Why You Should Study Abroad As An Ellective

Written by Sarah Angley

It seems that more and more people are going abroad. But it seems that they are going abroad for shorter periods of time. I know many people who have gone abroad for summer or spring break programs, but only a few who have gone abroad for a full semester. It is my understanding that both program lengths have their advantages, but all three of my study abroad experiences have been for shorter amounts of time, which offers unique opportunities.

As an undergrad, you will more than likely have to take at least a few elective credits. Unless you came to college with AP or duel enrollment credits, or if you have a double major or a major and double minor, you will need electives in order to meet the number of credits required by the college to graduate. For a lot of people, they take Wine Tasting or Flower Arranging, classes that are fun and maybe easy. For others they take courses that they are interested in that could benefit them in their future job. Either way is fine, and that's the beauty of elective credits - you can do anything with them.

When I went to Spain for three weeks I got three elective credits. The class was on Global Leadership and had a service learning component, where we went into the local community of Valencia, Spain and volunteered. Because this class was for elective credits, there was less stress that came with it. Of course I wanted to pass, because the grade would show up on my transcript, but it was an easier class than my major classes, and it was a more relaxed and fun learning environment. This allowed me to relax and travel, while still learning and giving back to the community I was living in.

Whether you study abroad for a month or six months, you can find opportunities to take elective credits abroad if you want to. If it's a shorter program, as mine was in Spain, then these may be the only credits you take while there. If it's a longer program, you may be able to take an elective alongside your other classes. Either way, taking those elective credits offers you a chance to take a class you enjoy, without quite so much pressure. These classes also give you a great topic for future interviews with employers.

At every interview I have been to since returning from Spain, my study abroad experience there has come up. I am always asked what the program was like and what I did there. Being able to talk about the volunteer opportunities we engaged in while abroad has been a great topic of conversation. Elective credits don’t have to be wasted on pointless classes. If you take them abroad, even if the class wasn’t a big deal, you still have something to talk about when you come back. These credits can be used to your advantage, and you can enjoy your time earning them.