Students looking to study abroad have a world of options

    Whether they want to hike through the Andes in Chile or write poetry along the Seine in Paris, students can usually find a study abroad program that will fulfill their expectations. With an entire planet of possibilities, deciding where to go and how to get there can be the difficult part.
    But some students need look no further than Dowling Hall to find the right program. Tufts offers 10 programs in countries across the world — Chile, China, Ghana, Hong Kong, Japan, London, Madrid, Oxford, Paris and Tübingen.
    Senior Winston Berkman chose to participate in the Tufts in Paris program in large part for its convenience, a main benefit of the Tufts programs. "I did a Tufts program because I knew I wanted all my classes to completely transfer. Then the program looked good, so I stopped there," Berkman said.
    Tufts programs also stand out for their level of immersion in the host countries, according to Director of Programs Abroad Sheila Bayne. "We have a consistent philosophy across all our locations of immersion with support. Our programs give the best of both worlds," she said. 
    But Tufts programs might not be right for every Jumbo. The most common reason that students choose a non-Tufts program is that they want to go somewhere other than the 10 locations Tufts offers.
    "While Tufts is quite unusual for an institution of its size to offer 10 of its own programs around the world, Tufts students want to study everywhere. Thus, additional options are required," Foreign Study Advisor Sally O'Leary said.
    The list of non-Tufts programs that have been approved by the university is extensive enough to take a student anywhere from Argentina to Zimbabwe. "I'm proud to say that Tufts Programs Abroad can place our students almost anywhere they choose to study abroad," O'Leary said.
    For senior Elizabeth Powers, it was the pursuit of the exotic that shaped her study abroad choice.
    "I wanted to speak French and go somewhere totally different," she said. Powers opted for a non-Tufts program in Morocco.
    Non-Tufts programs can also provide a different format of education. Most Tufts programs are university-based, but some others can offer field work in a developing country or a curriculum focusing on independent study projects.
    In Morocco, Powers completed an independent research project on women and gender quotas in local elections. "All of our professors were guest lecturers," she said.
    Senior Diana Baide chose a study abroad program in Geneva, Switzerland with an internship component.
    "I chose my program for where it was, because it was an internship in the world politics center. A lot of international organizations are there — the UN, the Red Cross — so you're surrounded by world politics. I knew I wanted to work in that environment," Baide said. "I think it's much easier to get an internship through a program that guarantees it to you rather than applying to 10 NGOs because, as we know, it's very competitive right now. I would recommend an internship program for people, especially if they know what career path they want to take because you can get a head start with it. Even if you don't know, it's a good way to discover what you would and wouldn't like."
    Students may also choose a program that helps them avoid the high language preparation required by most of the Tufts options. Except for those in China and Japan, all Tufts programs require six semesters of language preparation for entry.
    Even without the extensive prerequisites, non-Tufts programs still offer high-level immersion. Senior Cantwell Muckenfuss, who studied abroad through the American University of Paris, said he found ways to immerse himself in French culture, even without a home-stay.
    "I definitely had a huge amount of French cultural experiences. Living in my own apartment, I interacted with French neighbors, did grocery shopping and went out a lot. I became friends with storeowners and waiters in cafés. I didn't feel that I missed out on anything."
    Non-Tufts programs are subjected to a thorough vetting process. A faculty subcommittee on foreign programs evaluates each one using the Tufts programs as models. The committee then evaluates the quality of academics, the degree of immersion and the relevance of the program to a student's field of study.
    Muckenfuss affirmed that choosing an alternative program doesn't mean it will be easy. "The Impressionism and Post-Impressionism [art history] course I took in Paris was the hardest class in my college career," he said.