Studying Abroad

By Abby Wagner and Jillsa Aringdale

So you want to study So you want to study abroad?abroad?

Studying abroad is a fantastic experience Studying abroad is a fantastic experience every student should have!every student should have!

At first, taking care of all the details At first, taking care of all the details seems a bit scary but we’ll tell you seems a bit scary but we’ll tell you

everything you need to know and how to everything you need to know and how to get it all done!get it all done!

Step One: Where do you Step One: Where do you start?start?

Two things you have to take care of before Two things you have to take care of before studying abroad….studying abroad….

Passport Student Visa for Country of Destination

How?How?

Apply for your passport immediately Apply for your passport immediately because it can take up to 12 weeks. because it can take up to 12 weeks.

Talk to your study abroad counselor Talk to your study abroad counselor about your destination country’s law about your destination country’s law regarding student visas. Some regarding student visas. Some countries require it, others don’t. countries require it, others don’t. Find out about your country.Find out about your country.

Step Two: The Hard Part,Step Two: The Hard Part,Picking a CountryPicking a Country

Things to Consider When Picking Things to Consider When Picking a Countrya Country

What languages do you speak?What languages do you speak?

Is there a language you want to learn?Is there a language you want to learn?

Is the country safe (for Is the country safe (for women/men/Americans, etc…)?women/men/Americans, etc…)?

What is the USA’s current political status What is the USA’s current political status with the destination country?with the destination country?

The Importance of an Open The Importance of an Open MindMind

When studying abroad When studying abroad you will see and you will see and experience many experience many cultural aspects that cultural aspects that you are not used to. you are not used to. If want to study If want to study abroad you must abroad you must have an open mind to have an open mind to new and strange new and strange things!things!

Step Three: Where Should You Step Three: Where Should You Stay?Stay?Host Family-Host Family-You can stay with a native You can stay with a native

family in your destination family in your destination country and experience the country and experience the culture and language culture and language everyday!everyday!

Other Housing OptionsOther Housing OptionsOn Campus HousingOn Campus Housing

-This is another good option if you are -This is another good option if you are trying to learn the country’s native trying to learn the country’s native language. Just make sure you request a language. Just make sure you request a roommate who speaks that language and roommate who speaks that language and not English!not English!

Off Campus ApartmentOff Campus Apartment-Students have to set this up on their own -Students have to set this up on their own which makes it difficult and it’s also not which makes it difficult and it’s also not the best option for students wanting to the best option for students wanting to absorb the native language.absorb the native language.

Step Four: Choosing a ProgramStep Four: Choosing a Program

Many schools have sponsor Many schools have sponsor programs and affiliate programs and affiliate

programs. It’s important to programs. It’s important to choose a program that will choose a program that will

meet your needs and help you meet your needs and help you

achieve your goals.achieve your goals.

Choosing a Program: Things to Choosing a Program: Things to ConsiderConsider

What are your goals for your study abroad What are your goals for your study abroad program?program?

How many credits do you want to take?How many credits do you want to take?

Do you want to be studying alongside many Do you want to be studying alongside many other Americans?other Americans?

What do you hope to take away from your What do you hope to take away from your program?program?

Different Agencies to Choose Different Agencies to Choose FromFrom

If you feel too limited by If you feel too limited by the programs offered by the programs offered by your university, there are your university, there are plenty of credible, well-plenty of credible, well-established study abroad established study abroad agencies to go through.agencies to go through.

API: Academic Programs API: Academic Programs InternationalInternational

Mission Statement: Mission Statement: “Each program is “Each program is designed to offer a designed to offer a program of program of culturally enriching culturally enriching and academically and academically stimulating stimulating experiences, along experiences, along with opportunities with opportunities to live, interact and to live, interact and learn in a new learn in a new environment.”environment.”

Semester At SeaSemester At Sea

Semester at Sea is Semester at Sea is one of the one of the favorite programs favorite programs for study abroad for study abroad because students because students sail on a ship all sail on a ship all semester and get semester and get to stop at ports in to stop at ports in all different all different countries, while countries, while taking classes on taking classes on the ship.the ship.

AIFS: American Institute AIFS: American Institute for Foreign Studyfor Foreign Study

““Founded in 1964, the Founded in 1964, the American Institute For American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) Foreign Study (AIFS) has more than 40 has more than 40 years of experience in years of experience in organizing study organizing study abroad programs. We abroad programs. We have helped more than have helped more than one million one million participants realize participants realize their dream of their dream of international education international education and cultural exchange. and cultural exchange. AIFS provides study AIFS provides study abroad programs in 16 abroad programs in 16 countries.”countries.”

More ProgramsMore Programs Besides these highlighted Besides these highlighted

programs, there are many programs, there are many others that are worth the others that are worth the time to investigate in order to time to investigate in order to find the best fit for you. find the best fit for you. These include:These include:

American Intercontinental American Intercontinental UniversityUniversity

Arcadia University Center for Arcadia University Center for Education Abroad Education Abroad

AustraLearn AustraLearn Council on International Council on International

Educational Exchange Educational Exchange CEA – Global Education CEA – Global Education

Solutions Solutions Institute for Study Abroad, Institute for Study Abroad,

Butler University Butler University Institute for the International Institute for the International

Education of Students Education of Students International Studies Abroad International Studies Abroad interstudy interstudy The School for Field Studies The School for Field Studies School for International School for International

Training Study Abroad Training Study Abroad And so many more…And so many more…

Step Five: Smooth Step Five: Smooth TransitionTransition

In order to make your international move as smooth asIn order to make your international move as smooth as

possible, here are some important things you will want possible, here are some important things you will want toto

be aware of before arriving…be aware of before arriving…

Cultural PracticesCultural Practices

As we said before, it is As we said before, it is important to keep an important to keep an open mind. It would be open mind. It would be beneficial to have some beneficial to have some knowledge of these knowledge of these before arriving in the before arriving in the country so you do not country so you do not appear to be rude by appear to be rude by acting shocked by them acting shocked by them or by not adhering to or by not adhering to them when you get them when you get there!there!

How to Use a PhoneHow to Use a Phone

This may not be something you are This may not be something you are thinking about, but you sure will be when thinking about, but you sure will be when

you need to use one and find out how you need to use one and find out how different phones can operate around the different phones can operate around the

world!world!

What to Do in Case of What to Do in Case of EmergencyEmergency

911 is only 911 in the United States… make 911 is only 911 in the United States… make sure sure

you know what to do in your destination you know what to do in your destination country country

in case of an emergency!in case of an emergency!

Electronic InformationElectronic InformationMany countries have different voltages for electrical Many countries have different voltages for electrical

sockets. This means you will probably need a sockets. This means you will probably need a converter for any electronics you bring from converter for any electronics you bring from America, or else you’ll end up with a fried America, or else you’ll end up with a fried

computer… or worse!computer… or worse!

TransportationTransportation

How are you going to get How are you going to get

around in your destinationaround in your destination

country? Many Europeancountry? Many European

countries have excellentcountries have excellent

public transportation public transportation

options, so explore your options, so explore your

choices and consider choices and consider

purchasing a long-termpurchasing a long-term

subway pass or other way subway pass or other way

to get around.to get around.

Make it a reality!Make it a reality!

No matter where you want to go, and no matter No matter where you want to go, and no matter what you want to study, there is a program that what you want to study, there is a program that will fit your needs. Studying abroad will greatly will fit your needs. Studying abroad will greatly enrich your educational experience, and is well enrich your educational experience, and is well worth the time and effort it takes to get there.worth the time and effort it takes to get there.

STUDY STUDY ABROAD!!!ABROAD!!!

……and have and have the the

experience experience of a lifetime!of a lifetime!