Many prospective students hesitate to enroll at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) due to the fear of feeling “stuck” and missing out on opportunities to see the world. However, a student’s experience at UTEP is what they make of it, and studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity to broaden horizons and embark on a journey one never expected.
Studying abroad often comes off as a glamorous yet intimidating experience that may seem unattainable to some. But, with the proper resources offered by the Office of Study Abroad at UTEP, students can receive guidance on every step of the process.
For senior psychology major, Sujey Sandoval, the guidance she received from Professor John De Frank, co-faculty and media producer for the faculty-led program “Layers of Rome,” made all the difference.
“I set the goal of studying abroad, but I couldn’t find my way until I took classes with De Frank,” Sandoval said. “I got information from him, and he helped me a lot with filling out the paperwork.”
There are many different study abroad programs that UTEP offers, which fall into three categories: exchange, third-party and faculty led. According to the Office of International Programs and Study Abroad on the UTEP website, exchange programs are when “UTEP has agreements with a number of universities throughout the world which allows you to attend a foreign university while paying UTEP tuition.” This opportunity can make studying in South Korea, China or even Peru a much more affordable option.
Third party programs are offered by an outside party independent from the university and students who choose to participate in such programs will need to pay program fees directly to the providers.
Finally, faculty-led programs allow UTEP faculty or departments to offer courses abroad as part of university curriculum. These types of trips are often short-term.
Annya Hernandez, a sophomore criminal justice major, went the faulty-led route and applied for the “Study Abroad in Criminal Justice: London” program, where she studied in a UTEP classroom and the capital of England.
“We had in-person classes for two weeks where we were assigned to read the book and answer discussion board questions,” Hernandez said. “Then we would spend another two weeks in London visiting the Tower of London, prisons, had presentations and a forensics activity.”
Studying abroad offers students opportunities that may have once seemed out of reach.
“I was happy when my application was accepted because I would be the first of my family to study outside of the continent and learn a third language,” Sandoval said. “I felt very proud that something so distant to me as a child, was now so close to living it. I want to keep traveling the world while also feeding myself with knowledge.”
Aside from giving students the “travel bug,” an international learning experience can offer growth in personal, academic and professional aspects. Flying overseas and visiting Rome, Italy for the first time was monumental in Sandoval’s personal enrichment, especially as she had previously feared trying new things.
“This experience allowed me to discover a part of myself that healed several wounds and brought me a lot of peace,” Sandoval said. “Academically, it helped me advance in my career and gave me interest in additional projects.”
While studying abroad offers an invaluable educational experience, there is still time to enjoy the travel and explore new destinations. Traveling to London was Hernandez’s first international trip, but the jet lag and time zone change didn’t stop her from enjoying her free days with her classmates.
“My roommate and I got used to having most afternoons free, so we explored a lot. On my free days [and] afternoons, I was able to see Karol G’s concert, Tom Holland star in the “Romeo and Juliet” play and take a train to Scotland for my birthday,” Hernandez said. “I learned a lot through this program and [was] still able to explore a foreign place.”
If studying abroad sounds exciting, don’t hesitate to utilize the resources provided by the university. UTEP offers resources and programs to help make studying abroad more attainable for students who wish to explore.
The UTEP Office of International Programs and Study Abroad can be found in the Union East in room 203 and online at www.utep.edu/student-affairs/oipsa/.
Evelyn Palma is the web and copy editor for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected] and on Instagram @evelynp.media.
