Study Abroad Peer Advocates
Learn about the study abroad experience and how to get started from the student perspective—reach out to a peer advocate who studied abroad in your region, shares your major/minor, or went on the program type you’d like to go on.
Select students from our drop-down menu to learn more.
Program Type: Faculty-Led
University: Butler Semester in Spain
Majors: Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, Spanish
Program Location: Alcalá, Spain
During Bella’s semester abroad, she was immersed in the Spanish language living with a host family and taking classes only in Spanish. Her favorite parts about her time abroad was traveling around Europe on the weekends, trying new foods, and making new friends!
Program Type: ISEP Exchange
University: Université de Franche-Comté
Majors: French, Psychology
Program Location: Besançon, France
Erin chose her program to get the full ~French experience~ meaning, a small town in the Jura mountains with little to none English speakers. She had studied and practiced French for almost 10 years and wanted to be fully immersed in French culture. And that she was! In fact, so immersed that she experienced two long months of protests and strikes — aka two months without class — something she didn’t quite plan for, but from what she gathered was very ~French.~ Nonetheless, she made the most of her experience, traveling to all kinds of fun places both by herself and with her friends & family, eating yummy French food, and trying out all kinds of new things! Even with a pretty tumultuous journey, she doesn’t regret her experience for a second.
Erin looks forward to having French stay in her life, whether it be working with the Alliance Francaise, a French company, or even mentoring in a French immersion school. There’s so many great opportunities!
Program Type: 3rd Party Provider (IFSA)
University: University of Canterbury
Major: Speech Language and Hearing Science
Program Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Studying abroad in New Zealand has been the highlight of Sarah’s college experience and created memories for her that will last a lifetime. Spending five months in New Zealand gave Sarah the opportunity to explore several different areas in the South Island and feel like she was a local living in Christchurch. The unique academic coursework at the University of Canterbury allowed her to take classes for her major while also participating in courses such as canoeing (which ended in a three-day field trip) and service-learning (with weekly volunteer experiences in the community). Sarah also was able to skydive, bungy jump, ski and snowboard, sea kayak, summit mountains, run a half marathon, and share small everyday moments with new pals that turned into lifelong friends. She experienced immense personal growth on this journey and would jump on a plane and return tomorrow if she could. For anyone considering studying abroad, she urges you to take the leap of faith and go on the trip; you absolutely will not regret it and will have the time of your life!
Next international experience Sarah is planning:
Sarah is currently applying to graduate school around the country for speech language pathology and hopes to earn a Fulbright Scholarship after earning her master’s degree to live abroad for another year! She would love to one day return to New Zealand and find a job in the South Island.
Program Type: 3rd Party Provider (IFSA)
Program: IFSA Barcelona
Major: Strategic Communication, Minor: Creative Writing
Program Location: Barcelona, Spain
The most transformative experience of her life occurred the moment she stepped off the plane in Barcelona. From the moment Kailey put herself out of her comfort zone, she was rewarded with personal growth and self-exploration. She felt so at home in Barcelona where the people have a fascinating history and unique position in the world’s most popular sport: soccer. From her apartment being two blocks from La Sagrada Familia to traveling throughout Europe with her friends, Kailey felt that her study abroad semester provided her with new perspectives and opportunities.
Next international experience Kailey is planning:
Traveling back to Barcelona with her Butler friends who were abroad with her, then going to Italy, France, and Croatia.
Program Type: Faculty-Led
University: Butler Semester in Spain
Majors: Economics, Spanish
Program Location: Alcalá, Spain
Josh had the incredible opportunity to study abroad through Butler’s faculty-led Semester in Spain program in the fall of 2022. Josh had known he wanted to go on this program since he first went to Butler, and the program didn’t disappoint. Josh had amazing experiences living with a host family and being immersed into Spanish culture. He was also fortunate enough to visit many different places throughout the semester, his favorite being Rome, Dublin, Barcelona and Paris. Josh is so thankful for all the experiences and memories he made abroad as the time he spent abroad has made him into the person he is today. Josh credits this experience to his love of traveling and trying new cuisines. This trip also sparked Josh’s passion for international education, which led him to start interning with the CGE office at Butler for Fall 2023!
Next international travel, study, or internship experience Josh is planning:
Interning for the CGE office at Butler!!
Program Type: Butler Exchange
University: Ritsumeikan University
Major: International Studies, Minors: Anthropology, Spanish
Program Location: Kyoto, Japan
Jade studied abroad in the spring semester of 2023 in Kyoto, Japan, and had an absolute blast! She got to experience new food and cities while making life-long friends she would have otherwise never gotten the opportunity to meet. She learned so many valuable lessons through school and through traveling on her own. This has been the most impactful experience on her education by far!
Program Type: 3rd Party Provider (SIT)
Program: SIT – Rainforest, Reef and Cultural Ecology
Majors: Environmental Studies, Biology
Program Location: Cairns, QLD, Australia
Ryan’s time abroad was extremely impactful for his personal and academic development. As it was his first experience traveling abroad, he learned how to be independent in a place about as far away from home as possible. Balancing academics and the exploration of a new country was an important part of the semester. While Ryan wanted to see as much of the area as he could, it was also one of his most academically educational semesters. The experientially focused SIT program helped him learn about the process of doing scientific research, which is now a field he hopes to continue with in his post-graduate career. Ryan hopes to continue traveling and wants to visit more countries with many rainforests such as Costa Rica or Thailand.
Program Types: Faculty-Led & Butler Exchange (x 2)
Programs: 1. GALA 2. Keele University 3. University College Cork
Major: History and Political Science, Minor: Spanish
Program Locations: 1. Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru 2. Keele, England 3. Cork, Ireland
Mira has studied abroad for 3 semesters across 5 different countries, and it has undoubtedly been the highlight of her time at Butler. Her time spent abroad has unlocked a passion for travel and cultural exploration she never knew she had and is now something she hopes to do professionally. After experiencing the highs and lows of studying abroad, she can safely say she wouldn’t change a thing about any of her adventures; in fact, she would go abroad more if she could! Mira is excited to be a Peer Advocate to share her experiences with other interested students and encourage them to take the plunge, because the memories they will create will be some of the best they ever have.
Next international experience Mira is planning:
Mira is hoping to take another trip abroad with friends in the winter and looking into the Peace Corps to hopefully make a difference in new communities.