Study Abroad: Why Choose EdOdyssey?
Thinking about shaking up your routine—in the best possible way—with a semester abroad?
With EdOdyssey leading the way, you’ll find yourself on an adventure you’ll never forget. It won’t be a race to collect passport stamps or tick off a bucket list; this is a different sort of travel: exciting, but also intentional and transformative.
The name gives us away; we look at study abroad as an odyssey—a journey that’s all about personal and professional growth, making authentic connections with the local community and culture a priority, and the beginning of a deeper understanding of a world in which we are more globally connected than ever before.
Of course, there will also be plenty of those postcard-worthy views to snap, tons of opportunities for b-roll footage to help you reminisce about the little things years from now, and, no doubt, a handful of funny bloopers that keep it real along the way too.
5 Reasons to Study Abroad with EdOdyssey
EXPERIENCES THAT WILL SHAPE YOU. Study abroad means studying, and your academic work with our incredible university partners is an important aspect of your program…but it’s not everything. Study abroad is also a life experience. All of our programs include meaningful, hands-on learning and volunteer opportunities. You’ll also enjoy some excursions to see different areas of your host country. You’ll make new friends and connections from across the globe. You’ll have space to explore your identity and envision your future, expand your physical world, and open your mind to different ways of living. You’ll make the sort of memories that stick with you long after your return flight has landed and you’ve unpacked your bags.
DEEP CONNECTIONS TO THE LOCAL CULTURE. All EdOdyssey programs are guided by authenticity and connection. We work in just a few countries that we call home, places where we’ve built valuable relationships with our communities. You will meet with and learn from them—about their values, their traditional crafts, their languages, how to cook with local ingredients, what it means to be a part of their culture, how their lifestyle differs from your own, and so much more. You may even have the privilege of living with local hosts, sharing stories over home-cooked meals around their dining tables, and heading home with what many of our alumni consider to be a second family.
A SUPPORTIVE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN IN YOUR SHOES. At EdOdyssey, we’ve all studied abroad. Some of us have also lived and worked abroad after university; some of us in multiple locations. We understand firsthand what makes a great program, the importance of the mix of independence and a supportive environment. We’ve all been through homesickness, culture shock, and the challenges that come with navigating life somewhere completely unfamiliar. We’ve been through the thrill of travel, the excitement, the joy, the impression of being part of something bigger than ourselves. We also understand the strange feeling of reverse culture shock, how it feels to come home again to a world so unchanged after something so immensely life-changing, and the reintegration too. And so, it is our mission to support you every step of the way, from pre-departure to homecoming, and be a shoulder to lean on whenever needed in between.
IMMERSIVE, OPEN-MINDED, CURIOSITY-LED TRAVEL. One of our company values is “kindness.” It’s important to us to be good to each other, our students, and our world. We have a deep respect for the cultures in which we are guests. When we travel, we are all in; we want to fully experience life as it is lived locally. We encourage you to approach study abroad with an open mind and a sense of curiosity, to welcome differences in opinions, ways of living that are unfamiliar, and people who you might not fully understand. Ask questions. Start conversations. Have experiences you’ve never had before. Then take time—at the end of each day, and at the end of your program—to reflect on what you observed, what you learned, and, ultimately, what you’ve taken away. We love to watch our students transform from the beginning of a program through to the end and we are continuously learning alongside you.
ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS. Accessibility and inclusivity are important to us. We offer competitive and more inclusive program fees, plus guaranteed financial aid along with merit-based scholarships. There’s even an opportunity to earn gift cards for sharing photos and videos with us for Instagram while abroad and as an alum. We welcome students of all identities and we’re proud to help more students be able to afford to study abroad.
On board for the adventure of a lifetime?
Getting started is simple! Just fill out a quick form (linked below) to express your interest. One of our friendly advisors will reach out and guide you step-by-step through the specific requirements for the program that interests you. We’ll also answer any questions that come up for you—now or along the way.
We appreciate that you have a lot of options, but you won’t regret choosing EdOdyssey!
“Completing a study abroad program in Peru has been one of the most transformative and meaningful experiences of my life. Having a program like EdOdyssey to provide orientation to the region, Spanish language classes, homestay families, excursions around Peru and supportive staff to guide us along our journeys and experiences in Peru made a huge difference and allowed us to understand Peru in a significant way and get to know many people who are local to Lima and other places in Peru.” - Mattie C., EdOdyssey Peru Alumna
