The Education Abroad program will have a general information meeting today at 3 p.m. in room 110 Physical Sciences Center.

Some students are apprehensive about studying abroad, but the meeting is designed to better inform them of the possibilities overseas, according to the Education Abroad office.

"Many students don't explore study abroad because they and their parents assume that studying abroad is too expensive," said Karen Elmore, study abroad adviser.

She said financial security is not usually a problem because many countries have lower daily living costs than Norman.

"Students should ask, not assume," Elmore said.

OU offers Presidential International Fellowships based on a student's financial need, said Elmore. The fellowship applications are due with the study abroad applications.

March 4 is the deadline for the fall semester and depending on the program, summer abroad applications are due anywhere from March 1 to April 1, according to the Education Abroad office.

"I think what keeps some people from studying abroad is because they are worried about a completely different experience and a new language," said Sarah Kroll, a biochemistry junior who studied in Peru last semester. "To be honest, at first it is a little scary."

However, Kroll said she felt it was well worth her semester as she learned to value a different culture.

Students have a variety of choices when it comes to foreign language requirements, according to the Education Abroad office. For those who do not speak a second language, many places overseas offer classes taught in English.

Also, some universities teach beginning language courses designed for non-native speakers. However, students who have studied two years of a language at college level or the equivalent can take courses spoken in a foreign language.

Elmore said the Education Abroad office works with students as much as possible to make sure the foreign university's credits transfer to OU.

"Most often they take classes that count for degree credits, whether it's actually in their major or fulfilling other degree requirements," she said.

Kroll said she felt as prepared as possible.

"They make sure you do research on the history and culture of that country," she said. "Also, as part of the application, you talk to someone who is from the country you're going to, or has studied abroad there already."

As the first step in exploring the study abroad program, a student is required to attend either an Education Abroad general information meeting, or the study abroad information fair.

Then students have to make an appointment with a study abroad adviser. Part of the application process includes two letters of recommendation from professors, an interview with the Education Abroad panel and a minumum of a 2.5 grade point average.

The Education Abroad program will also have an information fair on Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom of Oklahoma Memorial Union.

The fair will have extensive information on 35 countries and representatives who have studied abroad or who are from these countries to answer student questions, said Katie Kruse, an Education Abroad student assistant.

For more information, call the Education Abroad office at 325-1607.

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