WHETHER Charlottesville\nis a two-hour drive from\nyour house or a two-hour flight from the nearest airport, going away to college seems like enough of a journey in itself. Given the wealth of programs available to students, it is easy to get caught up with everything that is going on at the University. However, it is important to remember that students' academic opportunities are not limited to Albemarle County. Studying abroad is an excellent way for students to encounter learning from a different perspective.\nNearly all colleges can boast about the number of destinations available for students to study abroad, and the University is no different. Just visit the International Studies Office's Web site and see for yourself. Red tape should not be a problem; it is fairly painless to obtain transfer credit for programs run through other schools and the University is the only American member of the Universitas 21 consortium that allows students to easily take classes at select schools overseas.\nAlthough learning a foreign language abroad is certainly a worthwhile, useful, and rewarding experience, the two do not necessarily go hand in hand. The University's Summer Language Institute offers immersion courses right here in Charlottesville in most major languages, and students can enroll in courses abroad in all subject areas. Also, there is no dearth of quality programs in English-speaking locations like the United Kingdom and Australia. Nonetheless, studying the native tongue can only enhance your time abroad, and immersing yourself in another language is the only way to truly learn it. One's level of fluency is not a limiting factor; curriculums range from the introductory to the advanced. And if you have to fulfill a foreign language requirement anyway, why not do it somewhere interesting?\nOne normally cited barrier to studying abroad is cost. An education does not come cheaply, but the price of schooling in a different country is often overestimated. Like regular tuition at the University, the Office of Financial Aid works to keep programs affordable, especially for low-income students. The Center of Undergraduate Excellence offers a wide range of scholarships for studying abroad, and there are numerous outside scholarships students can apply for as well. Also, the University's programs themselves will not break the bank. For example, a fall or spring semester in Valencia, Spain is notably less expensive than out-of-state tuition. Many summer programs are actually cheaper than taking courses in Charlottesville on a cost-per-academic credit basis. Any academic experience comes with a price tag, but it is important to do research before ruling something out as too expensive.\nAnother commonly conceived drawback is that spending a semester abroad causes you to miss out on a semester in Virginia. Although taking courses internationally can be just as much if not more fun than taking them at the University, the fact is that many students have obligations that require them to be around Grounds during the academic year. Nonetheless, there is a wealth of study abroad programs available during the summer as well. Students can spend all summer, a month, or just a few weeks in their destination of choice, and earning credit during the off months is a great way to catch up or pursue multiple majors. The January Term is another opportunity to study abroad; courses in eight international locations are being offered this year as well as ones at the University.\nWith so many different times to study abroad and so many places to do it in, it is easy to put the experience off, hoping to know more about one's career goals and have more background knowledge in a subject before taking classes in a foreign country. The value of being prepared cannot be denied, but sometimes the trip itself can be an exceptional learning experience and self-revealing process. If an opportunity surfaces, students should seize it because what the coming college years will bring is never certain; the chance may be gone when the next year rolls around. The University's numerous opportunities to study abroad are a prime example of the academic freedom it is famous for. Students should take advantage of that freedom in all its forms.\nMitch Ross is an Opinion Editor for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at m.ross@cavalierdaily.com.
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