversation seems to stop. Opportunities to go back abroad to work or study after graduating are not nearly as advertised as opportunities to go abroad as an undergraduate student. The information session held last week was a great opportunity for students to learn more about what steps they need to take to successfully apply for graduate school or jobs abroad.
The session was also beneficial for students who may feel completely lost when it comes to planning life after graduation and simply want information about possible career paths.
Of course, it is not necessary to have studied abroad during your undergraduate year to pursue opportunities to study, work, or volunteer abroad post-graduation.
Any student, regardless of travel experience, should feel confident in seeking information about what possibilities are available after graduation. If you chose not to study abroad during your time as an undergraduate student, but now have a desire to experience life in a different country, there are still plenty of opportunities to do so.
The global education office here at PC is a great resource for any student interested in pursuing opportunities abroad, no matter how concrete or developed your plans are.
Although thinking about life after graduation is often overwhelming, it is in every student’s best interest to attend some sort of information session or event regarding post-graduation opportunities that sparks their interest.
Whether you decide to pursue an opportunity abroad or not, it is important to explore all of your interests and passions and see where they lead you.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to furthering your education or pursuing job opportunities in a different country, but as any student who has studied abroad will tell you (and I’m sure they have, many times), it may just be the best decision you ever make.