Learning objectives

Independent Study
Independent-study courses may be less common than other course formats. They allow you to pursue special interests not met in your formal curriculum and often involve working closely with a particular faculty person or adviser. Independent studies usually involve significant reading and writing and often end in a research project or paper. Your special, perhaps unique area of interest will be studied thoroughly.
Tip: To succeed in an independent-study course, be prepared to work independently but cooperatively with an adviser or faculty member. Adopt high standards for your work, as you can plan for the possibility that your project or culminating research will be of interest to a prospective employer. Assume full responsibility for your learning outcomes, and be sure to pick a topic that deeply interests you.
Study Abroad
Study-abroad courses and programs give students opportunities to learn certain subjects in a country other than their own. For most U.S. students, a typical time frame for studying abroad is one or two academic terms. For many students, study-abroad experiences are life changing.
Tip: To succeed in studying abroad, it may be most important to communicate openly before, during, and after your experience. Learn as much about the culture in advance as possible. Keep up with studies, but take advantage of opportunities to socialize. Use social networking to connect with others who have traveled where you plan to go.
The following video is one student’s account of why and how traveling abroad changed his life. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpTUjHTiQv8&t=18s

Transcript for "Why You Should Study Abroad" by AvgJoeGoesPro https://youtu.be/qpTUjHTiQv8
I’d like to tell a story. It’s the story of a 20-year-old, but in a way, it’s the story of any 20-year-old. Any 20-year-old who’s never lived outside the United States. Any 20-year-old who knows nothing but middle-class suburbia. Now take that 20-year-old and throw him in the middle of a new city, in the middle of a new country, that speaks a language he’s never even heard before. Show him the view from his new bedroom. Show him real life in a real city with real problems.
Force him to make entirely new friends, to learn an entirely new culture, and to rebuild his life from scratch. At times make him feel small, and at times make him feel like he’s on top of the world. Take him to the bleeding edge of his comfort zone, and toss him into the void. And then it’s simple. You sit back and watch.
[1:00–2:12 music]
So what now do you have? You have a 20-year-old who’s not afraid to be alone. He’s not afraid to get lost, and he knows how to find his way. He has a new perspective on life, and appreciation for home. Most importantly however, studying abroad reminds an individual of something I think we forget all too often, and that is the very simple fact that you and you alone are the ruler of your fate. You put each foot in front of the other, you make every decision, and you make every new connection. It is never too late to live the life you want to live. It is never too late to be the person you want to be. And once you realize this, all the barriers in your life fall away, and you know that anything is possible.
[2:56–4:47 music]
My name is Max, and I’m 20 years old. One of the hardest things that I have to explain is that I am not who I was before. Before, I had dreams and aspirations, and I let the silly words of this world convince me I have nothing. Now I have dreams and aspirations, and I know that nothing can stop me.