National Student Exchange offers affordable abroad alternative

BY ALYSSA SCHULTZ: Staff Reporter

When studying abroad isn’t an option, Central students have another choice. The National Student Exchange (NSE) program is an affordable option that gives students the chance to experience something different.

The NSE program specializes in sending college students across the country with over 200 universities to choose from. Students can also exchange outside of the continental United States to Canada, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

“It is a unique challenge for students,” said Ray Bates, NSE coordinator. “It allows them to try something new. Maybe take courses that we don’t offer here at Central.”

NSE is a unique program because students pay either in-state tuition at Central or in-state tuition at their exchange university, depending on the school chosen. Because students are able to use most forms of financial aid, NSE is a more affordable option apart from studying abroad.

“[Studying abroad] is such a culture shock and it’s scary,” said Maggie Sniadach, senior advertising and public relations major. “I think it’s more scary than coming here [or] to another state because then you have the comfort of the U.S.”

Maggie Sniadach is from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, but has been at Central since September. She is on exchange for a full year.

This year, a total of four Central students are currently on exchange to Tennessee, New York, Nevada and Maryland. The most common destinations for Central students are California, Hawaii and New England.

Although next year’s numbers are expected to be around 12 to 15 students, a great improvement from previous years, the study abroad and exchange programs department is hoping for at least 20 students per year, according to Bates.

“I think [exchanging] is a useful skill while you’re in college,” Bates said. “To learn to do more things on your own, to become a little bit more independent, to try new things, but also to encounter and learn how to deal with new challenges.”

According to Sniadach, Central is about the same size as her home university, but the class atmosphere is not as harsh and Central’s teachers are not as strict.

“I love [Ellensburg], it’s fun,” Sniadach said. “It’s just a fun little college town, the classes are good [and] I like my teachers a lot.”

Amanda Laudenbach, junior economics major from the University of Minnesota, is also currently at Central for a year-long exchange through NSE.

“It’s a really good program and it’s worth the time to do it,” Laudenbach said. “I definitely think I am improving and expanding my resume by being out here. It shows that I can be in a different environment than just Minnesota.”

Coming from a school of 40,000 students and a campus that has its own zip code, Laudenbach has had to adjust to the big change of Ellensburg.

“I think you should see your country and know it pretty well before you go and try to venture around somewhere else,” Laudenbach said. “Putting yourself in a different environment is just as huge as going somewhere abroad.”

If a student’s major is too strict to allow a study abroad experience, NSE can be a more flexible alternative. Students may exchange anywhere from a single quarter to a full year and non-resident and international students can exchange across the U.S. as well.

Currently, Central is hosting seven students from other states: two from California, two from Wisconsin, one from Florida and two from Minnesota.

“I think if you make a connection with your new friends and your new environment, that could make [the exchange] a lot easier,” Laudenbach said.

Despite feelings of homesickness, both Sniadach and Laudenbach believe that a national exchange is worth the experience. Although most students do their national exchange as sophomores or juniors, freshmen and seniors are just as welcome.

“I think it makes you grow up a little bit in [a] sense, it puts you out of your comfort zone and makes you meet new people. It builds your confidence,” Sniadach said. “It’s a good opportunity that everyone should know about at least.”

The application deadline for an NSE exchange next year is Feb. 19.

For more information contact Ray Bates at batesr@cwu.edu or visit the NSE website at www.nse.org.