Have you considered studying abroad at some point during your college experience? If you have or even if you are just now starting to consider it, continue reading to learn some tips for applying to study abroad at UNCG from someone who is going through the process now.
The process for applying to study abroad is a long one. There are multiple steps and a lot of them have to be done in a certain order. Of course all the work that goes into applying for study abroad is well worth it; you get to explore a new country for a summer, semester, or year. Here are some tips that can make the process much easier.
Tip #1:
Start early: This is probably a tip that everyone has heard, but I cannot recommend this enough. I am applying to study abroad Spring 2017; therefore, I started the process at the end of Spring 2016. That may seem a bit too early, but I have not regretted the decision. I was able to attend IPC (International Program Center) meetings way before the deadline and work on getting academic references (which are required) over the summer. Now, two weeks into the fall semester, I already have some of the major requirements for study abroad checked off the checklist.
Tip #2:
Attend the IPC (International Programs Center) meetings: As I previously mentioned, there are a few meetings that you are asked to attend prior to turning in your application. One of the meetings is with an IPC advisor to discuss your options for study abroad. Here you can get suggestions for places to study or discuss your ideas and find out their feasibility.
The second meeting is the checklist meeting, which is only held at certain times, this is where you go through the checklist for applying to study abroad and make sure you understand everything that is required. If you wait too long to attend these meetings, you may have a hard time fitting them into your schedule; therefore, I suggest going as soon as you have a clear idea of when and where you want to study abroad. I attended meetings at the end of the Spring 2016 semester; therefore, this semester I don’t have to worry about attending them before the September deadline.
Tip #3:
Know & consider the deadlines: This may seem obvious, however, I know we have all been in situations where deadlines have snuck up on us and we have struggled to finish all requirements before the deadline. This tip is very important for study abroad as the checklist for applying is pretty long and some of the tasks take time, such as asking for academic references or meeting with your advisor to discuss classes. The Spring application deadline is September 15 and the Fall application deadline is February 15. Make sure you consider how long various checklist items will take and allow enough time for them to be met; not having to rush means that you know the task has been thoroughly completed. Â
There you have it. A few tips I have learned while applying to study abroad. To learn more about study abroad visit the IPC website and talk to your advisor!