By Leslie Moron
Contributing Writer

Whether you are looking for a job now or planning for the future, consider this: studying abroad might give you the upper hand.

The thought of studying abroad can seem a little overwhelming and very exciting at the same time. Fortunately there are many study abroad options at Simmons. The process is fairly simple and not as expensive as you might think.

Many students may be unaware of the range of options offered to whomever wants to study abroad. You can go away for the summer, for the semester, or even for an entire year while completing coursework that interests you and is relevant to your major. Depending on how much you are paying for school out of pocket, it can save you money.

According to an email from Gabriela Antunes, administrative assistant at the Simmons College Study Abroad and International Programs office, “The average cost of a third-party program is $13,500 per semester.  Full-time tuition at Simmons is $17,175 per semester.  However, room and board costs can range significantly from person to person and depends on which city you choose to study in.”

So depending on what you actually pay for school and the program you participate in, you could save as much as $4,000.

There are also options for those who have scholarships and financial aid to pay for school.

In the email Antunes added, “There are many external study abroad scholarships available to Simmons students and Simmons offers its own study abroad scholarships. Students can also pay for a semester abroad using their federal or state financial aid.”

Aside from being a potential money saver, studying abroad is a great opportunity for personal growth.

Danielle Ehrnstein, a global ambassador and senior at  Simmons, went to three countries through a couple of different study abroad programs.

“It was definitely worth it,” she said. “You learn things not only about the country that you’re going to but also about yourself.”

Another great aspect of studying abroad is that it counts for the regular Simmons coursework and it’s available to all majors.

Ehrnstein said that Laura Bey, the Simmons study abroad director, has “worked with many departments to figure out how study abroad can be integrated with the course material.”

So no matter what you are majoring in, there is a study abroad program for you.

Many travel courses offered through Colleges of the Fenway schools are also open to Simmons students.

The options for study abroad shown at the Simmons Study Abroad website are Exchange Programs Semester, Summer or Year Abroad programs, Simmons Faculty-Led Travel Courses, and Volunteer or Intern Abroad. You can sign up to do these through many different entities such as the Education Abroad Network, CAS Granada and many more.

Studying abroad and learning about different cultures makes you a more experienced and well-rounded individual, which can help when it comes to getting hired in the future.

In a recent survey by TransitionsAbroad.com, 75 percent of respondents said that they acquired skill sets abroad that influenced their career path, and 62 percent said that studying abroad ignited an interest in a career direction pursued after the experience.

You might also learn or perfect a second language, which  is a great tool in the job market.

Businesses are becoming more globalized and need employees who can communicate with global business partners. No matter what field of work you go into, knowing a second language can give you the upper hand, and being immersed in a different culture while studying abroad is a great way to learn a second language.

There are other skills you can acquire by studying abroad that can help you in the work world.

Being in a different country will help you develop independence, financial and social skills, which are great tools when trying to get hired. You can talk about more than college in job interviews and employers will know that you can work with different kinds of people in different settings.

Imagine trying to choose between two different potential employees. One tells you about her experience in their college campus, and the other tells you about her experience traveling to another country and meeting new people and adapting to another culture. Who would you choose?