First-Year Open House

Calling all freshmen, Baldwin-Wallace College Career Services is hosting their annual First-Year Open House; this is a great opportunity to learn the inner-workings of Career Services and what they have to offer; when I attended last year I felt it was very helpful and allowed me to become acquainted with the advisors and the different programs that are offered. There will be stations pertaining to different areas of interest, a peer internship panel, complimentary pizza, and a raffle. All of the above are very beneficial; what better way to spend the lunch hour than to learn about Career Services, internships, and eating pizza, so come out and mingle with Career Services and I even heard that B-W’s very own Stinger will be in attendance!!

The Benefits of Studying Abroad

So...why should you consider studying off-campus? This is a loaded question with many different answers depending on personal aspirations, needs, and your unique point-of-view. Maybe you are interested in learning another language. Perhaps you view studying abroad as a positive career move. Or maybe this is an opportunity to explore the world and experience life from a different perspective. Regardless of your reasons, studying abroad offers numerous educational and personal outcomes.

Here are just a few:

Study abroad can be an enriching and eye-opening adventure, where learning extends to the world beyond the classroom walls. There is no substitute for living and studying in a foreign country if you want to gain in-depth knowledge of another culture's customs, people, and language. In addition, you will find that living and studying or working in another country can develop important transnational competencies that can be of interest to future employers.

Study abroad can broaden your intellectual horizons and deepen your knowledge and understanding of international, political, and economic issues. It is almost certain that you will return from your sojourn abroad with a more informed and accurate perspective on world affairs. You will also have first-hand knowledge of how another culture approaches the tasks and challenges of everyday life, a sense of how 'global' the international culture has become, and an appreciation of the importance of international cooperation.

Study abroad does more than promote academic enrichment and personal growth. It also can enhance your employment prospects, especially in the fields of business, international affairs, and government service. Employers increasingly seek graduates who have studied abroad. They know that students who have successfully completed a study abroad program are likely to possess international knowledge and often second-language skills. Such students are also likely to have other transnational competencies that graduate and professional schools and employers value just as highly: cross-cultural communication skills, analytical skills, an understanding of and familiarity with local customs and cultural contexts, flexibility, resilience, and the ability to adapt to new circumstances and deal constructively with differences. (See From Toward Transnational Competence, IIE 1997.)

So you're thinking about studying abroad. Maybe you know where you'd like to go, or maybe you'd like to know more about the programs and which ones are best suited to your major. What's the next step?

Visit the B-W Study Abroad Office website at http://www.bw.edu/academics/study-abroad/ or call/email the office at:

explore@bw.edu
(440) 826-2231