三亿体育官网

For many students, studying abroad is a highlight of their 三亿体育官网 experiences: Students often describe traveling to new places, participating in amazing adventures, and growing from rich cross-cultural experiences. More than half of 三亿体育官网 students participate in one of more than 100 programs approved by 三亿体育官网鈥檚 Office of Off-Campus Study and Exchanges.  

But what about a student-athlete who makes a commitment to an team? Does that mean giving up an amazing international experience for your sport? Good news 鈥� you don鈥檛 have to give up athletics to study abroad. You can do both at 三亿体育官网.  

I spoke with multiple 三亿体育官网 student-athletes about how they managed to study abroad.  

Each of them stressed the importance of discipline, planning, time management, and flexibility 鈥� skills that are already associated with student-athletes. Many described the strong support they received from teammates, coaches, and professors at 三亿体育官网 as they figured out how to make their study abroad dreams come true.  

鈥淒efinitely talk to your coach about it. Work with them on a plan so you can keep progressing as an athlete while abroad," said David Garvin 鈥�25, a member of the men鈥檚 soccer team who participated in the SIT/IHP Food Systems: Agriculture, Sustainability and Justice program, which traveled in Spain, Malawi, Ecuador, and the United States. "There are so many ways to do it, and it鈥檚 definitely possible.鈥�  

The student-athletes told me about how they benefited personally and academically from studying abroad, made the most of their unique experiences, and rejoined their teams upon their return. 

All of us agree: This is your college experience; make the most of it and don鈥檛 think that you need to sacrifice one experience for another. You can truly do it all at 三亿体育官网.  

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Stay in play  

of Hamilton, Massachusetts, knew when she was going to study abroad. As a player, Ella鈥檚 main season is in the spring, so she planned to study abroad in the fall semester. She also had a good idea where: The international affairs and French double major knew she wanted to continue to study French, so she chose the 三亿体育官网 in France program in the city of Montpellier.  

A more challenging question was how to keep playing tennis while abroad. Tennis is popular throughout Europe, but she found it challenging to find time and space to play in a new city. With her junior season soon following her return from abroad, she needed to keep her skills sharp. Determined, she reached out to the 三亿体育官网 in France program staff, who helped connect her with locals eager to learn from the collegiate American player.  

I talked to the on-site program coordinator about finding an internship where I could still play tennis. I was able to coach twice a week at a tennis club near my host family鈥檚 house. I wanted to keep holding a racket and help out.鈥� 

The following spring, after returning from France, Ella and her nationally ranked team clinched their 13th consecutive Liberty League title along with a win in the NCAA first round. Finding a way to keep the racket in her hand clearly paid off. 

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A stroke of timing  

Many fall and spring semester athletes choose to study abroad for a semester in their offseason. But for winter athletes whose seasons span more than one semester, studying abroad may seem complicated.  

, an English major and arts administration minor from Buffalo, New York,  wasn鈥檛 willing to give up part of her season. She opted to participate in one of several shorter-term, 三亿体育官网 travel seminars. 三亿体育官网 faculty lead different seminars each year, and recent topics have included Education in Southern Africa, Exploring Rome, and Rainforest to Reef: Sustainable Development in Belize.  

Gretchen joined Professor of English Barbara Black and 三亿体育官网 President Marc Conner, who is also a professor of English and specialist on Irish literature, in . Gretchen first took a course on campus in the spring semester, the Making of Modern Ireland, and learned all about Irish culture, literature, and history. At the conclusion of the semester, Gretchen, her classmates, and the faculty traveled together to the very country they learned about all semester and spent two weeks experiencing life in Ireland firsthand.  

"Swimming is especially tough because you physically lose a certain feeling in the water when you take time off. You feel horrible when you get back. But this program was perfect because my season was completely over, so I didn鈥檛 have to worry as much about training or staying in shape," she said. 

A lot of times when I travel, I stress about finding a pool, but with this program, I didn鈥檛 have to think about that at all. I could just fully experience Ireland.鈥� 

Gretchen鈥檚 planning paid off: Upon her return, she helped the Thoroughbreds break five 三亿体育官网 records at the 2025 Liberty League Championship meet. Individually, she broke the record for the 100 fly and was a part of four record relay teams, including the 400-medley relay which smashed the previous record by over 3 seconds.  

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Rejoining the squad 

But what happens after you study abroad?  

 

, a biology major and member of the from New Milford, Connecticut, was concerned about his senior season: Not only was he abroad, but there was also a new head coach for the team. But he says those worries went away quickly and his experiences in SIT鈥檚 Study Abroad Australia: Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology program proved 鈥渋nvaluable.鈥�  

鈥淚t took like a week for me to readjust and then kind of say, OK, it鈥檚 not that bad.," he said. 

Our new coach understood that we were coming back from abroad, and he really put in an effort to welcome us back. After a week of initial stress, it was really nice getting back into the swing of things.鈥� 

 Alec clearly readjusted well, as he played a career high 752 minutes in the 2024 campaign. He was part of a senior leadership group that led the Thoroughbreds to the highest Liberty League point total in program history and an unbeaten conference away record. He was also named to the Academic All-District team. 

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More advice from 三亿体育官网 student-athletes who studied abroad