How CIIS Can Help You
On October 3, the Winston Room in the Student Center will be bustling with students and faculty alike. Decorated tables and posters will hopefully catch the passing eye and pull in some folks just to see what’s going on. They will find that it’s the Off-Campus Study Fair. From 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Center for International and Intercultural Services will be hosting 125 volunteers, with previous student participants, faculty program directors, academic and financial advisors, counselors, and more. Any question, doubt, or confusion can be successfully answered by the attentive minds waiting for students like you.
You will find that the CIIS offers a multitude of options when it comes to off campus study. There are the classic semester options, but summer programs and internship programs are available as well. A table for every abroad option will be present, including advising and counseling options, and even a career table to help find how you can align your abroad experience with your goals for post-college work.
It’s easy to write off studying off campus as something that’s just not for you. Whether it be academic credits, athletic seasons, or financial commitment, there are a lot of reasons to count yourself out. But the CIIS is trying to stop that train of thought.
“We want to make our program as accessible to the largest number of students that we can, especially the signature programs,” says Associate Dean of International and Intercultural Studies Matt Carotenuto. The offices are trying to reflect the needs and interests of the student body in the most engaging ways possible. It’s easy to see that in the new lineup of programs for the upcoming year. In the last months, the CIIS announced four new programs in Germany, The Netherlands, China, and India. The Marburg program in Germany was highlighted in its own article last week, but the other three programs are just as deserving.
In the Netherlands, students will find themselves at the University of Maastricht which boasts an undergrad population of over 50 percent international students. The program has strong focuses in STEM majors and provides a great placement within Europe to explore surrounding areas and countries. Both the China and India Program are newer programs that offer financial aid through the Innovator Grants for students studying in the next year as well as unique language options and an extensive course list.
The CIIS have also been working hard to create a smooth and concise process for engaging and applying to programs. This year, students will only have to fill out one application when applying to off campus study instead of multiple for each program. The new applications will have a section for back-up choices where you can list other programs you would be interested in being a part of. Director of Off-Campus Study Caitlin Hatz summed it up perfectly, “It’s more thought with less work and repetition.” They’re also offering early decision applications for signature programs, which comes with a guaranteed $100 aid towards your application fee as well.
As students of St. Lawrence, the CIIS is meant to work for you, not against you. The faculty is working year-round to create and establish the best programs to fit the student body and align with their needs and aspirations. With that being said, try to approach studying off campus by what experience is best catered for you, not by class credits or location. There are so many variables from homestay living to university living, city life to rural life, language-based to internship-based, and they’re all geared to help you develop the skills and experiences to reach your goals. So please, stop by the Winston Room on October 3, or reach out to the CIIS offices, one of the best experiences of your life may be waiting.