For the first time in its history, the Study Abroad Center will host “Enter the Global Marketplace,” a winter study abroad fair. Wednesday’s fair is designed to be more convenient for students who need help to plan to study abroad.

Rachel Faber Machacha, coordinator for the fair, said now that break is over, students are thinking more about the summer .

“We found that a lot of times in September, kids aren’t thinking of what they want to do in the summer,” she said.

The fair will be smaller than the fall version and focus on ISU study abroad programs only, said Faber Machacha, who is also a Daily columnist.

With more than 80 programs represented at the fair, ISU students will have a variety of countries to pick from, Faber Machacha said.

Students who think studying abroad is too expensive should come to the fair to talk to some of the representatives, she said.

Most of the programs offer financial aid paying up to 90 percent of tuition and they want to include all students in the benefits that studying abroad can offer, Faber Machacha said.

This year, an increasing number of students are taking the opportunity to study abroad, said Trevor Nelson, director of Study Abroad.

This is a record number for Iowa State, he said.

“More students are realizing study abroad is affordable and a great way to enhance your r‚sum‚,” Nelson said.

Kelly Moore, senior in communication studies, studied abroad in Wales. “I got a new perspective and learned a lot of life lessons,” she said.

The Study Abroad Fair will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union.