Students are offered an experience of a lifetime when they choose a destination and pack their bags with the Oakland University study abroad program.

“I love traveling and learning about other cultures and languages, but also it’s a very good thing to put on your resume,” junior Allison Chen said. “I’ve talked to people who have studied abroad and they said it was the best decision they made during their college years.”

Greece, Italy, China and France are only some of the many countries offered to OU students interested in studying abroad. The university has study abroad programs that span across six continents.

This year’s study abroad fair was open to both students and parents interested in learning the benefits of studying abroad and how to get involved.

To participate in the study abroad program, students must first create an account on OU’s website. Next, they choose a destination and browse the program in which they will go through. Once students have decided on a program they will have to fill out an application and meet with an advisor.

“We make sure the particular program you choose fits your needs and that it challenges you well without having the potential to overwhelm you,” said Brian Connery, Director of International Education at Oakland. “We want to make sure before we send anyone abroad that they will be successful in the program.”

Students were provided food and drinks as they learned about the different travel programs at various tables set up in the fireside lounge.

The tables set up by each program consisted of posters filled with pictures and laptops streaming photos of previous student experiences in other countries. There were also people at the tables available for any questions a student may have, along with pamphlets to learn more about the programs.

Advisors and program participants were available at the fair to answer any questions, address concerns and explain how to overcome fears and nerves when arriving at their destination.

They also explained that many students arriving in a foreign country usually have the same fears, but they are all in the same situation and should not be afraid.

“I’m interested in studying in London,” sophomore Kelli Carrio said. “It’s important to travel when you’re young because we have a nice support system, including parents, to help us if anything goes wrong when traveling. Also, when we’re older, we won’t have enough time.”

Taking advantage of these study abroad programs allows students to not only learn about other cultures, but learn more about themselves as well, as they must adapt to an environment outside of their comfort zone.

“It’s a really great experience, and you don’t always get an opportunity like this,” academic advising intern Kurtis Kirkpatrick said.