To everyone who has recently completed a study abroad approval form, HC Agnes Scott salutes you. Days of sleep deprivation, caffeine overloads, last-minute decision making, researching, scholarship essay writing, frantically searching for department heads, and late nights spent writing a personal statement that should have been written long ago will seem like a distant memory as the realization that you are actually going to study abroad sets in. Still deciding on SB? Read ahead.
To everyone who desires to study abroad in the future, here are some tips and tricks that will make your preliminary application process a little bit easier.
As soon as possible, consider the option of studying abroad.
Just think about it! Try not to wait until what I like to call “study abroad hell week” –the week that applications are due—to decide if you want to complete a semester/year/summer abroad. Start thinking about (and researching!) the advantages and disadvantages of a study abroad experience as soon as you can. Also, prep your parental figures about the prospect of you leaving the country for an extended amount of time. They tend to like that.
Start looking early.
As soon as you’ve convinced yourself that studying abroad is right for you, start looking at programs and schools that suit your interests. The most popular study abroad programs are ISEP and CIEE. Get familiar with them. The Office Of International Education (and related organizations) usually holds information sessions during each semester, during which they give out brochures advertising universities that are willing to host exchange students. Be on the lookout!
Do your research! Look at every aspect of your host institution.
Some universities may be hours away from a major city. Some universities only offer classes in a certain language that may or may not be English. Some universities only give course descriptions—you and your advisor/department head need those in order to know what you’ll be studying—upon request. Some universities only offer certain courses in the Spring and some in the Fall. Interdisciplinary? Unlike Agnes, some don’t allow cross-registration across departments. Some university programs only take students who have portfolios or who have studied at least 2 years in the major. These are things you need to know.
Make sure you have your major in check.
For some institutions abroad, a full load is three classes instead of ASC’s four. Be sure that this will not set you off track in completing your major. Speaking of majors, the deadlines may require you to (unofficially) choose your major sooner than you expected. You may have to adjust the classes you mean to take as part of your four-year-plan or take summer classes. In some cases, it’s okay as long as you plan for it!
Apply for scholarships
There are scholarships for Pell Grant recipients, scholarships for those wishing to study abroad in non-English speaking countries, and many more. Visit the Office Of International Education to learn more and you’ll get sent a list of scholarships to choose from. Bonus: if you’re lucky, the essay you will have to write in order to apply for the scholarship may be perfect to use as the essay that required for your study abroad application’s personal statement!
That’s all for now! The next step for those who have completed their approval forms for the 14/15 semester will be adhering to the deadlines specified by their chosen university and study abroad program, which should be posted on that specific program’s website.
Want more info?
ASC’s Office of International Education
http://www.agnesscott.edu/internationaleducation/
CIEE website
ISEP website