Goal Setting for Education Abroad

Like many meaningful experiences, this one will have a greater impact if you spend some time thinking in advance about your goals. Using goals to guide your EA program choice will allow you to choose an opportunity that makes the most sense for you.

Consider the following questions:

When you're done filling out your answers, press CMD+P (mac) or CTRL+P (windows) to create a printable version of your worksheet.

Why do you want to study abroad?

What are you most excited about?

What do you want to learn while abroad (about your major, about your professional future, about yourself?)

How do you hope to have grown or changed when you return?

Broadly, study abroad goals can be broken into 3 categories: Academic,
Professional, and Experience.

Academic: Think about how your education abroad program can enhance your academic career and post-graduate possibilities. Do you want to gain a new perspective on your field of study (what does sustainability look like in Costa Rica, for example?) Take classes that make use of the local environment to enhance your understanding of a particular topic (for example, Shakespeare in London?) Work with particular scholars or faculty members (whether from a foreign institution or MSU) in preparation for grad school? Brainstorm some thoughts about your academic goals.


Professional: Consider what you want your future career to look like, and how your education abroad program can help you move down that path. Do you want to build your network with professionals in your host location? Do you want to complete an internship or volunteer experience related to your area of interest? Do you want to explore different career opportunities? Do you want to build one or two particular skills to help you be more marketable? Brainstorm some thoughts about your professional goals.


Experience: Developing as an individual through this experience means paying close attention to the opportunities you’ll have abroad and taking the initiative to grow from them. How are you going to explore and engage with your host culture? What do you want to learn about the local community or your own identity? What hobbies or interests do you want to engage in cross-culturally? How do you hope this experience makes you better as an individual, a friend, a citizen, or any other identifying quality? Brainstorm some ideas about your personal experience goals.


From your brainstorming, identify a few goals you’d like to achieve through an education abroad program. Keep these goals in mind as you continue to explore your priorities and preferences. Remember to make your goals S.M.A.R.T., Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

PRIORITIES AND PREFERENCES

Use this page to outline your personal priorities and preferences for your Education Abroad experience. Think about your needs and wants to identify programs that fit your academic, professional, and personal experience goals.

How do I picture myself abroad? Check your top choices in each category to get a sense of your ideal program. Check any additional options that you would be open to in each category. Remember, the more flexible you are, the more opportunities you may find!

Who are my peers abroad?

MSU Students
Other U.S. students
Other international students
Mostly local students from my host country
Host community members

Who am I learning from?

Host country faculty
MSU faculty
Independently/online

Where am I living?

In a university residence hall
With a host family
In an apartment with other students
In a hotel/hostel

When am I abroad?

Fall Semester
Winter Break
Spring Semester
Spring Break
Summer
Academic Year

Year ________

• Flexible—I need to look at my academic plan and meet with my advisor

I Need / I Want To…

Read the list below. On a scale of 1-5, mark how important each of these factors are for you (1 meaning most important, 5 meaning not important at all)

Credits that count toward my major or minor
1 2 3 4 5
Research, Intern, or Service opportunities
1 2 3 4 5
Build knowledge/skills for my future profession
1 2 3 4 5
Classes of personal interest
1 2 3 4 5
Classes taught by MSU faculty members
1 2 3 4 5
Participate on a program in ___________ (location)
1 2 3 4 5
Low costs
1 2 3 4 5
Cultural Immersion
1 2 3 4 5
Improve foreign language skills
1 2 3 4 5
Live with a host family
1 2 3 4 5
Live with other students
1 2 3 4 5
Shorter(1)/longer length(5)
1 2 3 4 5

Review your list. What are your 1s and 2s? Which of these (if any) are nonnegotiable? Where might you have some wiggle room?

What do you want to learn while abroad (about your major, about your
professional future, about yourself?)

As you search for Education Abroad programs on the Education Abroad website, keep these priorities and preferences in mind. (Remember, just like choosing a college or a significant other, there may not be one PERFECT choice!)