There’s no place like…Greece!
For those UIndy students looking to study abroad this summer, time is on your side—and so are options.
The University of Indianapolis International Division provides a plethora of information regarding multiple study abroad opportunities. One of its more popular programs, Odyssey in Athens, allows students to study upper-level courses in their chosen fields while experiencing the rich Greek culture in the birthplace of Western civilization. Students study alongside Greek and other international students. The following pictures were taken at various locations during the Odyssey in Athens trip, fall semester of 2009.
“Students are welcome to study anywhere they want,” Breezy Wente, study abroad advisor, said. “But if they want to be able to use their financial aid, they have to either go through a CCIS program, the Odyssey or Belize programs or our exchange program, which is the Irish-American Scholarship Exchange Program.”
However, not everyone meets the criteria to study abroad. According to Wente, students must meet certain academic requirements.
“[Students] have to have at least a 2.5 GPA, be in good academic standing and, for financial aid reasons, be here for at least 24 credit hours,” Wente said. “As long as you fit within those criteria, then you’re open to any of the programs that we have. They’re all considered approved programs.”
Students can receive financial aid to help pay for the experience.
“You’re going to fill out the FAFSA the way you normally do,” Wente said.
Deadline for the Odyssey in Athens program is April 15. Most other program deadlines are around that time as well.
The stereotype that studying abroad is more expensive is false, according to senior Neysa Peterson, who spent last semester in Athens.
“Price wasn’t that different because they compensate for your scholarships that you have here,” Peterson said. The only big difference is your spending money. While I was over there, I took the opportunity to travel a lot in Europe. That was the only big difference in pricing. Food is on your own.”
According to Wente, benefits of studying abroad are invaluable.
“It’s so important for students to get out,” Wente said. “It really opens your eyes to so many new things. The longer you’re there, the more you learn about yourself and how you fit into the world.”
Peterson couldn’t help but agree.
“It was the best experience of my entire life–best three months of my life. If someone does their research-i.e. knowing the kind of food a country has, knowing not everyone speaks English-it’ll be hands down the best experience of their lifetime.”
With the amount that students pay for tuition and the University focus on international travel, shouldn’t UIndy make it a priority to allocate funding specifically for sending our students abroad? Assuming they wouldn’t cover all the cost, but at least make an option available to all UIndy students in good academic standing to receive a set amount of money for travel.