October 1st, 2008 by AllStudentRentals.com

Multicultural-themed music filled the Union Building Ballroom, courtesy of the DePauw Percussion Ensemble, as students milled about more than two dozen tables that provided information on off-campus study programs.

Monday evening’s annual Global Fair was run through the Center for International and Experiential Education as an opportunity for those considering off-campus study to learn about specific programs and talk to program representatives.

Coordinators from the Durham House and CIEE said they were pleased with the attendance of program reps, with whom they had dinner prior to the fair, as well as student attendance. While the majority of the featured programs were focused on opportunities for a semester abroad, providers of domestic programs, like the Philadelphia Center, and coordinators of the Winter Term program were also present.

“There are certainly international opportunities,” said Assistant Director of Winter Term Kyle Danforth, “and we encourage students to think of Winter Term opportunities in addition to semester-long opportunities.”

CIEE Program Adviser, Rajai Bimbo, said the fair, while not the only source of information on off-campus study, is a learning experience for students who need to know what’s available. More than 20 programs were represented, but DePauw offers more than 100 “tremendous” opportunities and has had students study at more than 50 locations around the world.

“When you review the wide scope of opportunities… there’s literally something for everyone,” Bimbo said, but he stressed the importance of pursuing information at the Durham House.

“In order for people to know what’s available for off-campus study they have to come in and they can’t let their curiosity fall by the wayside.”

Some students said they found the information helpful.

“It seems like there are so many opportunities and it seems like you can go anywhere you want,” said freshman Kelsey Nosek. Nosek also said she thinks she needs to take a more specific look at programs, and she found the fair “kind of overwhelming.”

Sophomore Ashlee Anton said she’s been considering studying abroad since before she came to college and it is a major objective of her academic life.

“I think that DePauw definitely advertises opportunities for studying abroad, especially through the huge diverse international population that has come here,” Anton said. “They’re awesome.”

Source: The Depauw-Indiana’s Oldest College Newspaper

Remarks: This article is about the most extreme version of off-campus living - living and studying in another country. Now more than ever there are hundreds of options for students who want to study abroad, and it is considered by many to be an absolute necessity for every student that want a truly unique college experience. While it can be an amazing experience, there are some things to consider. Those students that plan to study abroad during the Spring semester will need to be sure that they are not tied down to a 1-year lease and obligated to pay rent and utilities while they are out of the country. AllStudentRentals.com allows each renter to search by length of lease term (1-year, 6-month, month-to-month), an important feature for those planning to study abroad.