Baylor University Launches First-Year Abroad Option for Incoming Students
Collaboration with Verto Education offers students a unique freshman experience while supporting academic progress toward graduation
Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-709-5959
Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia
WACO, Texas (May 10, 2021) – Baylor University today announced a new alternative to the traditional, on-campus freshman year, which offers incoming students a unique cross-cultural educational experience abroad while still earning credits and transfer admission to Baylor. The program was developed in partnership with Verto Education, which collaborates with a growing consortium of the nation’s leading universities to provide experiential education that doesn’t derail or delay the four-year college path.
“This is a program for students who think big and are looking for a powerful, adventurous and interactive first-year experience that includes aspects of service and volunteerism,” said Mary Herridge, senior director of undergraduate admissions at Baylor. “These students will arrive on campus to begin their second semester or second year with an experience that sets them up for success and enables them to become leaders on campus and beyond.”
Students who participate in the first-year program will earn 12 to 30 credits that transfer seamlessly to Baylor. The program’s coursework is structured around small class sizes and designed to foster cultural immersion. Students can choose, for example, to study international business in London, Spanish language in Madrid, environmental science in Costa Rica and cultural anthropology in Fiji.
“After a year of such turmoil, we are proud to offer the Class of 2021 a unique opportunity that cultivates personal growth through small class sizes and dedicated faculty,” said Mitch Gordon, president and co-founder of Verto Education. “By partnering with Baylor University, we are able to offer educational opportunities to students that align with their desires to have a transformative freshman experience that will build and develop valuable skills for life.”
Students who are interested in spending their freshman year abroad should apply directly to Verto Education and select Baylor University as the partner college for admission.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 19,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
ABOUT VERTO EDUCATION
Verto Education helps students discover themselves and the world around them by making education abroad a foundational and accessible part of a four-year college plan. With Verto, students can begin college with world-class academics in destinations like Fiji, Spain, and Costa Rica-- while gaining direct admission to Verto’s over 60 partner colleges, earning transferable college credits, and staying on track to graduate. Verto students walk away with much more than incredible memories and transferable credits; they gain the confidence, self-awareness, and global perspective needed to thrive in college and in life. Connect with us at vertoeducation.org