How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
Afraid of having more Americans than foreigners in your classes overseas? For those who want to study abroad without being trapped in an NYU bubble, there is the option of receiving credit for a non-NYU program.
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NYU doesn't advertise this alternative on its website, but an academic adviser can provide you with the proper forms to study outside the NYU abroad programs.
The approval process is tedious, so make sure to start far in advance. Find a program that has course syllabuses readily available since you will need to get courses approved by your adviser. There are lots of brochures in the NYU Study Abroad office, though Internet resources are helpful as well. Programs that offer a set schedule will probably not be accepted; it is better to attend a university with a wide range of available courses.
In order to make it work, ensure your courses are approved for your major, complete all required forms, get a professor's recommendation and write a brief essay. After that, it still takes a couple of weeks to find out if your proposal is approved. Then you have to apply to the actual program.
The benefits are definitely worth it though. These alternative programs are often much less expensive than NYU options (I'm going to Thailand for one-third of the cost of an NYU semester) and you'll have more of an authentic cultural immersion. As long as you don't mind dealing with the paperwork, you should be fine. Just start early, stay organized, and you'll be on your way to a unique experience abroad.
