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Study Abroad 101: How to Prepare for Your Semester Overseas

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at St. John's chapter.

Hello, fellow Johnnies! Are any of you preparing to study abroad? Have you been considering spending a semester abroad? If you answered “yes” to either question or simply plan on traveling in the future, read this guide to be fully prepared for your trip abroad!

Helpful Items For Studying Abroad

1) Heavy Duty Backpack

When traveling to a new country, having a high-quality backpack is essential. If you’re studying abroad in Italy, the country is notorious for its pickpockets. I recommend getting a heavy-duty and durable bag and you can find them right here

2) European travel plug adapter

Next, you will definitely need a European outlet converter or adapter. The outlets in Europe are different from the ones in the United States, so be sure to purchase one before traveling. You can find some affordable ones here!

3) DownloAD OMIO & CITYMAPPER

When living or studying abroad it is important to know how to navigate your way around your new location! Download the Omio app as it not only helps you navigate around Europe, but it also shows which buses and trains to take. Citymapper provides you live location of what’s happening around you, as well as several different urban modes of transportation.

4) DOWNLOAD SKYSCANNER

Skyscanner is a website/app that you can use to buy cheap and affordable flights. If you haven’t yet purchased your ticket to go abroad, try using Skyscanner to find some great deals!

Studying abroad is a great opportunity to take part in, so don’t be afraid to try it. Go out and explore new places while also getting your education. Enjoy your time abroad!

Kayla Eldridge

St. John's '25

Hey everyone! Pleasure to meet you all. I am one of the Editorial Writer's for Her Campus and I am proud to share my work with everyone!! My name is Makayla, but I also go by Kayla. I am a junior at SJU who is working on two degrees (BA Psych/MA Criminal Justice) and is minoring in Journalism. A few interesting fact's about me is that I love to read and write! I am currently working on a Poetry book and one day I will be very happily to share my poems with everyone here!