How to Find a Study-Abroad Program

Everyone talks about it. Everyone raves about how fun it is. “You simply must do it,” you’ll hear most people say. And what is this mysterious activity? Studying abroad.

I always knew I was going to study abroad and decided to go during my third year. By then, I reasoned, I would have found a major I loved and maybe even a country I wanted to visit. When I chose computer science, however, I had no idea where I wanted to go.

I scheduled a study-abroad appointment, but the advisor I met didn’t seem to have a strong idea of computer science programs around the world. Instead, he advised me to choose a country.

“What country?” I asked.
“Any country,” he told me.

I confessed that I had been looking at a program in Croatia. I quickly showed him the program, but I explained that it seemed to be only for students of another university—Rochester Institute of Technology’s Croatia campus, which has a web and mobile computing program.

Because Oberlin’s computer science program is mostly theoretical and academic, I was looking for a program that taught more practical skills. When I reached out to the program coordinators and professors in Dubrovnik, Croatia, they sent me syllabi for the classes. I highly recommend doing this, though I don’t often hear of others trying it. Reaching out and getting the syllabi is a fantastic way to evaluate the classes and see if they align with your interests.

Remember, this is another college you’re going to, so it’s like another investment. You should make sure it’s one you’re excited about.

From there, I found four classes I wanted to take:

• Software Design Principles and Patterns
• Introduction to Databases and Modeling (which seemed more boring but still interesting)
• Foundations of Mobile Design (which I am so excited for)
• Principles of Marketing (my “throwaway” business class, though I’ll probably still learn a lot).

Next, I looked at tuition costs and decided to take a leave of absence instead of formally studying abroad. What does this mean? Well, Oberlin has a policy that requires you to pay its tuition cost when you study abroad—or more, if the program’s costs are higher. Since my program’s costs were substantially lower than Oberlin’s tuition, I opted for a leave of absence.

This also means I can only transfer back half of the classes I take in Croatia. But since I’m not a business student, I don’t need the marketing course, and as a computer science student, the practical skills I learn matter more than the course names on my transcript.

After completing the necessary paperwork through the registrar, I started looking at apartments. Dubrovnik, the city I’m moving to, is a tourist hotspot, so during the summer, there are many gorgeous seaside apartments available for rent. During the winter and spring, they are not as booked. I was lucky enough to find a beautiful, fully furnished apartment with a balcony for an affordable rent. I worked out the details with my coordinator and the landlord, and now the apartment is mine.

I cannot wait to go to Croatia.

It can be hard to say goodbye, but I feel in my gut that this is the right decision.

My biggest tips for finding a study-abroad program? Search for something Oberlin doesn’t have. Look for a change in climate, language, or location. Even if the change is something small, like grocery prices or proximity to the ocean, it can help define where you want your path to lead. (:

All I know is that this will be a fantastic opportunity to discover something entirely new in the world! I cannot wait to tell you how it goes.