Texas State students unable to reap the benefits of study abroad programs

Luis Seijo
las232@txstate.edu

San Marcos, Texas-- A lack of communication between university programs and students at Texas State has kept students unsure of study abroad programs offered on campus.

Why some Texas State students aren't studying abroad

By Stephen Spencer

s_s511@txstate.edu


SAN MARCOS, Texas – Some Texas State students are unaware of study abroad programs offered at the university and some think the study abroad trips are just too expensive.

When Stephanie Dardon was asked about awareness regarding study abroad trip she said that the trips should be more talked about for unaware students.

"Speak out about what kind of programs there are because I don't think a lot of people know," Dardon said.

Stephanie Dardon
Photo: Anahi Hernandez-Rico

Another issue some students have with study abroad programs, beside the lack of knowing about them, is not having the time.

Garfield Harrison asked if he would study abroad. He said he wasn’t interested because the trip conflicts with his time and plans up until graduation.

"Time. I don't have the time." "I wish I had the time to do it because it sounds really cool, but I have like planned like literally up to graduation," Harrison said.

 

Garfield Harrison
Photo: Anahi Hernandez-Rico

The biggest concern among students was the cost of the study abroad trips. This is a major reason students are hesitant or don’t study abroad.

Jenna Huff was asked what the downside of studying abroad is. Huff said it was the hefty price tag attached to the trips.

"I would honestly just say the cost. Going on a study abroad program, while it can give you some credits, it's just way more expensive," Huff said.

Jenna Huff
Photo: Nicole Canveder

When Lauren Reese was asked if she would be interested in studying abroad, she said she was. However, it seems unlikely for her because of financial reasons.

 "I’ve always thought about it, but it’s pretty expensive," Reese said.

Lauren Reese
Photo: Cruz Rojas

Leoness Aguilar said there should be a financial aid at the disposal of students to help them study abroad.

"If they did some sort of FAFSA or some type of financial aid, that would be the only way I could think of...or scholarships even, for people who are eligible,” Aguilar said.

Leoness Aguilar
Photo: Anahi Hernandez-Rico

What Aguilar said goes back to an earlier issue. Students are unaware of study abroad programs because they aren’t talked about or promoted consistently. They are unaware of ways they can receive funding.

Associate Director of LBJ Student Center, Lanita Legan, said that there is indeed funding for students so they get the opportunity to study abroad.

"I think for a lot of students, it's the cost. But it's not overwhelming, there are ways to fund that. You can often find scholarship and sponsors and that kind of thing. It's just a matter of being willing to do the work," Legan said.

Lanita Legan
Photo: Anahi Hernandez-Rico

If you are interested in studying abroad but are wary of doing so for financial reasons, there are financial aids you can apply for and sponsors to help you study abroad and experience life in a different country. For financial aid information, please visit: http://www.finaid.txstate.edu/undergraduate/studyabroad.html regarding studying abroad. For more information about study abroad trips, please visit: http://www.studyabroad.txstate.edu/.

Study abroad costs are keeping Texas State students from seeing the world

By: Hannah Emmert
hce6@txstate.edu

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Students at Texas State, while wanting to travel abroad, say they feel it is too expensive to get involved with study abroad programs.

Texas State offers multiple study abroad opportunities for students. Trips have included destinations like Spain, Nicaragua, Japan, and more.

The issue is that these trips cost thousands of dollars, which is difficult for students who are financially unstable.

Pictured: Henry "Tres" Allen III
Photo by: Fouad Ali

Henry “Tres” Allen III, a business finance student, says that cost is a downside to such programs.

“I know a lot of students are on welfare and FAFSA, so they probably can't afford study abroad on top of their student loans,” Allen says.

Even if one had the means to travel, Kaylee Ware, a public relations student, says that she would rather put the money toward other trips, even if it wasn’t for educational purposes.

“[The study abroad program] was, like, $5,000 for two weeks and you could obviously go on trips for cheaper than that,” Ware says.

Pictured: Kaylee Ware
Taken by: Hannah Emmert

Aside from the expenses, students acknowledge the cultural benefits that come from these trips.

Texas State senior Lauren Reese gave her input on why study abroad has its perks. She said that the cultural aspect of studying abroad would be the most beneficial to students. She mentions how she knew of students who learned Spanish while studying abroad because of how much they were immersed into the environment.

Pictured: Lauren Reese
Taken by: Cruz Rojas

“I think you get a lot of outside-of-school knowledge about culture and different ways that people live,” Reese says. “You can pick up things there that you can’t pick up in the classroom.”

Garfield Harrison, a student at Texas State, took a different stance, saying that going on such trips will help with jobs and outside experience.

Pictured: Garfield Harrison
Taken by: Anahi Hernandez-Rico

“You are getting out of your comfort zone. You are being able to be exposed to stuff that you normally wouldn't be exposed to here in America,” Harrison says.

While study abroad gives you the opportunity to get real world experienc

e in your field of study, internships are typically the more expense-friendly option for students.

Texas State pre-medical student Nicholas Ansted started his internship two years ago in high school when his interest in medicine peaked. He hopes the internship will help make him more involved in the field.

Pictured: Nicholas Ansted
Taken by: Fouad Ali

“I'm really interested in the medical field. I want to end up as a doctor so, I figured it's nice to build bridges,” Ansted said.

Pictured: Naomi Wick
Taken by: Hannah Emmert

Naomi Wick, an economics major, said that she has also learned a lot from having an internship, which she does over the winter break. Her job included internet research and creating excel worksheets to input information.

“I had a lot of good experience being in an actual office environment, and it was real world experience,” Wick said. “It was a trial run kind of job.”

For more information on study abroad programs or internship opportunities, visit the Texas State Study Abroad Office or contact the specific college for your major.

Problems with Study Abroad and Internship Programs

by Taylor Jacko

tjj42@txstate.edu

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State students said that internships and study abroad trips wouldn't benefit them due to the fact that certain degree plans don't have space or classes that fit their future goals. 

Opinions about study abroad programs and internships are common among students that are wondering how to get involved with these opportunities. Some degrees can restrict a student from participating in these programs. 

Garfield Harrison, an 18 year old student, has his college career planned out to where he can’t fit a program like studying abroad into his degree schedule.

Garfield Harrison, 18
photo by Anahi Hernandez-Rico

"Time. I don't have the time. I wish I had the time to do it because it sounds really cool, but I have like planned like literally up to graduation,” says Harrison.

Other students like Tony Place, a junior in manufacturing engineering, have no classes in their degree plan that offer special programs to gain these opportunities. 

Tony Place Junior
photo by Sawyer Click

“Yeah I don't really have any classes left that I think I could take in a program,” says Place. 

Students also have other obligations to tend to other than school and can’t afford to leave for a whole semester. Texas State Junior Kevin Price explains how work and school are too busy for such trips and programs. 

 Junior Kevin Price
photo by Tyler Hernandez
 

“I do not have time for any of that. I have a full time job and I take fifteen credits,” says Price.

Some classes require you to have an internship but such opportunities are only offered certain grade levels, Giulia Gasponi a 20 year old finance major says, which can cause some issues regarding graduating on time. 

Giulia Gasponi
photo by Justus Stafford

“my degree plan has me doing an internship my senior year,” said Gasponi

In one case a student like Skyler Love, a 23 year old grad student from Arkansas, said that the internship she participated in was mandatory for her to graduate but it looked better on paper instead of actually benefiting her future goals.

Skyler Love
photo by Taylor Jacko 

"I didn't benefit from my internship, if they were willing to show me the ropes I would have benefited more from it,” says Love.

However Elisha Jefferson, an exercise and sports science major, explains how there might be a class out there for students that feel their don't have these oppertunites, coordinators just need to provide more information for these students.

Elisha Jefferson
photo by Collin Jones

"Promote the programs for all majors, especially ones you wouldn't think to have study abroad trips planned,” said Jefferson.

For more information on internships and Study Abroad programs in a specific degree you can visit Texas State Study Abroad or go to your degree plan for information on Internships.

Texas State students talk about studying abroad programs and internships

By: Darreane Valles

d_v110@txstate.edu

SAN MARCOS, Texas ─ Texas State students say the biggest barrier that withholds them from participating in study abroad programs and internships is the cost, lack of knowledge and the experience itself.

Photo by: Cruz Rojas

On Wednesday, a few Texas State students went around campus to get their peers thoughts and opinions on studying abroad programs and internships. Students were asked the same questions for the most part but all the answer were different.

A majority of students interviewed had not studied abroad before. The reason being they could not afford the program.

Lauren Reese, a senior at Texas State majoring in early education says she hasn’t taken part in a study abroad program because it’s pricey. She says she could consider the program if it was equivalent to a semester at Texas State.

"I guess if it cost about the same amount as a semester here, then I guess I could really think about doing it. I don’t want to be spending more money than I already am," said Reese.

Tony Place, a junior at Texas State majoring in manufacturing engineering also says that when it comes to the cost of studying abroad it is too expensive considering he has other things to pay for.

Photo by: Sawyer Click

"At the same time, though, if you have tuition, bills and rent, it becomes really hard. It'd be worth it if you could solve every problem around going," said Place.

Another problem students come across when talking about study abroad programs is lack of awareness or lack of knowledge on these programs. Student's feel that there should be more ways that Texas State can promote these programs.

Daisy Silva, a sophomore at Texas State majoring in international studies says she has not participated in any study abroad programs because she hasn't looked into them but believes Texas State could do a better job at showcasing such programs.

Photo by: Kathleen Beverick

"I guess more stands like this where you can just go up to someone. I know we get emails or we can go and ask questions or such," said Silva.

Although a few students did see a few disadvantage in studying abroad, a few students did find some advantages.

Kristen Scott, a junior at Texas State majoring in English says studying abroad could benefit her as well as other students.

"By learning about culture and gaining experience overseas and obviously abroad and experiencing new, everything," said Scott.

Photo by: Stephen Spencer

When talking about internships a few students felt that internships could be helpful but yet other times they are a requirement they feel are forced onto them.

Ollen Howard, a junior at Texas State majoring in exercise and sports science says he feels that a disadvantage to internships is that students are pressured into getting one as opposed to students going out and getting an internship on their own terms.

"Were told to apply to an internship however many months or year in advance. When you get

Photo by: Kathleen Beverick

there its not necessarily what you expected," said Howard.

One student did however participate in a internship and she said she got to learn a lot about what she does and does not like.

Naomi Wick, a junior at Texas State majoring in economics says she had an overall good experience.

"I had a lot of good experience being in an actual office environment, and it was real world experience because I was doing campaign research and inputting information that I found through the internet onto Excel sheets."

Photo by: Hannah Emmert

Students seeking more information on internships through Texas State are asked to seek information from their advisors for more knowledge on internships in their major.

Students seeking more information on Texas State study abroad programs visit the website below. http://www.studyabroad.txstate.edu/students/Becoming-Globally-Engaged.html

Texas State Students Think Study Abroad Programs Are Too Expensive

Brenden Snow

Bjs158@txstate.edu 

SAN MARCOS, Texas— Students at Texas State University have shown a knowledge of Study Abroad Programs and internships, but don't think they are accessible and affordable for most students. 

Lauren Reese
Photo Credit: Cruz Rojas 

Study abroad is something talked about a lot on the Texas State community every semester. You'll find flyers everywhere, receive emails and have other students come into your class on occasion to talk about possible trips. 

Students hear so much about the programs but what do they really take away from it? The first downside that most students point out is the cost. Students aren't seeing why pay more for one semester abroad when they already pay a cheaper price here. 

Kaylee Ware
Photo Credit: Hanna Emmert 

Senior Lauren Reese, an early education major at Texas State, who says she has thought about taking a trip herself, ”I guess if it cost about the same amount as a semester here, then I guess I could really think about doing it. I don’t want to be spending more money than I already am,” Said Reese. 

Some students showed interest in wanting to participate in a program but kept coming back to the price.  

Ollen Howard
Photo Credit: Darreane Valles

"I just think that study abroad is way too expensive. It was, like, $5,000 for two weeks and you could obviously go on trips for cheaper than that. They should make it cheaper or offer more financial aid,” said junior Kaylee Ware. 

Other students think their is more to it rather than just the requested price. Ollen Howard a junior at Texas State.

Tony Place
Photo Credit: Sawyer Click

"As far as a study abroad program, I know that they try to make it seem like its affordable and just this easy process, but its not. Especially just general cost to go there, pay to eat, get my stuff there, et cetera, et cetera,” said Howard. 

Junior Tony Place also said there are more expenses and underlying to a trip and that he doesn't want to have to worry about school too much when in a foreign country. 

At the same time, though, if you have tuition, bills and rent, it becomes really hard. It'd be worth it if you could solve every problem around going. The study part of study-abroad ruins it for me too. Like you get to explore this country but at the same time you still have homework to worry about. You're paying this much money for your vacation to be ruined. It's the lack of classes, the money and the studying that do it for me,” said Place. 

Henry "Tres" Allen lll
Photo Credit: Justus Stafford 

Sophomore Henry “Tres” Allen lll pointed out that some students are aware that finical aid offered assistance but doubt that is the direction they would want to go. Sophomore Henry “Tres” Allen lll.

"They probably cost a lot of money and I know a lot of students are on welfare and FAFSA, so they probably can't afford study abroad on top of their student loans,” said Allen. 

Ceven Johnson
Photo Credit: Luis Seijo 

Some students know immediately that the price is going to be very high and don't even think it will possible to take a trip. They think it would be impossible for them to make it happen.

Freshman Ceven Johnson thinks the trips are beneficial, just something she will never be able to do because of her finical situation.
"I don't think so. Mainly because of money; I think the experience would be cool but because of my financial situation that doesn't really seem possible," said Johnson 

Students of all different classifications all shared the same thought process when it came to these programs, they cost too much. There are finical aid and scholarship opportunities for all students. For more information on financial aid you can visit the official Study Abroad Office website http://www.studyabroad.txstate.edu.