Study abroad is possible despite economy

By Hannah DeClerk

Monday, June 22, 2009

Fewer students are studying abroad this summer in the wake of the economy, but administrators from the Office of Study Abroad and past participants said there were ways to make it more affordable.

Summer study abroad programs at the University have 25 fewer participants this summer than last. Kansas State has fewer 28 students and Washburn University has 60 fewer students. But Sue Lorenz, director of the OSA, said the state of the economy shouldn’t keep students from studying abroad.

“Studying abroad does not always cost as much as you think,” Lorenz said. “It all depends on where you go. Some countries may be more expensive than others. Programs are offered in different countries depending on the students’ willingness to pay.”

Past study abroad participants agreed with Lorenz and said they found ways to make studying abroad more economical.

Matt Dunlap, Horton senior, studied six months in Costa Rica and lived with a host family. The host family provided him with three meals a day and he rarely had to pay for food on his own.

“Living abroad could be less then living in Lawrence, depending on where you go,” Dunlap said. “Living with my host family gave me a great bang for my buck, but regardless, Costa Rica is a cheap country.”

Other students, such as Conner Hindrecks, Lawrence senior, chose to study abroad in a more expensive country. Hindrecks, who studied in Japan last summer, lived in a dormitory and said he had to take care of meals on his own. He said he thought living with a host family would have cut down on his costs considerably.

“Of course you need to be careful of what country you pick,” Hindrecks said, “Certain places are more expensive. Make sure where you are staying is near the university and it will make things less expensive.”

Allison Rogers, Chicago senior, studied abroad one summer in Cambridge and another summer in Rome. In both places, Rogers said, she did not have the privilege of being close to her university, but she was provided with a free bus pass through the program. The room and board, books and meal costs were also provided through the study abroad fee, which she said made it easier to manage money while being away. Group travel excursions were also provided, although students had to pay an extra fee if they wanted to travel alone.

“If I chose to venture away from the group, I learned to travel smart and cheap,” Rogers said, “I would stay in hostels, which would be as cheap as 40 dollars a night. Also, I used the excuse of being a student a lot and would get a lot of discounts.”

Along with traveling cheaply, Rogers would buy groceries to reduce the cost of eating out.

Eliza Smithson, Shawnee junior, is studying in Ireland this summer. Like Rogers, she said she bought groceries ahead of time.

“I try to be super cheap when it comes to food,” Smithson said. “When I’m out, I opt for bread and cheese, or a croissant and Nutella. They are served at most restaurants, cafes or grocery stores and are delicious and cheap.”

Smithson said she also kept a good record of what she spent.

“I have a big excel spreadsheet where I’ve broken down all my estimated costs, ground transportation, flights, food, souvenirs, phone costs, etc.,” Smithson said. “Every time I spend money, I save the receipt or make a quick note of it. When I get home I simply type it into the spreadsheet and I can track how much I am spending. I am able to see how much I’ve spent each week, how much I’ve spent overall, and how I need to plan for the future.”

Smithson also said she tried to keep a positive attitude about the economy, and said that some aspects had worked to her advantage.

“I take advantage of the economy — things are super cheap right now,” Smithson said. “I’m flying to Prague for 22 Euro and to Rome for another 22 Euro. It’s a steal of a deal.”

Lorenz said students should look at the areas of the world they were interested in and come to the OSA to work out an economic plan. She said peer advisors that had participated in the programs were willing to work with students. Financial aid and scholarships based on merit and need are also available to interested students.

Regardless of the situation, Lorenz said she and other administrators still had faith in study abroad programs.

“I do not think KU will ever move away from the International experience. The University will work really hard to keep it that way,” Lorenz said. “Students need to realize that they can have a meaningful experience for much cheaper than they think.”

— — Edited by Dylan Sands

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