This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Fordham chapter.
So, you’ve decided you want to study abroad! This might be one of the most exciting times in your college career. You are going to a new country to explore, and you’ll be away from home in the real world. Now that you’ve decided to apply you’ve got some things that you’ll need to prepare.
- Finish that application! Work diligently on your study abroad application and do not wait until the last minute. At Fordham, certain programs have rolling admissions so the sooner you get your application in, the better chance you have of being accepted!
- You need the right documentation! Do not fall into the trap of procrastination because the U.S. Post Office does not care if you’re in a rush for that new passport. As soon as you apply to study abroad, you should go to the Post Office to renew your passport. It will be more expensive if you need to rush your order, so do it ASAP!
- Start saving! Studying abroad is expensive, especially if you want to travel to other places while you are abroad. Cut down on ordering takeout and use your meal swipes to save some money.
- Plan your classes! When you’re abroad the last thing you are going to want to do is homework. Make sure that you aren’t planning on taking ridiculously hard classes that will keep you locked up in your room.
- Check the requirements! You might need different forms and immunizations depending on where you are planning to study abroad! Make sure that you talk to your doctor and have the correct forms filled out in order to travel.
- Buy your tickets! We all know that plane tickets are ridiculously expensive, but you can offset the costs by purchasing your tickets months in advance. As long as you know what day you need to arrive for your program, you should go ahead and get those tickets!
The whole study abroad process does not need to be stressful. Make sure that you are regularly checking in with your advisors and the study abroad office on your campus! The most important thing that you can do is trust the process and get ready for the time of your life! Enjoy your travels and “au revoir!”