Studying abroad can be one of the most gratifying experiences for a college student. Not only does it benefit an individual academically, but also professionally and personally. I am studying abroad in Paris for the spring of 2014. What exactly drove me to study abroad? Well, it was numerous reasons. I wanted to grow as an individual by exposing myself to a completely different culture other than my own. I want to be trilingual (I already know Spanish and English), so what a better way to enforce my French fluency than by speaking with fellow Parisians. And I am not going to deny, but living four months in one of the most beautiful cities in the world is another plus.
But in order for study abroad plans to become a reality, a lot of research has to be done, as well as time has to be devoted in order for everything to go smoothly. My advice comes from my personal journey to studying abroad, but it can be applied to any specific study abroad situation.
Choosing a program and a city:
So you have given some thought to studying abroad. What is next? You have to choose a city, semester and program in order for your research to be narrowed down. Â Make sure you choose a city you want to enjoy and truly love. And make sure you have some knowledge of the city beforehand. Also, decide when you want to go; the fall, spring, summer or for a whole academic year. Have in mind that the longer the program, the more expensive, but it can also be better because of the longer time you will have to immerse yourself with the culture. Programs differ by school. There are three different types; programs through your university, partnerships with other universities or third-party programs. From personal experience, programs through your university are the easiest because they are cheaper and the process is much easier. In my situation, I chose a third party program because it targeted my specific major, language proficiency and academic level.
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One of the biggest issues with third-party programs is that they are quite more expensive, reaching up to $10,000 or more. Make sure these third party programs are recommended by your university and that you verify their legitimacy. Make sure you check your university’s study abroad website. In the case of my university, they list all these types of programs and they all have advisers in my university. Make sure to contact that adviser with all the questions you may have. Here is USF’s study abroad website: educationabroad.global.usf.edu/
If the program you ultimately choose is a third-party program, verify and MAKE SURE the courses you take abroad will transfer for credit to your home university and count towards your degree. This is done by filling out course approval forms that either your university and/or the program will provide to you. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT you make sure your courses count. Not only would you waste time and money if they do not, but any scholarships you may have might not be renewed.
Financial Aid/ Paying for study abroad expenses:
Studying abroad can be extremely expensive, but it should not be a deterrent. There are numerous ways to pay for study abroad expenses, but make sure to start planning ahead of time. There are different scholarships targeted to study abroad. The best scholarships for this should be listed on your university’s study abroad site. Apply for these as earliest as possible. Also, student loans are also available but some restrictions may apply. If you have scholarships that are your through your university, these can also pay for your study abroad expenses as well. Make sure you read each specific scholarship’s terms and conditions to understand what they pay for and what you need to do in order to renew them.
Important side note: Some scholarships will disburse your money after the semesters add/drop period. (This will happen when you are abroad). You can use the money disbursed from scholarships to pay yourself back for any study abroad expenses. If you do not have any scholarships, loans might be your only option. Make sure you understand the financial commitment you are making with studying abroad. Not only are you paying for the program’s cost, but other costs are involved:
-Visa costs if staying abroad for over a certain amount of time
-Airplane tickets
-Expenses abroad: food, recreation, shopping, nights out on the town, emergency money, etc …
The earlier it is done, the better
I am not studying abroad until spring 2014 and my whole process from ground zero began on fall 2012. Does it seem like a long time? It is, but I am glad I do not have to stress myself with approaching deadlines. Make sure you do the same if you want to study abroad. Be specific in what you want. Once you choose a specific program contact the right people over email or over the phone. Make sure you know when program applications are due. Also know you have to contact your financial aid office to know how scholarship money will disburse. You also have to fill out a study abroad application form with your university (cases may vary). Most important: Make sure the courses you take abroad do transfer over and count towards your degree.
Make sure you keep organized and follow all of these steps. Understand that studying abroad is a big responsibility; not only because you will be in a foreign country, but financial obligations come as well. Do not let the stress and worry I have gone through stop you from studying abroad. It will all be worth it. Remember that even though things are hard, they are not impossible.
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(All of these advice is given from a personal level. Each study abroad situation is different and varies from universities, states and programs. Make sure to contact your academic adviser and study abroad office with specific questions.)
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Photo credit:
http://transitionvoice.com/2013/02/a-new-financial-system-for-the-people/money-2/
http://www.cca.edu/students/isap/exchange
http://www.tntech.edu/studyabroad/getting-started/
http://favim.com/image/269382/
http://dressedtoat.wordpress.com/category/what-to-pack-when-studying-abroad/
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