Photo by Mira Crane '27
Image description: The Study Away fair held in Mary Woolley Hall. Various tables are set up along the sides of the spacious room, each adorned with informational pamphlets, signs, and flags representing different study-abroad programs. Attendees, mostly students, are seen interacting with representatives and browsing the tables. The Hall's high ceiling and wooden floors create an open atmosphere, with a stage and a large screen displaying information in the background.
By Mira Crane ’27
Global Editor
For many students at Mount Holyoke College, fall is the time to think about studying abroad. To that end, the Study Away Fair took place on Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 4-6 p.m. in Chapin Auditorium. The fair is held annually by the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives on the third Tuesday of September. Organizers from programs all over the world were in attendance to answer questions and give out information to prospective students. A projector at the back of the auditorium was also set up to display general information.
The turnout was fairly substantial; 213 students attended, with most being sophomores and first years. Attendees were milling around, asking questions and picking up what was being offered at the booths.
Mount Holyoke students can study abroad starting the second semester of their sophomore year up until, and including, the first semester of their senior year. Options include studying abroad for a year, a semester or a summer or winter term. Students can start the process by attending an information session, Study Abroad 101, or scheduling an advising appointment at the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives.
April Stroud, associate director at the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives, said in an email to Mount Holyoke News, “Sophomores who are interested in study abroad next year should attend a 101 or meet with a peer advisor for basic information, and then schedule an individual advising appointment via Pathways with [myself] or Adelia Pope, study abroad coordinator.”
According to Stroud, Study Abroad 101 is “where students can get an overview about study abroad as a Mount Holyoke student. In a half hour we cover the benefits of study abroad, academic planning, approved programs, finances and scholarships, eligibility, application procedures, deadlines and credit transfer.”
Students must begin planning and request to study abroad about a full year before they intend to go, although the request is non-binding. According to the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives, “Last year, approximately 200 students studied abroad. Most studied abroad for a semester, but there were students abroad for an academic year and on short-term programs offered during the summer or winter.”
At the entrance to Chapin, students were handed papers giving information on all the different programs in attendance. Students could then find what program representatives they wanted to chat with before even walking around the fair. Some tables had candy or other swag. Most tables had pamphlets, email lists and QR codes.
Aside from the study abroad programs, there were tables for the Study Abroad Office, the Career Development Center, the Weissman Center for Leadership, scholarships, the Laurel Fellowship, Office of Health Professions Advising, National Fellowships, MHC Semester in DC and the Nexus Program. There were about 34 outside programs present.
Program locations covered six continents, and there were options for nearly all majors. They included the Advanced Studies in England program, which takes place in Bath, CET Academic Programs — which has locations in Brazil, China, Columbia, Czech Republic, Italy, Jordan and Taiwan — and Siena School for Liberal Arts in Italy. The School for International Training Study Abroad was also present and has programs in Argentina, Australia, the Balkans, Chile, China, Ecuador, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Samoa, South Africa and Switzerland. There is a wealth of countries available for Mount Holyoke students to travel to for study.
After attending the fair, student Hailey Brooks ’27 told Mount Holyoke News, “The study abroad fair was very helpful. I liked seeing visually all the different opportunities that Mount Holyoke offers for study abroad.” She also explained that the fair helped her learn which programs she’s qualified for.
The fair will be back in the fall of next year.
Kamlyn Yosick ’25 contributed fact-checking.