Sean Dooley ’28
Staff Writer
On Monday, Sept. 8, the College of the Holy Cross held its Study Abroad Exposition in the Hogan Ballroom. The event featured tables from every one of Holy Cross’ diverse study abroad programs for the 2026-2027 academic year. During the exposition, students were encouraged to browse the ballroom, inquire about the programs that interested them, and sign up with their email addresses to receive further information. The event was packed with students excited to learn more about what the Holy Cross Office of Study Abroad has to offer!
Holy Cross students are given the opportunity to study abroad in Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East, and can choose between various programs of different lengths. For example, students have the option of studying abroad for a Maymester, which usually begins in mid-May and lasts about four to six weeks. The Maymester is the perfect opportunity for students who are interested in studying abroad but are unable to miss a semester on campus. The Maymester seems to be particularly popular among student athletes. For those interested in spending a longer period of time abroad, Holy Cross offers full semester and full year programs. These programs are designed to challenge students, pushing them towards new academic and cultural experiences. Students will have to learn the quirks of a new country, and oftentimes communicate in a foreign language. Although this may seem intimidating at first, these difficulties make for an incredibly rewarding experience.
After the event, I was able to sit down and chat with Chris Maratea ‘28, who attended the exposition. “I guess for me I was immediately struck by the sheer size and range of opportunities at the expo,” said Chris. “I came in with only one or two programs in mind, Africa and Australia, and I thought I would be in and out within 15 minutes. But after talking to the one table, they actually recommended other programs that focused on similar things, and one program led to about five or six new programs and research opportunities that I had no idea even existed.” Chris is an Environmental Studies and Music double major here at Holy Cross and is focused primarily on biodiversity, conservation, and ecology research. Different study abroad programs tailor towards different majors and intellectual interests. However, for each major, there are a variety of programs to choose from. “By the end I found myself looking at countries and programs that I had never even imagined to have the opportunity to go to.”
This year’s Study Abroad Exposition was a profound success. I encourage all Holy Cross students to spend some time researching the study abroad programs that the college offers. Whether or not it is for you, I guarantee that it is worth looking into. The deadline to apply to study abroad during the 2026-2027 academic year is coming up, so make sure to get started on your application as soon as possible!
Featured images courtesy of Holy Cross Office of Study Abroad
Copy Edited by Molly Croft ’29
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