Welcome to the website for Non-traditional students. On the following pages, a number of questions and issues specific to non-traditional students are addressed to help explain the process. These pages should help non-traditional students decide whether study abroad is right for them, understand the benefits of study abroad, what steps to take once they have decided to participate, how to manage issues that are specific to non-traditional students, and how to market their study abroad experience once students have returned from their programs. There is also a resource that explains tuition remission policies as well as provides student testimonials and travel tips from non-traditional students who have studied abroad.

I’m not sure where to go:
As a Pitt student, you can go almost ANYWHERE!  What you need to decide is where you want to go and want you want to accomplish.

Start by thinking of a city, region or country you would like to visit and what you would like to study, and then try to narrow your interests.  Do you want to study in a small town or a large city?   Are you proficient in another language, or do you only speak English (you’d be surprised how many nations speak English as a first or second language).  What size school are you looking for – a large campus or a smaller setting?  Are you looking for an experience that will give you a competitive edge or one that is more personally fulfilling?  Do you want to walk to class or do you mind taking a bus?  Do you want to stay in a dormitory, a home-stay, or an apartment?  Do you want to be completely independent or always with a group? 

Once you have narrowed your interests, then it is much easier to begin your search.  For example, maybe you’ve always dreamed of travelling to Spain or Argentina?  Go to the Study Abroad website, www.abroad.pitt.edu, click of “Study Abroad Programs,” and “Search by Country.”  Click on Spain or Argentina, and explore the programs listed there.  Look for programs with attributes that fit your parameters.

I’m not sure what courses to take:
Talk to your academic advisor:  Schedule an appointment to discuss your thoughts with your advisor about studying abroad.  Together you can look at your Degree Progress Report and see how study abroad can fit in your academic timeline.  Your advisor can suggest whether you should take a class to satisfy your major/minor requirement or an elective. 

Explore the Study Abroad website:  www.abroad.pitt.edu.  The “Getting Started” link outlines the steps you need to follow to make the study abroad process easier, and the “Study Abroad Programs” will help you narrow your search.

Visit the Study Abroad Office, 802 William Pitt Union:  Look at the brochures in the Resource Area and talk to the staff on hand to help find the perfect program for your needs and interests.  Also, the Study Abroad Office has limited hours in the McCarl Center, 4th Floor Cathedral of Learning.  For office hours, contact Kathleen Gallant @ kgb5@pitt.edu.

Attend a Study Abroad Essential’s Meeting:
All students planning to study abroad are required to attend a mandatory Study Abroad Essentials Session. These 45 minute workshops, offered three times every week, will give you the information you need to begin the Study Abroad Process. Topics include a full range from program selection, receiving credit, having your courses approved, to transferring financial aid. This is a very important first step. Essentials sessions give you a great opportunity to ask questions, narrow down program choices, and gain valuable insight on how you will study abroad. You will also have the opportunity to meet other students beginning the process, you'll get to hear what some of your peers are planning to do, and maybe get additional ideas for yourself. There are generally 15 students in each essentials session. Sign up for Essentials by visiting www.abroad.pitt.edu.

Talk to a former CGS/nontraditional student who studied abroad:  Kathleen Gallant, a CGS alumna who studied abroad in London, is available to meet in person or by phone.  Kathleen is currently a Graduate Student Assistant with the Study Abroad Office.  Contact her at kgb5@pitt.edu to set up an appointment.

And I’m worried about…   
Age issues:  More than likely, as a nontraditional student, you will be a little (or a lot) older than the other students in your class/program.  You may be worried that you won’t fit in, that you won’t have anyone to hang around with, and that you’ll stand out in the crowd.  These all may happen, but that doesn’t mean it’s a negative – it all depends on your attitude.  Your age, maturity and life experience can be a great advantage!  Take advantage of not following the pack to the nearest hangout every night, and instead explore the culture you are living in.  One female nontraditional CGS student who studied in Africa during a summer program reported that when the traditional-aged students had free time, they huddled together with their American classmates in the group dormitory all night; whereas the older CGS student explored the village, stopping to talk to local shop owners and the elderly.  She thought the traditional-aged students really missed out on a fantastic learning experience.  The CGS student felt she had “been there, done that” when she was younger, and she wanted a different experience in Africa than hanging out with other Americans. 

You will stand out in the crowd – especially to other nontraditional students studying abroad who are feeling the same way you are.  Remember, depending on the program, other nontraditional students may also be in your class.  A 41 year old Pitt who student studied in London was very surprised to find almost half of her class were nontraditional-aged students, either taking the class for credit or professional/personal enrichment.  The older students naturally gravitated towards each other and became fast friends by the end of the week.  None of the students were native to London and were in the same predicament, looking to find others their own age to have dinner or coffee with.

Faculty will also notice you and you may have more in common with them than you think.  Previous nontraditional students who have studied abroad have reported that professors and TAs are especially interested in speaking with them precisely because they are older and have more experience.

Older students also report that they feel more confident in exploring alone, precisely because they have been on their own and living independently.  Count yourself fortunate that you are older, and maybe a little wiser, than your younger classmates and take advantage of this time to relish your independence and maturity.

Asking my boss for time off: You may be working part- or full-time and are wondering how you can get the extra time off to study abroad?  The first thing to realize is that you don’t have to study abroad for an entire semester.  There are many short-term programs, between 3 and 12 weeks that you can attend during the summer.  You may find a 3-week/3-credit program that will fulfill a general education requirement and will allow you to travel to your dream destination.  The only way to discover whether you can take your vacation time all at once or get a short leave of absence is to ask!  One student who works full-time for the University was extremely nervous about asking for the time off and put the request off for weeks.  When she finally asked, there was no problem – the director of the department was very supportive of study abroad.  The student felt that her solid study abroad plan gave her the justification to get the time off.

Stress issues: All students, no matter their age, feel stress when considering studying abroad.  Everyone fears the unknown and has concerns about personal safety.  Nontraditional students, however, may have additional concerns.  You may worry about leaving your children, spouse, or elderly parents.  Many older students also have numerous job and community obligations, and may worry about leaving home for 3 weeks or a month.  Each instance must be considered within its own context and be weighed against the many advantages of a study abroad experience.

Normally, students go through similar psychological pattern of stress and culture shock when they study abroad.  The University of the Pacific, CA, has a great On-Line Cultural Training Resource for Study Abroad entitled “What’s Up With Culture?” Go to Section 1.7.1: Common Reactions to read about stress and study abroad culture shock. 

Once I return from studying abroad, how do I market my experience? 
The Study Abroad Office offers two workshops to help returnees market their international experience:

• Resume Writing: learn effective resume writing strategies that reflect your international experience
• Interviewing: learn about the best strategies for talking about international experiences is a professional or academic interview.

Visit the Alumni pages for additional information on marketing the study abroad experience.

Next: Tuition Remission, Alumni Testimonials, and Travel Tips