Going Abroad? Tips From HC Northwestern Staff

Sight-seeing. Learning in an entirely new enviornment. Engaging with those who live halfway across the world from you. Realizing things about the world that you never would have known otherwise. There is no doubt that studying abroad is an exciting and surreal experience. Since I was in high school, I was confident that I would do everything I could to gain the opportunity to study abroad while in college. The other day as I sat down and reviewed  various study abroad programs, I found myself getting incredibly overwhelmed and confused about where to even begin! 

It might seem a bit early to start planning for those who want to go abroad next year, but getting a head start is key to figuring out what you want out of your abroad experience. Worry not about the process, I’ve chatted with two of our very own staff members for Her Campus Northwestern who are currently abroad. They were more than willing to give advice based on their own experiences. Here’s what they had to say about all of the essential things you need to know to turn the study abroad experience of your dreams into a reality!

Maya Voelk, junior, Journalism major

1. What abroad program are you under and where did you go abroad? I’m currently abroad in Paris, in the IPD (International Program Development) Critical Theory, Literature and Media program. 
2. What were the first steps you took for planning once you decided you wanted to go abroad? Studying abroad has been a lifelong dream for me, so I started visiting the Study Abroad office pretty early on. Maybe a little too early on. Like the beginning of spring, my freshman year. Before I even did that though, I sat down and figured out what my favorite programs were. That way when I went to the study abroad office they had something to work with. Having some direction to your plan before you step foot into the study abroad office can potentially remove a lot of extra steps (LITERALLY because the study abroad office is tragically inconvenient.). Then I worked with them to find my best program! The study abroad advisors were great at finding a program that was perfect for me, in this case an English speaking program in Paris, one of my favorite cities. That’s how I got directed to IPD. In general, plan ahead. You’re more likely to get a program that you want and it reduces your stress so much. 
3.  How did you know which credit would transfer over/did you meet with an adviser for this? I’m in an IPD program, which is a Northwestern program. That means i’m taking Northwestern classes that don’t require transferring, they just go on my record like a normal class. I also had a bit of wiggle room in terms of which the classes I needed to graduate by spring 2016. But like I said before, planning is everything. Everyone’s situation is different and picking a program requires thorough knowledge of your own personal academic situation.
4. What advice do you have for planning for the financial burden of study abroad? Some study abroad programs are more expensive than others, so you might want to take that into account when picking a program. Also, keep in mind what city you’re studying in. Like Prague is cheap to live in, London is astronomically expensive. And I really recommend people apply for scholarships. Think about it like this: you could work for 60 hours at $15 per hour and make less than $1,000. Or you could spend three hours on a scholarship application and gain $1,000 or more. Scholarships are hugely worth it and there are many specific to students studying abroad.  Finally, BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET before you leave. It’s easy to go crazy with spending when you first arrive, but knowing at least a rough estimate for how much you should be spending per day or week can help keep your spending in check. 
5.  What is one thing you wished you knew before you began your experience abroad? I wish I spent the summer learning more French! I commuted to my internship on the bus for 30 minutes every morning. I totally could have used that time to learn even just a few more phrases and that would have helped me so much, especially in the first few weeks. 
6. What has been one of your most memorable experiences so far? My most powerful memory was on the train from Paris to London.  We came out of the tunnel into the landscape of the UK and literally started to cry. The realization that I had the opportunity to travel from PARIS to LONDON for the WEEKEND with some of my best friends in the world just hit me like a tidal wave. I hate to pull the #blessed card but it was just an amazing moment when you realize how freaking cool life can be. Some of my best moments were just sitting on the Seine with my best friends and drinking wine. The best memories of study abroad come when you’re least expecting them. If I were to list some highlights though…Disneyland Paris, the Louvre (duh), pizza in Naples (ate an entire one all to myself), gelato in Italy (Italians just know how to eat right), and seeing Les Miserables on the West End in London.  
7. Any extra words you want to add about your experience? Studying abroad has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I would encourage anyone to do it. I live entirely differently in Paris than I do in the states. I feel like I have more time, less stress and an overall improved outlook on life. That being said, the lead up to it does require planning.  The more you plan ahead at the beginning, the more you will be able to be spontaneous when you arrive.

Liv Bahou, junior, Journalism major

1. What abroad program are you under and where did you go abroad? I’m studying abroad at Syracuse University in Florence.
2. What were the first steps you took for planning once you decided you wanted to go abroad? I knew before coming to Northwestern that I wanted to study abroad in Italy, and so I started taking Italian as a freshman at NU. As a sophomore, I had to decide between the programs within Italy that were affiliated with Northwestern. While I could have pursued a nonaffiliated program, I had a full plate between classes, extracurriculars, and applying for internships, and decided that the added work of applying to a nonaffiliated program (research, getting approval, transferring credit) wasn’t feasible in my schedule. I met with a study abroad advisor as well as the head of the Italian department who helped me decide which program was best for what I wanted in an abroad experience. I had a clear vision of where I wanted to go abroad, but for those who don’t, the Northwestern Study Abroad website is a great place to start. It has great information on each of the programs, and the study abroad advisors are really helpful and responsive to any questions you might have.
3.  How did you know which credit would transfer over/did you meet with an adviser for this? When I met with my study abroad advisor, we discussed the different ways that credit would transfer over for the different programs, which factored into my decision.
4.  What advice do you have for planning for the financial burden of study abroad? Plan which placesTh are the most important for you to visit, and make those trips the first ones you plan. Once you know how much money you’ll need to spend there, it will be easier to budget the rest of your money and see what else you can afford without breaking the bank.
5.  What is one thing you wished you knew before you began your experience abroad? I wish I knew how fast it would go! That sounds so cliché but I feel like I just got here and it’s already almost time to head back to the states. Make the most of your time for the very beginning, and remember that studying isn’t all that your study abroad experience is about. 
6. What has been one of your most memorable experiences so far? The most surreal experience being abroad is seeing a familiar face in an unfamiliar place. I met up with a few friends from Northwestern in Paris, and unknowingly walked into a bar filled with at least a dozen Northwestern students. It’s extremely comforting to realize that Northwestern really becomes your home away from home, even when you’re 5,000 miles away from school. 
7. Any extra words you want to add about your experience? Staying in a home stay was the best decision that I have made about my abroad experience. I have an amazing relationship with my host mom, a beautiful apartment, delicious cooking, and all the comforts of home. I think it’s the best way to learn the language and immerse yourself in the culture, as well as potentially form a bond that will stay with you for life. 

With that said study abroad truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If you’re feeling overhwlemed in the beginning of the planning stages, just keep in perspective all of the wonderful memories you will make when you finally take the plunge. And when in doubt, definitely turn to the advice from these collegiates to have the best abroad experience possible!