MATT BRANDENBURGH

Education requires getting out

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Posted: 8/7/08

As a rising senior who now finds himself in the position of handing out unasked-for advice to the newest members of the University community, when I reflect on my past three years here, one experience stands out as a highlight of my student career.

For the second semester of my sophomore year, I went to Washington, D.C., as part of a political studies program called Capital Semester. This not-quite study abroad was a break from the repetitive semester here, a chance to live in a very exciting place for four months, and a great way to study something I love - politics.

Students should look for ways to expand their education outside of the classroom and outside of Athens. There are all kinds of study abroad programs run by the University's Study Abroad Office, as well as plenty of programs run independently of the University.

As my case demonstrates, not all away-from-campus programs are out of the country. There are in fact many programs like the one I did in Washington, and the University now even hosts its own.

But all kinds of organizations are liable to be interested in hiring a (possibly unpaid) college intern during a spring or fall semester.

Magazines, companies large and small, nonprofit foundations - all can offer summer and school- year opportunities.

These off-campus opportunities can provide you with useful skills for after graduation.

The language ability that a study abroad program can give you makes you very attractive to employers.

Or having job experience in the field you may go into after school can be invaluable once you finally hit the job market. Landing a choice job becomes much more doable if you have tangible experience, references and insider knowledge in your industry.

So what do you want to do? Look around and see that opportunities abound.

- Matt Brandenburgh is opinions editor for The Red & Black.