More St. Thomas students are studying abroad this semester. St. Thomas students are taking classes in 22 countries, England and Italy are the two most popular.

Sarah Huesing, a study abroad adviser in International Education, said the number of students studying abroad has experienced a slight increase compared to last fall.

But that’s not always the case. The number of students studying abroad last January and last spring were down compared to the previous year.

“Fluctuation occurs for a number of reasons,” Huesing said.

Since J-term courses change yearly, the courses offered the previous year might have been more attractive compared to this year, Huesing said.

“Finances are always a concern, and perhaps the economy played some role in students’ decision,” she added.

Junior Hannah Peterson said one of the reasons she is not studying abroad is the cost. She believes that it can be expensive, and she depends on her on-campus jobs.

“I enjoy being an apartment coordinator and operations manager,” Peterson said.”Those jobs obviously require me to stay here on-campus,”

More than one thousand St. Thomas students study in foreign countries each year. Students return with college credit, and sometimes an altered outlook on the world.

“It was one of the best things I’ve done in my life,” junior Jessica Wilson said.

Wilson spent last J-term in Sevilla, Spain, and she encourages students to “go and experience different cultures.”

Senior Laura Carlson had positive feelings about going abroad as well. She said the experience was “eye-opening, especially to be able to compare how different cultures can be and to integrate that with your own views on America.”

Carlson took Management 480 in Ireland and London because she heard great things about the program from friends, and it fit into her schedule well.

Both Wilson and Carlson agree that expenses are students’ primary concern when deciding whether or not to go abroad. However, Huesing said most program fees are comparable to tuition, room and board at St. Thomas.

“As long as a student works with the study abroad office, their financial aid can be applied to the program fee for semester and year-long programs,” Huesing said.

Wilson’s advice to students who are considering going abroad is to pay a visit to the International Education Center, which offers many programs, and scholarships are also available.

Geena Maharaj can be reached at maha8007@stthomas.edu.