Why do Dukes choose to study abroad during the summer? 

The answer is simple. Whether they stay in the states or travel thousands of miles away, many students feel that “Maymesters” — shorter study-abroad experiences that begin in May and end in June or July — are a good alternative to missing out on their Madison Experience during the traditional academic year.

For senior Biology major Daisy Anderson, participating in a Maymester trip, Spain Sociology: Barcelona and Seville, a Tale of Two Spanish Cities, was a no-brainer. 

“I had heard my friends' stories about their semester-long study abroad, and I knew I wanted a similar experience without having to miss a whole semester of classes for my major,” Anderson said. “So I knew a Maymester was the best option for me.”

Media Arts and Design major Nishka Jarral said of the summer internship-based SMAD trip to London, England, “I had always wanted to study abroad ... [and] a Maymester allowed me to get this experience.” 

Summer study-abroad programs deliver the same lasting impact as semester-long trips, helping shape students’ futures.

Senior Psychology major Matthew Gehley spent the last month in the Germany and Poland: Psychology of the Holocaust program. 

“Visiting places where many had once perished is certainly well outside my comfort zone,” he said, “but I’m honestly really appreciative of the pushing of my boundaries. It really led me to be open with others in a very unique way, as well as widening my knowledge on how to cope with the atrocities that many have faced.”

Gehley said the program also opened his eyes to the possibility of moving abroad post-graduation. 

“Getting to experience a completely different culture has really inspired me to look into future opportunities abroad, whether that be graduate school or moving post-grad,” he said. “I’ve always felt called to help create a safe environment for those I care about, and the increased knowledge on the Jewish background and religion will greatly help me with future therapeutic clients. It’s also pushed me to take more action in the helping of others. Hope goes nowhere without action.”

Anderson’s goals have also shifted because of her education abroad this summer. 

“I loved Spain so much and would love to return someday to work there,” she said, adding that the trip allowed for personal growth. “I used a lot of my experiences outside of the classroom to help make the most of the experience, like just saying yes to any opportunity that came my way.”

Jarral said JMU set her up for success while abroad. In addition to finding the university’s orientation sessions “extremely helpful,” she discovered that the hands-on learning from her position as a social media intern for Zoe Clews and Associates, a hypnotherapy service based in London, is preparing her for her future professional goals.

While thriving in the academic and professional aspects of the trip, Jarral is simultaneously thriving in the cultural immersion of life in London. 

“I came into this program not knowing anyone and having never been to the U.K., so not only did I get to adapt to life in a new environment, I also get to experience a sense of the local life by taking classes that are more interactive, which I prefer.”

Dr. Talé Mitchell, associate professor of media arts and design and director of JMU in LA: The Entertainment Industry, has been taking students to Los Angeles, California, for five years. Mitchell said the impacts of studying abroad can translate to students without their having to leave the country. 

“Programs like this allow them to be in different environments and to immerse themselves in new cultures and experiences right here in the states,” she said.

Mitchell said the JMU in L.A. program, which includes an internship component, also positively impacts her.

“The most rewarding part of my role is building meaningful relationships with students that cannot be duplicated in the classroom,” she said. “Also, seeing the students’ excitement as they experience a world they have only seen in the movies and on TV. Most of all, hearing students say this was the best experience of their academic career at JMU and knowing I was a part of that experience means the world to me.”