The college environment is revered as one of the most powerful experiences in a person’s life. The events that take place during a students’ college years will shape the way they live and react in the future.

Universities are well prepared to offer students the resources they need to advance their intellectual minds and expand their personal growth. One of these resources is the study abroad program.

But with the recent announcement of a new study abroad program at Cerritos College, the question becomes: is this program really necessary for community college students?

Studying abroad can teach a student a number of lifelong skills, such as intercultural development, internship attainment, and academic commitment.

Although the opportunity to study abroad can be a rewarding and exciting experience, going out of the country on your own requires a certain amount of maturity and drive.

This is essential to focusing on schoolwork while overseas and not getting caught up sightseeing and enjoying the spoils of another country.

Some students at the community college level may not be ready to handle the responsibility it takes to stay focused, especially when they haven’t started working on courses essential to their specific major.

Students in community colleges should be focused on completing their general education and transferring out to a four-year school.

A study abroad program would only serve at a distraction to those in community colleges who are working on their general education classes.

Although most students have already decided on a major, according to www.flcc.edu, 25-50% of students entering college are undecided.

A study abroad program is a great program which should only be offered to those in universities who are well on their way to a degree, not for those students who have yet to decide on a major or have not finished their general education.

There is also the question of pertinence.

What is the relevance of studying algebra in Italy? What do students have to gain from studying sociology in France?

Students may not be able to reap the benefits of studying in a foreign country if they are still taking general education courses.

Studying in a foreign country can be beneficial once students have started working on the core courses of their major, such as linguistics or history.

Funding is a problem as well.

With recent budget cuts limiting the amount of classes offered at Cerritos College and nearly wiping out the summer school program, this may not be the smartest addition to our college’s programs.

We should not have to supplement the thousands of dollars in expenses for students  to study in other countries when we are cutting courses left and right on our own campus.

The study abroad program should only be offered at the university level as an incentive for student’s who have already completed their first leg of schooling.

Studying abroad should be something students can look forward to when transferring to a four-year school.