Study Abroad Blurb

It can be extremely daunting trying to decide where to study abroad because every program has something wonderful to offer. I decided to go to the Dominican Republic because it incorporated three things that were extremely important to me: living with a host family, speaking Spanish, and participating in community service. Also, my minor is Latin American and Caribbean Studies, so it fits in perfectly with my academics.

After I was accepted, I had to go through the process of applying for grants. My scholarship that I receive every semester was applied to my study abroad fees (most scholarships are) and so I applied for a Community Service Incentive Grant through the Office of Overseas Study and an International Experience Program Grant through the Hutton Honors College, and received a substantial amount from both of them. In the end, the cost of my semester abroad is significantly less than what my family pays for out-of-state tuition here. The Community Service Incentive Grant is not available for all programs; it is only available for programs in non-traditional locations that incorporate community service into their program. I did not know that the Santiago, Dominican Republic program qualified, so I was really happy when my study abroad advisor encouraged me to apply and then I received the grant. Also, one does not have to be in the Hutton Honors College to receive an IEP Grant.

The link to my blog is www.mstellerdominicanrepublic.blogspot.com

-Mary Mesteller