Students Get a Taste of Study Abroad, Just in Time to Apply

With a new year comes new opportunities to learn about how studying abroad during college can benefit you! On January 25, students attended A Taste of Study Abroad, hosted by the Office of International Programs (OIP). Designed both for students who have completed applications and for those who are still considering their options, the event gave students an opportunity to speak with program faculty and alumnae ahead of the final February 15 application deadline.

Students interested in applying to study abroad with Meredith College or with a partnered affiliate provider in summer or fall 2023 must apply by February 15 at 5 p.m. Most materials can be submitted online on our application page. Materials that must be submitted in person can be brought to the OIP in 124 Lux Hall. Applications to receive scholarship funding from the OIP are also due on February 15.

Come March, parents and families of students who are studying abroad in the summer or fall of 2023 should keep an eye out for opportunities to attend specific pre-orientations for study abroad. Students who have applied to study abroad or for study abroad scholarships by February 15 should receive decisions and detailed information about the next steps around mid-March.

While some students are just now applying for study abroad at Meredith, others are preparing to depart in just a few weeks. This semester, the OIP has partnered with faculty to offer a semester-long course with a spring break travel component. The course, “Intersections: Math, Art, and Italy,” will offer students the opportunity to learn about how math and art influence each other, and then travel to Meredith’s Italian home in Sansepolcro, Italy, during spring break to continue their learning in some of the places where modern understandings of math and art began.

Another opportunity for Meredith students to learn about cultural exchange and the College’s presence in Italy has arrived this spring with the OIP’s Associate Director of Meredith in Italy, Sansepolcro native Sara Andreini. Professor Andreini is visiting Meredith College for the semester, and her presence on campus will offer students and faculty opportunities to learn more about the Meredith in Italy program. She will also be visiting classrooms as a guest lecturer to share with students her knowledge about political science, international studies, and Italy.

The OIP has also been busy supporting Meredith students from international backgrounds. Last fall semester saw the return of a campus favorite, Meredith International Association’s UN Dinner. Belk Dining Hall was full to the brim as students gathered to enjoy global fare while engaging with a guest speaker and international student panel on a discussion of “Home Through Our Eyes.”

Other fall semester highlights included a global Coffee House series, a Thanksgiving Dinner generously hosted by President Jo Allen, and a campus-wide, month-long celebration of the FIFA World Cup. If your student is interested in getting connected globally here on campus, please encourage them to reach out to the OIP!