Antônio Jorge Medeiros Batista Silva

At Dartmouth, over half of the student body will study abroad at least once, and some—like me—will even do it more than once! The opportunities are endless and include transfer terms, Language Study Abroad (LSA and LSA+ for more advanced classes), Foreign Study Programs (FSPs), exchanges, and internships or fellowships abroad. Both my programs were FSPs—meaning that I dedicated my time fully to classes within the organizing department— but many of my friends have been to either an LSA or an LSA+, where they were fully immersed in a city where their target language was spoken. Other opportunities, like exchanges and internships, are often organised independently by the student, who can then request funding through one of Dartmouth's many resources.

To be able to attend two FSPs, I had to think ahead of all my major and degree requirements. Would the classes I take abroad count towards my major? Would it fulfill any of my degree distributive requirements? It is easy to feel overwhelmed with the possibilities, but one has to be realistic when applying to an off-campus program, which is easy, since most of the time you can check what classes will be offered at your host institution, making planning much easier.

One of my fears of spending a term abroad was the financial uncertainty of not being able to work on campus—something I do every term I'm in Hanover. While my financial aid at Dartmouth is really generous, most of my pocket money comes from hours worked around here, either as a research assistant, a Spanish apprentice teacher, or as a blogger for the Admissions Office. Thankfully, however, my financial aid package has always been enough that, when transposed to the abroad programs, it would still offset most of my personal expenses, such as flights. So, in summary: take your expenses into account, but do not worry too much, as Dartmouth often has options to help you out!

Although traditional Greek life can be scary for 2SLGBTQIA+ students, I have never felt unsafe or unwelcomed at The Tabard, my house. On that note, it is worth mentioning that, differently from fraternities and sororities, The Tabard is a gender-inclusive house. That means that everyone is welcome to 'rush' – how we refer to the process of 'applying' for house membership. As a gay man, it is no surprise that most of my friends are queer, but some are also straight, cis boys and girls—and The Tabard is a space where all of us can live together.

Perhaps this is an idea I equivocally nurtured from watching too many college-life-themed movies on TV growing up, but either way, I always saw Greek Life as the closest thing students (especially those from far away) get to a second family. Sometimes, these are literally the people you live, eat, study, and work with. But, that is not always the case! Although we are all part of this house, you don't have to force more intimate relationships to grow if that's not what you want. We all come to these spaces with different expectations: some want to make friends, others just want a space to party at, and many other possibilities. When exploring the potentials of Greek Life, be honest with who you are, don't push yourself to pursue exactly what you think others are looking for—especially if your only reference is John Landi's 'Animal House'.

On that same note: throw away any expectations you have that are solely based on TV! Every house has its own charm, and offers its members a unique experience. Although TV often gets it right—portraying general traditions and organizational structures we do find at Dartmouth Greek houses – there's much more nuance to these spaces than shown on the screen. At the end of the day, your Greek experience will be exactly what you make of it – whether that means partying all night or having daily study sessions with siblings in your house library (something most of Dartmouth Greek houses have).