When students leave their comfort zone to study abroad, they develop problem-solving skills, gain independence and interact with a variety of people, Joseph Milostan, Education Abroad director, said.
Milostan said the Goss Discovery Scholarship will help kickstart international education after COVID-19 by offering $5,000 to every student accepted into an exchange program for fall 2022.
“International education is so important because it brings students to K-State and sends KSU students abroad,” Milostan said. “So, we wanted to guarantee this scholarship in order to kickstart the program again.”
International education helps students develop life skills that benefit themselves and their future careers, Milostan said.
“When you are outside of your comfort zone, you gain creative problem-solving skills because you are living in a new environment with new challenges,” Milostan said. “You learn how to interact with people who are different than you. This is something employers look for.”
Gwen Davidson, sophomore in mass communications, plans to study abroad to develop these crucial skills.
“I want to study abroad so that I can get out of my sheltered life in Kansas and experience other cultures,” Davidson said. “I think it would be such an enriching experience for all students since it allows you to see the world.”
Davidson said while she is excited to study abroad, she is still worried about expenses. However, the news of this scholarship gave her hope, and she plans to look into it.
“I am in a dilemma because I will not be able to work while studying abroad, and this trip is not cheap,” Davidson said. “Any money would be amazing, but $5,000 would pay for a super large portion of my trip.”
Jamie Bac, sophomore in life sciences, agrees with Davidson.
“It has been my dream to travel the world, and I think college is the best time to start, but the programs can be very expensive,” Bac said. “I am extremely interested in this scholarship, and I would love to learn more about it.”
Related:
SAVE Farm helps veterans transition into agriculture
Milostan said exchange programs could require specific majors or prerequisites to be accepted. Also, the cost of attendance at every international school is different. He advises students to review the brochure and talk to their counselors before applying.
Milostan said many students think study abroad options are strictly for those majoring or minoring in a foreign language, but that is not the case.
“It is for all students; most of our exchange programs abroad offer classes in English,” Milostan said. “There are so many programs that are open to students who do not speak a language.”
He said there is also the option of going to another English-speaking country.
“There is Ireland, England, Australia and New Zealand,” Milostan said. “Students who are put off by a language barrier have the option of studying in another English-speaking country, and they still get the benefits of being immersed in new cultures.”
Milostan said a big part of studying abroad is the experience of being somewhere new and discovering new ways to have an exciting time.
“A lot of students say it just tends to be a lot of fun. They meet a lot of people, do a lot of traveling, and do a lot of exciting things,” Milostan said. “It is generally just a great experience for all students, which is why we want to push international travel with this scholarship.”
More information about the Goss scholarship and how to apply is available on the Education Abroad website.
