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Going Green, Going Abroad

by John Carpenter, askjohnaboutcollege.com

Many of the posts here this summer have addressed study abroad as an option for kids, but this one is going to be a little bit more personal.

Study Abroad

I think study abroad is a GREAT idea–look at where I’ve lived:  London, Asunción,  Istanbul, Santiago, Munich.  In those cities, I’ve learned more about myself, more about the world, and more about people than in any college course–graduate or undergraduate.  I’ve also learned a lot about language. Learning a language, by the way, and I mean REALLY learning a language, is the best way to understand that the world is filled with nuance and divergent thinking, another important life skill.

So, study abroad is a great way to learn about many different things, ranging from language and culture to sustainability.  In fact, if you want to understand how sustainability works on an international scale, the best thing you can do is to move outside the US, and live among a different set of rules regarding recycling and energy use to understand that the issue of going green is important, complicated, and far-reaching.

In August, I’m moving to Costa Rica.  I’ll still maintain this website, of course, and I’ll continue to work with the wonderful kids I have around the world (YOU know who you are!), but I’m also adding a new dimension to my work.  I will be the Director of Admissions and University Counseling at the United World College UWC in Costa Rica.

What’s exciting about this move is the philosophy behind the school–well, that and the fact that it’s Costa Rica!  The foundation of the UWCCR rests on three pillars: multicultural diversity, peace studies/conflict resolution, and sustainability.  The kids there are phenomenal people who’ve been selected based on their academic achievement and their commitment to those three pillars.  I am eager to become a part of a community that exists in commitment to those ideals.

There are lots of other ways, of course, to explore sustainability overseas, and you can request that your study abroad experience include some aspect of green education.  Start with your prospective college’s office of study abroad, but be pro-active and check out other resources as well–such as www.livingroutes.org to see where else you might be able to combine university study with your own personal values of improving the quality of sustainability in the world around us.

Study Abroad in Costa Rica

Also, many universities now offer degrees directly related to sustainability and the environment, so see what’s on offer.  Those degrees often include an element of study abroad as a way to give you first-hand experience in a different environment.

Spending time outside your home country is a fantastic experience, whether it be the last two years of high school such as at the UWC where I’ll be going next, or a semester in a new country during your undergraduate years at college or university.  The good news is that the options are many, and lots of folks will help you make a good decision.  Check out the resources and let me know what kind of move you think might be good for you!

John Carpenter is an educational consultant who has extensive travel and living experiences abroad.

His career includes membership in several professional organizations such as the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and he has given presentations on college admissions topics at state, national and international venues such as the Missouri ACAC, the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS), NACAC, and the European Council of International Schools (ECIS.) He was a founding executive committee member of ACCIS.

To find out more about John and his services visit AskJohnAboutCollege.com