Study Abroad Office rightfully investigated

In light of the investigation into the Northwestern Study Abroad Office’s potential conflict of interest with its affiliated programs, I almost hope that the New York attorney general’s office reveals the incompetence that I experienced in dealing with the Study Abroad Office to be a case of bureaucratic boorishness. At least then there would be an excuse.

I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain, in fall of 2006, and had a wonderful, perspective-broadening, sangria-bathed semester. Anyone who studied abroad will likely agree that it was one of their best experiences, and anyone who didn’t has probably heard far too much about that one discoteca, that one crepe with nutella et banane, or that one cute Peruvian llama.

Point is, study abroad is great, but the Study Abroad Office failed to follow through with its supposed services and took my money while doing it.

In addition to normal NU-priced tuition, the Study Abroad Office tacked on a couple thousand dollars for some processing fee. When an NU representative came to visit Sevilla, I wondered where my money had gone.

Much of the NU application process was unnecessary. The program application was enough. In place of university application paperwork and signatures, a better approach would be for the Abroad Office to focus on educating students about opportunities in their respective countries and creating more program options.

When, in the middle of the lengthy class registration period, the Abroad Office sent information on required classes contrary to previously conveyed requirements, students on our program finally said “no.”

While I encourage all NU students to study abroad, I hope that the university will make some changes to eliminate the unnecessary costs and protocol conjured up by the Study Abroad Office, so that other students can go abroad sans complications.

Salud, Tchin-tchin and God Bless America!

– Joe KnelmanWeinberg senior