Marist Abroad Fair Gives Insight Into Potential International Opportunities
Former abroad students share experiences with prospective applicants.
Photo by Zach Labus '28
The Marist University Abroad Fair took place on Oct. 7 in the River Rooms and was open to all students interested in the university’s international opportunities. From a spring attachment in Japan to a full semester in Florence, representatives from Marist’s many different programs were present to answer any questions that students had.
Hosted by the Office of International Programs, the event saw over 550 students across all grades and disciplines. Those who attended the fair were able to talk to both the professors who are in charge of the different programs as well as students who have participated in them, as they begin to make one of the defining choices of their Marist careers.
Booths filled with infographics, maps and pictures all lined the room, allowing students to immerse themselves in the different programs and gain a clearer understanding of what a day in the life would look like while abroad.
“The abroad fair is such a great way to learn about all of the different programs that are offered,” said Tyler Catalano ‘28. “I went to Florence last semester but now I’m here to learn about the new attachment programs since they’re always changing.”
The attachment programs are semester-long classes that feature faculty-led trips to other countries during either spring break or at the end of the course.
Spring 2027 options include political science in Greece, communications in Portugal, environmental science in the Caribbean and Travel Journalism in Japan. These classes are often an attractive choice due to their ease of scheduling and availability for all majors.
“I really enjoyed the opportunity to explore other communities outside of the U.S. and compare ecological systems,” said Egan Levine ‘28, who completed an environmental science attachment course in Iceland. “By taking the course I was able to still go abroad, but be on campus during the semester.”
Since having participated in at least one of these programs is commonplace among Marist students, the future opportunities that may arise are often overlooked.
“Studying abroad also looks really great on a resume,” said Marist Abroad Coordinator Caitlin Paul. “About 50% of Marist students go abroad but only about 10% of the American undergraduate population does, so this is something that really does help you stand out.”
Besides the unique professional experience, Paul also noted that one of the major draws of studying abroad is the unique classes that are available, particularly in Florence.
“If you are not a scientifically minded student, then you can fill your science credits by taking a cooking class in Florence,” said Paul. “It fills the requirement and everything counts towards your Marist degree.”
The Florence semester abroad program is the most popular choice among students due to its accessibility among all disciplines along with the size of the partner university, ideal location and cost efficiency.
Attending the abroad fair was an essential starting point for those who were drawn to Marist by its esteemed international opportunities.
Those who are interested in any of the programs offered are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the abroad office to gain more information.