One of the main reasons I chose Macalester is because I knew I wanted to do a study abroad program. But I had so many options to choose from. This really makes you step out of your comfort zone, interacting with so many different people meet different cultures. It's like very different in a very beautiful way.
I really wanted to go to the Middle East to learn Arabic. And so I went to Jordan, I studied abroad in a mine. And I studied geopolitics, which was so cool. It was amazing to learn about the context to learn the language. I had a lot of support through Macalester.
There's a wide variety of things you can choose from besides the locations. There's also great programs where you can choose to pursue stuff related to your major or you can do your gen ed' while you're studying away just like I'm doing a semester of arts even though I'm a neuroscience major.
I am on financial aid and the good thing is there's a very broad group of programs that apply your financial aid to them.
My decision to take German really led me on this path as the German department has this program where you go to Berlin for two months and then Vienna for and study in a real German university. You're speaking the language and being the students there.
I myself am studying away in Argentina, but there's a lot of great other places you could go to. One of my friends is going to South Africa. Another friend went to Japan. Another one of my friends went to Korea. So you can choose which culture you want to get to know better. You can also choose which academic interests you have and depending on that, I think you can find a perfect location that can suit you.
