Let’s be real. We have all had those moments where we are scrolling through our Facebook timelines and come across a friend’s pics of their awesome study abroad trips and gone a little green with envy. Travelling is a formative experience that you can’t replicate by substitution and it just so happens that college is the perfect time to do it.
There are programs everywhere that are geared towards getting young people out into the world for some culture. Hofstra offers its own study abroad programs around the world, along with January break trips for those that can’t afford to give up a whole semester away. But if a Hofstra program doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can also get the university to partner up with a third-party study abroad provider.
I am currently studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa through IES. Let me tell you, the process isn’t easy, but by far, it’s totally worth it. So check out these # tips on starting your own study abroad and who knows? In six months, you might have your own cool pictures to brag about your awesome study abroad experience, too.
Start planning your trip the semester before you plan to study abroad. Like, right at the beginning.
If you want to study abroad in spring 2016, you need to start your planning now. Like right this second. You might think, “Yeah, but semester doesn’t start for another 5 months. I’ve got time.” And my answer is a resounding NO. The first step is to research where you want to be. Get on the computer and look at what Hofstra offers versus what a study abroad provider offers. Some companies you can look into are IES, CIEE, CEA, and like a thousand others. Sometimes different universities like Arcadia can link up with Hofstra as well. When I was researching, I jotted down key facts that would ultimately help me make my decision: program costs, program dates, prominent languages spoken in that country, whether the university had departments that would offer classes I needed, etc. Once you have everything narrowed down to a clear path of action, you will be ready for the next step.
Go see Maria Fixell at the Hofstra study abroad office.
Fixell is going to be instrumental to you planning your study abroad experience. She handles everything from putting in the paperwork to approve classes at your university abroad, to coordinating with financial aid to get your scholarship together and adjusted to your program. You will get all the forms for Hofstra’s side of things from her, and you will return them to her once they are all filled out. *WARNING* My personal experience with Maria was not a stellar one. We miscommunicated a lot. Just make sure you speak to her in plain and blunt terms. Ask questions if what she says confuses you. She is going to throw a lot of information at you at once, so make sure you are clear on what she’s saying, or it will be a trainwreck.
Fill out all paperwork promptly. Don’t put it off.
As much as Hofstra wants to help you go abroad, no one is going to hold your hand and make this happen for you. You have to be on top of your paperwork and make sure you’re getting it done as soon as possible. You may think the three forms from Fixell is the end of it, but I promise you, the paperwork doesn’t end until you book your plane ticket and have your visa in your hand. A lot of running around campus is involved. Get your stuff done so that you can move on to the next step. There are probably ten more forms to fill out after the one you’re holding in your hand. It’s important to meet your deadlines, especially if you are going to a university that runs on a different time schedule than Hofstra’s, such as the University of Cape Town, which starts their fall semester in July, months before Hofstra does.
Keep reminding yourself why you’re doing this.
I’m not going to lie. The preparation for my trip was the most frustrating process I’ve ever been through. Between Hofstra and my provider, there was a lot of red tape and hoops to jump through. If you’re abroad for a semester, you’re going to have to get a study visa, which requires ridiculous things like FBI background checks, doctors notes, flight itineraries, proof of financial means, etc. You’re going to have to make difficult phone calls and go through all the bureaucracy of not only the US, but the country you are trying to enter. That’s why it is essential to give yourself reminders of why you are going through it all to begin with. I posted a map of South Africa to my bedroom wall, made South African activities and Cape Town sights the background on my phone, computer, the whole nine. I read travel books, and requested dozens of pamphlets that would keep me pumped for my trip and constantly remind me why I wanted to go through the frustration. Getting yourself in a good mindset is going to make it easier.
Be adamant for what you want.
I cannot stress how important this is. If you want something, you have to badger both Hofstra and your provider to get things done. At Hofstra, you’re one in thousands, and with your study abroad providers, you are one in more than thousands. If you need word on something, you have to call and remind the people handling you and your trip often to make sure that things are getting done. Don’t just assume that everything worked out because no one has contacted you. You have to be a go-getter. Personally, I had a huge issue with my scholarship being packaged on time, and it took me actually and physically going to the financial aid office in June to get it done.
Start saving your money as soon as you can.
Work those extra hours at your job over break. Start a GoFundMe so that relatives can contribute to your experience. Hold a fundraiser for yourself. Skip those weekend shopping trips at Roosevelt Field. Because once you get to your destination, you’re going to want to spend your money on the exotic food, souvenirs, and making memories. How do you think your friends got those cool pictures in the first place? By pinching their pennies and saving up to go and do an activity or try that new thing.
For all the struggling that goes into planning a study abroad trip, actually getting on a plane and living it is well worth all the tears and hair pulling. When things get tough, just remember, while abroad the possibilities are endless. Maybe a gondola ride with a sexy Italian fling is in your future…