“Harvard doesn’t discourage, but I wouldn’t say it always encourages us to go abroad,” Younge says.

The success of a student’s time in a foreign country is largely based upon the personal initiative taken before the trip, according to Alexandra M. Wilcox ’11.

“The programs are there but they are not publicized or encouraged, so many people don’t know about them,” Wilcox says.

FACILITATING THE TRIP

Winnie could not point to one specific change that has inspired more students to go abroad, but she notes a changing attitude on campus that encourages students to take advantage of the available opportunities.

The simplification of the paperwork and credit transfer processes has also aided student interest, according to Winnie.

“With the support of faculty and advisors, the Office of International Programs streamlined the process for students to get credit,” Winnie says.

The University has recently been able to increase financing for students studying abroad over the summer—formerly a major factor in students’ decisions about studying abroad.

Hamida B. Owusu ’10, who spent a semester at the University of Ghana, says that it was more financially feasible for her to study abroad during the semester, when her financial aid would directly transfer to subsidize the costs of her program.

Moreover, the 2008 donation of the David Rockefeller International Experience Grants provided Harvard additional funds to spend on summer study abroad.

“With the arrival of the David Rockefeller gift, it became possible for students to go abroad in the summer, when there is no financial aid,” Winnie says.

In a process often facilitated by the OIP, students who decide to go abroad are faced with many options regarding the use of their time: they can take courses for academic credit, work in a foreign laboratory, or research for a senior thesis.

The OIP keeps records of every program attended by a Harvard student, along with a thorough review by the student. Individuals may choose between a selection of Harvard programs and Harvard-approved programs that are run by other universities or organizations, or they may suggest their own programs.

“The list on our website is a historical list, time-tested programs that Harvard has used and had good reports on, and it has a wonderful array of options,” Winnie says.

Though many students say they were initially worried about adjusting their concentration requirements to fit into their study abroad schedules, they found their departments to be accommodating and flexible.