In a year from now I’ll be in Florence, Italy eating gelato, enjoying the Italian sunshine, and hopefully having the best time of my life. But most of you are probably wondering what any of this has to do with you right? For those of you who are interested, study abroad can be one of most incredible, life changing experiences of your life and I’m excited to say I’ll be there in a few months.
Just to fill you in some more, I’ll be going to Florence, Italy via Athena Abroad. Athena Abroad is a study abroad organization with schools located in Italy, England, and Australia. Now some of you might be wondering why I didn’t go through Emerson’s own office of external programs. Well, before I explain why, let me tell you that my friends who have gone to Kasteel Well in the Netherlands have said that it was hands down their best Emerson experience. The classes, the people, and of the course the travel (my friend Melinda has been to 10 countries already and she still has 3 weeks left!) will undoubtedly change your world perspective.
But for me, it’s been my dream to go to Italy since I could remember. I was nervous that transferring to Emerson I wouldn’t be able to partake in such an experience. But Emerson’s Office of External Programs helped me find a program that fit my needs and would ensure I would be able to graduate on time from Emerson. I scheduled a meeting with the director of the office to find an accredited program in Italy. From there, I met with the registrar to ensure my course work would transfer over and as soon as I was cleared, I began the application process.
A few forms, passport photos, and 3 weeks later I was accepted to study abroad in Florence. There are of course some extra steps to go through if you want to study abroad outside of Emerson. But want I really want to emphasize here is how Emerson is designed to create an educational experience for your needs. Whether it be creating a major, taking classes at other schools through our Pro Arts Consortium, or finding the right study abroad program, Emerson knows its students have a wealth of interests and passions and they do their best to accommodate.
My experience with Athena Abroad and the Office of External Programs has been nothing short of professional and pleasant. I’m glad I’m able to attend a school that leaves plenty of room for flexibility in my educational experience, all while ensure the integrity of my degree.
For more information regarding the Office of External Programs please go to: http://www.emerson.edu/external_programs/
For more information regarding Athena Abroad please go to:
http://www.athenaabroad.com/
