So you’re thinking of spending a semester abroad but probably have no idea where to start the application process or even where you want to study. If you are feeling a bit panicked, do not worry because odds are everyone else in your class thinking of studying abroad also has no idea where to start. Lucky for you, as a sophomore who has finally figured out the challenging maze of the OIP Office, I am here to help.
First, you can try visiting BC’s Office of International Program’s Website, but chances are you will hit a bunch of dead ends on every link and you won’t get much information. If that happens to you, don’t worry because the study abroad fair is right around the corner. If you aren’t sure where you want to study yet, definitely go to the study abroad fair because by the end of it you will end up with about 50 pamphlets of every program BC has to offer. Yet, the pamphlets do not tell you anything besides show you fancy pictures of the universities.
So now you have a bunch of useless pamphlets with pretty pictures, and from them you need to decide where you want to study. How are you supposed to decide? Well, you have about 40% of the undergraduates at BC to ask about their experience abroad to help you narrow down your choices. Once you have selected the country you want to visit, now we can get started.
Before you can apply, you must schedule a mandatory meeting with the OIP Office. Yes, I know, no one told you that but I just did and you are required to have this meeting to be eligible to apply. Scheduling this meeting is the only easy thing you can do on the OIP website. All of the meetings are held in the Hovey House. You’re probably thinking “where the heck is that?” You would be right, the Hovey House is hidden in the forest of Beacon Street. Make sure to ask lots of questions in the meeting because it is one of the only 20 minutes you will get with someone who knows how to navigate the OIP.
Hopefully you got all of your questions answered in the first meeting and now you are ready to submit your application. Once you submit the application, there is no confirmation that it actually went through as the OIP won’t send you any confirmation email. However, chances are it went through. Now you won’t hear from the OIP Office for a few months and you get to sit there wondering if you actually did apply to go abroad. As long as you meet all of the requirements to apply, the odds are in your favor of being accepted to your program choice many months later.
Sources:
http://www.k-state.edu/abroad/documents/discover.png
https://media.makeameme.org/created/well-that-sounds.jpg
http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/2b/2b038752312419c9d073e76b75320f40a0b777807…
http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120509020520/icarly/images/5/58/Meme_Confused.jpg
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