Study Abroad
Study abroad can be a transforming experience. At North Central, we encourage you to experience life in a culture beyond our national boundaries. The Office of International Programs offers over 50 programs from around the world, for all majors, and you will be carefully advised in the process of choosing the one that is best for you.
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Education Abroad 2013-2014 Brochure
Study Abroad Ambassadors 2012-2013
Heidi Brick
Major: Psychology
Minors: Sociology and Dance
MacQuarie University (Sydney, Australia)
"I once read the quote, " Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer." I couldn't have said it better myself. Many people claim money is what inhibits one from studying abroad, but seeing the world and creating indescribable experiences and memories, truly are the greatest outcomes. Australia was beyond anything I could ever imagine and I cannot wait to invest in experiences around the world."
Margaret (Meggie) Brophy
Majors: Psychology and Spanish
NCC in Costa Rica (San Jose & Quepos, Costa Rica)
"I was such a home-body before I studied abroad. being on my own, exploring in a new country and culture forced me to break from my comfort zone but also encouraged me to try adventurous things I would have never tried before. Costa Rica was beautiful, but more than make me fall in love with it, this experience definitley planted the travel bug in me."
Erin Burneson
Majors: Global Studies and Developing States
United States International University (Nairobi, Kenya)
“I went to Kenya with the hopes of determining whether or not I could see myself living there or in a developing country when I graduate. I remember the first few days I was so nervous and wondered what I had gotten myself into. But by the end of my stay I considered United States International University my home. I grew closer to my friends in Kenya thank I ever would have expected. My friends knew how to cheer me up when I was sad, knew what I would order at most restaurants, and how to make me laugh for hours. I still talk to many of these friends weekly and we still joke around, even though we are on opposite sides of the world. Studying abroad was no doubt a life-changing experience that confirmed what I want to do with my life, and taught me a whole lot about myself.”
Samantha DeWerff
Major: Biochemistry
University of Leicester (Leicester, England)
"Having never been out of the country I had no idea what to expect when I stepped out of the plane. There was no way I could have prepared for the wonderful friends I met, the beautiful scenery, or the valuable experience I gained researching at one of the greatest research schools in the world. The thing that I expected least of all was the wealth of knowledge that I learned about me and how that has changed my future."
Brianna Drum
Major: English Literature
Minor: IMS
NCC in England (Canterbuy, England)
"The Most gratifying aspect of studying abroad is that I opened myself up not only to a new culture, but also to a whole world of people that I would have never met otherwise. I now have some of my closest friends in various parts of the world. No matter where we are physically, we all have an incredible shared bond of experiences and memories that are excusively ours."
Mark Gannon
Majors: Management, Marketing and Economics
MacQuarie University (Sydney, Australia)
"One of the most unusual, yet gratifying experiences about being abroad is that you represent the ENTIRE United States of America. You get thousands of questions about what it’s like living in the States because people are fascinated about our country’s history and culture worldwide. While overseas, I was enrolled in Consumer Behavior to fulfill a business requirement at NCC. One of the chapters featured a section about the 11 core American values. Because I was the only American in my lecture of more than 100 students, I instantly became the foremost authority on this subject with my professor and peers. In fact, I got to talk about each core value in context with American culture. When we had a pop quiz on the American core values the following class session, my professor didn’t even let me take the quiz because she called me an expert."
Madelyn (Maddie) Higdon
Majors: East Asian Studies, Global Studies and Japanese
Minor: Chinese
Aoyama University (Tokyo, Japan)
"It has always been my dream to go to Japan, ever since I was a little girl. Finally, through North Central College, I was able to study in the middle of Tokyo, one of the biggest cities in the world. I got to do so many amazing things while I was abroad that I know will never forget. One week I would get to experience fashion week in Harajuku, while the next I would be climbing Miyajima mountain in Hiroshima. In addition to these, I even made connections with some extremely influential people such as the former editor of Japan vogue, and the CEO of an anime publishing company! These experiences I had and the friends I made will stay with me forever."
DeAnne Lavrack
Majors: Biochemistry & Spanish
Universidad Pablo de Olavide (Seville, Spain)
"Studying abroad truly changed my life and my oulook on so many things. It not only allowed me to make new life long friends, but it allowed me to to really learn about another culture and in turn, I view American culture differently. It made me appreciate things more and become a more open-minded person. I fell in love with Sevilla and cannot wait to return."
Kevin Murphy
Majors: IMS and Graphic Arts
Minor:Wellness
NCC in Costa Rica (San Jose & Quepos, Costa Rica)
"I studied abroad in Costa Rica during the fall of 2011. We arrived in San Jose, the capital city, before heading to the town of Quepos where we would spend the first half of our semester. After one night in San Jose we took a bus bus through the mountains and along the Pacific coast to reach Quepos. Along the way we all saw something that took us by surprise. As we were crossing a long bridge, that connected two mountains, we saw a band playing music on a train bridge parallel to us. It was an interesting sight and we were not quite sure what to make of it, as this was only our second day in a foreign country. Time passed and we forgot all about the strange sight we saw on the bridge that day, until we met a local named Pablo. He had been in town for the weekend to play beach volleyball with his freinds. Pablo knew English very well because he had studied abroad in the United States, therefore it was easy to converse with him. After getting to know him, we came to find out that he had recently starred in a music video for the song "Sabes Bien" by Entrelineas. This just happened to be the same music video we saw being filmed on the bridge when we first arrived in Costa Rica.