Ten years ago, 734 students out of the entire student body at the University participated in study abroad programs. Today, just more than 2,000 students explore foreign countries in a given year.

Though it is easy to view those numbers optimistically, they actually highlight the majority of students who are not taking advantage of the numerous options the University has to offer.

Perhaps it is the process of narrowing down one program from nearly 150 that scares future applicants away. So to calm some nerves, here are a few tips:

Dispose of any initial anxiety by going to one of the “Options Abroad” information sessions held three times a week at the Office of International Education, located on Clayton Street above Bank of America. Here, “study abroad advisors work individually with students to narrow down program choices, discuss program details and recommend the next steps,” said Colleen Larson, a study abroad advisor. To sign up for one of the sessions, call the OIE office at 706-425-3274 ext. 302.

Try to envision if a long-term or short-term experience sounds better. Is it more important to feel the warmth of a country’s museums, food and music, or to make the sure the country’s legal drinking age is 18? If the answer to the former is yes, you may opt for a semester program where you can experience cultural immersion over a longer time period.

Be careful of programs that cater to certain majors. “I applied to a program in Rome and was denied because they gave preference to classics majors”, said Kristin Miller, a senior from Kennesaw.
Programs like UGA at Oxford in Oxford, England, are open to a variety of majors from Franklin, SPIA and more.

Choosing a country is overwhelming, but picking a region might be easier. Going to Europe broadens travel opportunities thanks to the Eurail, a company with rail carriers that go to 30 countries. Interested in the opposite side of the globe? Research Oceania, which includes countries like Australia and Fiji, or check out East Asia.

Finally, some great advice for future globetrotters is to “think and plan ahead, because sometimes the dates sneak up on you,” said Mark Christopher, a senior from Marietta who studied at Oxford over the summer. It is important to start laying the groundwork early on to maintain sanity. Also, keep track of deadlines, because it would be terrible to be forced to withdraw from a spot that has already been paid to hold.