Deciding whether or not you should study abroad is a huge decision. Studying abroad is a great opportunity to challenge yourself to become more independent and immerse yourself in a culture for a period of time that you would not normally be able to do unless you move there. Here are a few guidelines to studying abroad”
(Jill in a London phone booth!)
(Cinque Terre, Italy)
- If you plan to study abroad, speak to your class advisor right away. They will help you create a plan for your education and help you select the classes that will be able to transfer back from a foreign University.
- Contact your school’s study abroad office. I set up a meeting and told the study abroad program coordinator what I was looking for. The office had tons of information about every single country, program and he was able to offer helpful advice based on what I am looking for.
- Think about what youre looking for in a study abroad program. How long do you want to go away for? Some programs only last the length of a semester, but others last for six months or even two semesters. Going away for an extended period of time can seem frightening at first, but trust me time really does fly and you probably will not be able to accomplish everything you had planned to do in one semester.
- Pick a country that relates to what you’re studying. I studied abroad in London because I am interested in working internationally and London is a wonderful international city. Other people in my program are English majors that wanted to study Shakespeare. If you are interested in fashion, Paris and Milan are very trendy cities. Students interested in opening their own restaurant one day may want to look into studying the amazing food culture in Italy. Surrounding yourself in a culture of something you’re interested in will make your experience that much more enjoyable.
- What kind of activities do you want to do while you are abroad? If you are looking for an environment where you can suit your active lifestyle, it would be better to select a destination like Australia instead of a city. If you are interested in travelling to lots of different countries while abroad, going somewhere in Europe might be a good choice because between countries travelling in Europe is very easy and inexpensive.
- Apply! Research the programs you are interested in and make sure you read reviews about the program. Ask friends that have studied abroad about their experiences to help make a decision about your studies. After you have selected your destination and have picked the school you want to study at, send in your applications! Most programs will need you to fill out an application, get a transcript, and a few recommendations from professors.
(Jill at the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland)
Good luck and get ready for one of the best times of your life. Challenge yourself to learn some phrases when you go to a country that does not speak English. Try foods that you would not necessarily want to try and be friendly because you never know how you will bump into and meet! Happy Travelling! Cheers J
(Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany)