On October 26, Union’s annual study abroad fair was held in the Nott. The event serves as an opportunity to showcase Union’s various study abroad opportunities and International programs. Program representatives stood alongside returned study abroad students from different global programs who informed visitors about the benefits of studying abroad, student experiences, and the requirements for applying to their program.
The study abroad fair holds particular significance due to Union’s high percentage of students studying abroad, nearly 60%, one of the highest for liberal arts colleges in the country. This statistic is largely due in part to Union’s dedication to providing more than 40 programs in 29 different countries, as well as additional mini-term opportunities, which are accessible for students of all different backgrounds and majors. Almost 80% of Union’s study-abroad programs are led by Union faculty, allowing programs to feel more personal to the college, while students are able to experience the same sense of close-knit community felt on campus. Upon studying abroad, students can learn by participating in field research, internships, or community projects. Being abroad is also a great way to expand your horizons through the exploration of a new culture and environment, especially through outside-of-classroom excursions that allow students to sight-see the local area. Terms abroad stretch across multiple different continents which include programs in countries like Argentina, Cambodia, Kenya, Spain, New Zealand, and more.
One of the student representatives at the fair was Sarah DeRosa ‘25 who spoke about her experiences during her Fall 2022 term abroad to Galway, Ireland. She gained acceptance to study abroad through a competitive PEG program split between 10 students each from Union College and Hobart & William Smith Colleges. During the program, DeRosa took part in classes based around Irish culture, literature, history, and political science. DeRosa, a biological neuroscience major, cited that though these classes lay outside her typical major-oriented courses, your major doesn’t limit you when applying to different study abroad programs. In all, some of the most memorable experiences for DeRosa were the various outings that were integrated into her classes, which allowed students to gain a real-world appreciation of the material that was learned in the classroom. For example, the history of Halloween has largely been tied to Irish city of Derry, which served as the Halloween weekend outing, exploring the city’s historical sites and modern-day festivities.
Overall, DeRosa, along with the countless other representatives tabled at the Study Abroad Fair highly recommend considering a study abroad program during your time at Union! You learn more about Union’s study-abroad opportunities by visiting the International Programs Office in Old Chapel Room 303, or by emailing [email protected]. Applications for the fall 2024 terms abroad are expected to open early in the winter term.
