176 students have been accepted for the fall semester, and 40 students have decided to go for the academic year, says Samantha Brandauer, Director of Education Abroad, though she stressed that those numbers are not final and are subject to change, citing the long period between summer and the fall semester. According to Brandauer, these numbers are slightly higher than previous years in the fall, and slightly lower in the academic year, which she said will equate to, “Roughly the same number of bodies abroad.” One trend Brandauer noted was that, “In general we have a lot more students on Dickinson programs than partner programs.”

Some of the most popular programs this year are Australia, Italy and Denmark. Brandauer explained that there are a mix of variables that make certain programs more popular than others, such as majors, how returning students describe the program and the language component. For example, she continued, “Australia is a great place for science programs.” She noted that science majors tended to cluster in Australia because the university offers extensive science courses.

For those students going abroad, Brandauer offered her top three pieces of advice.

Her first tip was to look at study abroad through an academic lens, “Study abroad is an academic pursuit, so first think of it that way.” She advised students to check with their advisors and make sure that going abroad would further their academic goals, saying, “Get your academic ducks in a row.” Brandauer added that students considering going abroad should determine where they want to apply based on their academic focus, not a desired location.

Brandauer’s next tip was that students should, “Be comfortable with ambiguity.” She added, “The sooner you can learn to be comfortable with ambiguity, the better.”

Another piece of advice Brandauer offered was, “Try to gather information from talking to people.” Talking to students who studied abroad in the same place will give students a realistic idea of what to expect, she explained. “Be as prepared as you can be so you can hit the ground running.”

For those students considering going abroad in the spring of 2016, Brandauer encouraged them to explore their options, saying, “No one has ever said to me ‘I regret studying abroad.’ It’s telling how many people are excited to talk about it.”

Some students going abroad seem equal parts excited and nervous. Sophia Brocenos ’16 said, “I’ve heard such great things about the Toulouse program, and I can’t wait to explore the city! I’m going abroad for the full academic year, so I’m scared about how big of a change it will be. However, I know that I’ll have an incredible time once I adjust.”

Emily Burton ’16, who is studying abroad for the fall semester in Malaga, Spain, said, “I am most excited about being in Europe and having the freedom to travel. I am most nervous about the workload at the University of Malaga.”

Kathleen Getaz ’16 will be travelling to Jerusalem and expressed some concerns about security, but added, “I’m excited about being in a historic place that has so many cultures and religions in its history, and to experience the things I’ve been studying and reading about in the news in person.”

Many students who have returned from study abroad shared Brandauer’s sentiments. Krysten Peck ’15, who studied abroad in Toulouse, France for the academic year said, “I still think about it everyday. For me, it was a reflective journey, a realization of certain things.” Peck also offered advice for students going abroad in the fall, “Create goals and plans ahead of time…You have so much freedom and capitalizing on that is really important.” Echoing Brandauer, she said, “Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

Jenny Sheary ’15, who studied in China, also advised students to seek the unknown, “For me, doing a host family really added to my experience. It allowed me to completely immerse myself and practice my language skills, especially because my host family did not speak English. It was essential to understanding my host country’s culture.”

Michaela Donohue ’15 also studied abroad in Toulouse, France. “Step out of your comfort zone. It’s very easy to fall into a routine where you only hangout with students from Dickinson and you don’t get the full experience. But if you step out of your comfort zone you can learn more abut the country, the culture and yourself.’ She finished, “Don’t be afraid to do things on your own.”