Studying abroad has always been a goal of mine and one of the reasons I was drawn to Case Western Reserve University. The Office of Education Abroad offers a multitude of short- and long-term study abroad opportunities that I think all students should try to take advantage of. I have been fortunate enough to study abroad twice during my time here at CWRU: First, this past summer at The American College of Greece, where I studied for two and a half months, and currently with IES Abroad in Rabat, Morocco, where I have been studying and living since February.
In the summer of 2024, I was a recipient of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, one of the most prestigious study abroad scholarships in the country. The Gilman Scholarship specifically serves Pell Grant awardees, helping low-income, first-generation and other underrepresented college students to achieve their study abroad dreams. As part of receiving my scholarship, I wrote this article to help other students learn the tips and tricks to help make the most of their study abroad experience. Whether you’ve already applied to a program, are about to study abroad or want to do so but don’t know where to begin, it is my hope that my insight and experience will help turn your dreams into reality.
Scholarships and funding
My study abroad experiences would not have been possible if not for the scholarships and financial aid I received. One of the first steps to starting your study abroad journey is applying for scholarships and seeking out funding sources to help actualize your goals. You don’t have to do this alone! No matter how much—or how little—money you have, studying abroad is absolutely a possibility. CWRU’s Office of Education Abroad offers so many scholarships and will help you find outside resources as well, such as the Fund for Education Abroad, which matches students with several scholarships all in one application. My amazing advisors, Cami Ross and Kevin Sullivan, both worked with me to find funding sources and connected me with various scholarships both at CWRU and in the wider community, including the Gilman Scholarship.
Beyond scholarships, the Office of Financial Aid is a helpful on-campus resource that can assist you with budgeting and funding your experience abroad. Working with the counselors there showed me the types of aid I could use to help fund my programs and eased so much of my financial anxiety about studying abroad. Additionally, I was able to set realistic financial goals and save up for the many experiences I wanted to have while abroad. Sticking to my budget, seeking out funding sources and realizing that I couldn’t and didn’t have to figure this out on my own have been incredibly impactful. Because of this support, I have been able to have the most life-changing opportunities while studying abroad, all without worrying about my finances—a true breath of fresh air.
Traveling on a student budget
Whether you decide to embark on solo trips, tag along with a group of friends or even meet up with other folks you may know around in the world, traveling beyond your host city and country makes for some of the most rewarding experiences you can have while studying abroad. Through your travels, you will learn so much more about yourself and the world, unlocking new opportunities that you couldn’t have imagined before. For example, thanks to a weekend trip to Tangier during my summer study abroad, I decided to come back to Morocco to study—the best choice I could have ever made! So far, I have had the opportunity to also visit Paris, Istanbul and several regions in Morocco. I am looking forward to upcoming trips to Lisbon, Toulouse and Montreal among other cities, as well as a return to Istanbul, which I can easily say is my favorite city on the planet. You never know what opportunities and adventures may be waiting for you beyond your host city. I was able to do this all on a student’s budget due to saving and following the tips I outlined below.
Initially, I was intimidated by the perceived high costs and inaccessibility of international travel while studying abroad, but I learned a few tips and tricks that not only allowed me to travel without fear of breaking the bank but also to do so multiple times. Take advantage of travel deals and discounts, especially for students. Don’t be afraid to use third-party sites such as Trip.com, Hostelworld, Booking.com, Kayak and StudentUniverse, which offer all kinds of savings. Many airlines also have stopover programs where you can explore cities in their base country for little or no additional cost, with Turkish Airlines and TAP Air Portugal both being well known for this. Additionally, student discounts are offered by almost all transit companies, including buses, trains and planes. Look into the variety of transportation methods used in your host country and reach out to the staff of your program to find the most efficient, cost-effective and reliable options for you. Incorporating a variety of transit means is not only budget-friendly but can also offer new ways of exploring your host country or other nations and oftentimes get more of a local experience than what can be experienced in the confines of an international airport.
Cultural engagement
The best way to immerse yourself and get the most out of your study abroad experience is via cultural engagement. By far the most rewarding parts of my study abroad experiences have been from meeting locals in the places I have studied and traveled and immersing myself in the culture of my host country. One of the best ways to do this is to find a program that offers a homestay option and/or provides opportunities to meet with local students and peers in your host country. Whereas I lived in a university dormitory during my first study abroad experience, this time around I knew that having a homestay was one of my primary study abroad goals.
Since arriving in Morocco nearly two months ago, I have been welcomed into and immersed in the beautiful culture of my host country by my extremely loving and caring host families (one during orientation, and the other I am living with during the semester). From sharing delicious foods—such as chicken tagine, chebakia and harira—to listening to Gnaoua music, learning traditional dances and observing Ramadan with my new family, I have made so many cherished memories in my homestay experience. It is definitely the highlight of my time in Morocco. This remains true even despite an initial language barrier, as my Arabic skills are still quite novice, thankfully pushing me out of my francophone/anglophone comfort zone. I have found ways not just to converse, but to truly communicate with people in my host country.
Connecting with locals and practicing your language skills can make for some of the most impactful study abroad experiences. For semester-long programs, CWRU students are required to learn the language of their host country. However, it is imperative to practice these skills beyond the classroom—and preferably beyond the confines of shops or in public transit. Connecting with your host country via language is a beautiful and rewarding experience that will give you lasting memories and attachments to your study abroad locale. My biggest regret from my first study abroad experience was not learning the language and immersing myself as much as I could in my host community.
Studying with other Americans/English speakers can make it easy to stay in an anglophone cultural or linguistic bubble while abroad, especially if you are experiencing culture shock or homesickness. However, I implore you to expand beyond the familiar—this is truly what studying abroad is about. Take opportunities to meet and engage with the people in your host country, whether through local cultural programming, a homestay or classmates in your university. Here in Rabat, I have made several friends in my program as well as with local university students. This has been helpful for learning Arabic and furthering my competencies in French. Additionally, I take every opportunity I can to engage with local cultural events and organizations, learn more about life and culture in contemporary Morocco and seek out beautiful displays of heritage and community.
So, if you made it to the end of this article and are still on the fence about studying abroad, the only thing I can say is this: Do it! Trust me, you will not regret this experience, and it will easily become one of the hallmarks of your college years. I cannot overemphasize how life-changing studying abroad is. You will learn and discover so much during your time abroad, and the lessons, memories and relationships you make will be part of your life well beyond your college years. So here’s that last final push to seeing your dreams come true! Bon voyage!