{"id":4177,"date":"2025-07-29T11:48:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T16:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/?page_id=4177"},"modified":"2025-08-26T15:30:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T20:30:14","slug":"factors-to-consider","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/choose-a-program\/factors-to-consider\/","title":{"rendered":"Factors to Consider"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Center for Study Away advisors encourage you to consider numerous factors when choosing a study away program. We will discuss these factors in the First Steps to Study Away information session and during your 1-1 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/choose-a-program\/advising\/\">advising appointments<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t        <h2 class=\"accordion-group__heading\">Factors to Consider<\/h2>\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Program Structure\u00a0<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In general, student support services, academics, and structure vary by program. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are four types of program structures, which are indicated at the top of every program brochure page:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5691\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/359\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-01-at-10.50.04\u202fAM-300x96.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"616\" height=\"197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/359\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-01-at-10.50.04\u202fAM-300x96.png 300w,   https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/359\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-01-at-10.50.04\u202fAM.png 745w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 616px) 100vw, 616px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Study Centers:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Typically, these programs offer high student support services as well as facilitated excursions or other activities. Students only take courses at a study away program center with other study away students, either taking a set curriculum, or choosing from a limited list of courses. The required coursework likely includes or offers an internship or ISP component.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Hybrid: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students are still working with an approved program provider, and still can expect to have significant programmatic student support and activities, but the difference here is that students are also enrolling in courses at local universities. Students take a mixture of courses at those local universities and at the program center. Students take courses with local and\/or other international students and other study away students. Some internship or ISP opportunities may be available. The program typically organizes additional activities or excursions for participants.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Facilitated Direct Enroll<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Students register at local universities, but have some help in doing so from a program staff who is familiar with working with study away students. Other student support resources may also be available. Students take most, if not all, courses with local and other international students. There may be fewer program-facilitated activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Direct Enroll: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students register directly at local universities without the support of a provider. Macalester offers advising support, but the student is responsible for navigating the enrollment, course selection, and housing processes independently and within specific set deadlines. Students will need to be proactive in identifying and advocating for resources they need before arriving and once on site. Students take courses with local and other international students. University-facilitated activities vary greatly, depending on the school.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1igNuud3sPApDMUPzG0mKe_xivuroL6mSY-3P2PjY09A\/edit?usp=sharing\">Read program provider descriptions here.\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Encouraged reflection when selecting an appropriate program structure:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What support resources do I use at Macalester?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Will I need similar types of support during study away?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Which program type will help facilitate my success during study away?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the program I select does not have similar support structures to those I utilize at Macalester, is it possible for me to find or create that type of support for myself?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-2\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-2\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Academic Content<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-2\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The primary focus of studying away is the STUDYING part &#8211; so you should be considering academic content offered by the programs to choose. Here are few things you may think about:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Coursework not offered at Mac<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Location-specific courses or courses on the local area\/region (for example,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">studying tropical ecology with hands-on, field-based experiential learning in Costa Rica)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Different perspectives (for example, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">studying ancient history in Athens, Greece to learn it from a European perspective AND to visit the sites in person)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Discipline-specific courses (for example, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">studying art on a program that offers a wider range of art-focused courses than Macalester)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-3\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-3\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learning Opportunities<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All Macalester students are expected to continue building intellectual independence and deepening your self-\u00adawareness during study away, and there are many ways to accomplish this.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Focus on cultural learning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Apply your knowledge through learning opportunities outside of the classroom.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Focus on language learning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Expand your learning through opportunities, curricular and otherwise, that are unavailable at Macalester.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All of these goals can be accomplished during study away, but not all programs include all options. Reflecting on what is most important to you is the first step in narrowing in on the type of experience that will help you accomplish your goals.<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-4\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-4\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Personal Factors<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-4\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">And of course &#8211; YOU are the one studying away, so it\u2019s important to reflect on your own personal factors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Your own identities will impact your experience studying away, just as they impact your experience studying at Macalester.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Different identities may become more salient in a different cultural context, so it\u2019s important to reflect on this too.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Explore study away <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/equityresources\/\">Equity Resources.<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s also important to think about the types of support you receive at Mac. If you need the support here, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll need it abroad. Think about: academic accommodations, dietary restrictions, counseling needs, health concerns, etc. Not all programs can provide the same accommodations, so it\u2019s important to start that conversation early.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-5\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-5\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Personal Impact<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-5\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A final aspect to think about as you consider a study away location and program is your impact on the world and people around you. Obviously, travel to most of our study away programs requires a flight, and we recognize that study away is certainly a contributor to our campus carbon emissions. But, what might be other ways that you can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/predeparturetoreturn\/sustainability\/\">intentional about sustainability<\/a> during study away? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It might be:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reduce your travel while in-country (like the concept of \u201cslow travel\u201d by taking trains instead of planes)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Be intentional about staying local and immersing yourself in your city or region<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Learn about sustainability practices of your host country and community<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Consider your consumption while in-country (water, electricity, transportation methods, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While on study away, you impact our Earth and climate, but also the people with whom you interact. It\u2019s important to think about how you might ethically engage with them \u2013 such as your host families, classmates, professors, anyone you meet. How will your own identity, background, and experiences impact them? You might not know the answers, but we encourage you to consider these questions and be intentional when you choose a location and program.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Center for Study Away advisors encourage you to consider numerous factors when choosing a study away program. We will discuss these factors in the First Steps to Study Away information session and during your 1-1 advising appointments.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":985,"featured_media":0,"parent":55,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4177","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/985"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4177"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4177\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6481,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4177\/revisions\/6481"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/study-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}