Setting Goals

Studying Abroad or Away with purpose

There are many program opportunities for you to study abroad/away on a St. Olaf approved Smith Center program. It is overwhelming to know where to start. Use this as a guide to help you in identifying your personal and academic goals in choosing your study abroad/away program. Reach out to your academic advisor, Smith Center advisor and your community of support to complete.

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Step 1: Identify Goals and Program Preferences

Identifying your goals is an important first step when considering studying abroad/away.

What are you wanting to get from your program experience?

Personal:

What is most important to you?
What motivates you?
What challenges you?
What are you hoping to achieve or accomplish?
What interests you?
What values do you hold?

Academic:

What subjects would you like to study while abroad/away?
Do you have academic interests outside of the majors/concentrations that St. Olaf offers?
Are there any specific courses or requirements you hope to fulfill? (i.e., credit towards major, concentration, OLE Core, or general graduation requirements)

Vocational:

What are your career goals?
Do you want to participate in specific courses and/or activities that are important in your intended field?
What are you looking to gain in a study abroad/away program?

Cultural:

- How will you prepare to enter the host community?
- What does it mean to be a guest in the host community?
- What do you think might be different about your host community?

What type of experience do you want to have?

Type of Program: Would you like to have an experience that is more or less similar to that of St. Olaf?

Program Support: What type of support would you like to receive from your program of choice?

Classmates: Who do you want to take classes with?

Program Size: Do you want to study alongside of many students or fewer students?

Language of Instruction: What is your preferred language of instruction? Do you want to participate in a language immersion program for any of the following languages?

Experiential Learning: Do you want to engage in other co-curricular opportunities?

What aspects of your personal, academic, cultural and vocational identity should you consider?

Academic, Mobility, and Access Services/Accommodations: Are there any accommodations you will need while studying abroad/away?

Personal Identity: Are there aspects of your identity that are important to consider when studying abroad/away? How might these identities and how they are perceived shift in abroad/away study? Are there locations that you would feel safer or more comfortable than others for you to express your personal identity? Are there elements of your identity that are not widely accepted in your intended host community?

Citizenship: What are the diplomatic relationships between your country of citizenship (also consider the U.S. if you are not a U.S. citizen) and host community?

What housing accommodations do you wish to have while studying abroad/away? Will you have access to the resources you need?

Type of Housing: What type of living arrangements appeal to you the most: dorm style housing, apartment style housing, or a host family? Who do you want to live with?

Location: Would you like to live in a small town or big city?

Meals: Do you like to prepare your own meals or get them from a cafeteria?

With your goals in mind, when do you plan to study off campus and for how long?

Program Length: What is your ideal program length?

Timing: When during your time as an Ole would you like to study abroad/away?

ꪚ Freshman ꪚ Sophomore ꪚ Junior ꪚ Senior

	Fall Semester	Fall Semester + January Term	Spring Semester + January Term	Spring Semester	Year	January Term 3-4 weeks	Summer 4+ weeks
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior

Program Dates: Does your program’s academic calendar need to match or be similar to the St. Olaf academic calendar (i.e., September-May)? Or is it okay for your program to begin earlier or later and/or end earlier or later than St.Olaf’s academic calendar? *Some programs, especially in the southern hemisphere (e.g., Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, etc.), overlap with the U.S. summer calendar.

▢ Closely match St. Olaf’s calendar ▢ Can be different than St. Olaf’s calendar

What location specific features matter to you?

Region of the World: Are there specific locations that you want to study?

▢ Africa & the Middle East ▢ Asia ▢ Australia/New Zealand

▢ Europe ▢ South & Central America ▢ North America

Are there specific locations that you do not want to study?

▢ Africa & the Middle East ▢ Asia ▢ Australia/New Zealand

▢ Europe ▢ South & Central America ▢ North America

Host Community Size: Does community size matter to you?
▢ Yes ▢ No
Would you like to study in:
▢ A large urban city ▢ Smaller town

Host Community Language: Would you prefer to study in a location where:
▢ English is the language ▢ English is widely spoken ▢ English is not as widely spoken

Climate: What kind of climate would you prefer?

▢ Warmer temperatures ▢ Colder temperatures ▢ Mountainous ▢ Other

Are you looking for a program that does not cost much more than being on campus? Is money a barrier for me?

Program Costs: I am okay with a study abroad/away program costing ______ as being on campus:

▢ Less ▢ About the same ▢ More

Cost of Living: The cost of living in the host community can be ____ than you’re used to?:

▢ Higher ▢ About the same ▢ Lower

Included Expenses: Do you prefer a program where most everything is billed to St. Olaf (i.e., St. Olaf pays the program) or one where you’re responsible for arranging payment of some expenses (e.g., housing, meals) yourself?

▢ Paid on my behalf — I don’t want to have to think about expenses ▢ Not already paid — I determine what and where I spend money

Additional Expenses: Are there additional expenses (not included in the program cost) that you might want or need to plan for? (e.g., medical expenses, independent travel, etc)

Step 2: Set goals and program preferences

Do your research!

Research regions of the world, cultural differences, norms, and behaviors. Know host communities laws and regulations. Become familiar with their lifestyle. Reach out to your support network.

St. Olaf Support Network

The Smith Center for Global Engagement
Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion
Piper Center for Vocation and Career
Academic Advisor
Department Chairs
Financial Aid
Athletic Coach
Professors
Academic Success Center
Student Support Services
Student Support Services with Disabilities (SSSD)

Other Support Networks

Friends
Family

Reflect on your goals

What are the most important factors for you when choosing a study abroad/away program?

What are your goals and how might they be met through a study abroad/away program?

Compare and select your study abroad/away programs

Program Comparison Worksheet