The following guide will answer most of your Study Abroad questions.
If you don’t find what you're looking for here, email us and we’ll
do our best to find the answer.
Why should I study abroad?
How do I get started?
Who can I talk to for
help?
Questions
to ask a study abroad advisor
How much is this going
to cost me? And what about financial aid?
Can I get a scholarship
to study abroad?
Should I get insurance?
Will I get credit
for the classes I take abroad?
Where
will I be living?
When
should I go?
Where
should I go?
What
about Semester at Sea?
Why should I study abroad?
Not only will you get a break from your standard college routine, and get to
travel to someplace new and exciting, but studying abroad can also give you
a work force advantage for those post-college years. According to Bill Hoffa
of Amherst College, students who study abroad have a distinct advantage when
it comes to landing a good job after school. International experience is becoming
more important in the work force. Other than that, you will experience a new
culture and make new friends in foreign lands--the first steps to becoming a
global citizen.
How do I get started?
Planning ahead is an important first step. Many programs have sign-up deadlines
six months or more before the date of departure and some programs can fill up
fast. The best way to start is to go into your local study abroad office and see
what they have to offer.
Who can I talk to for help?
Study abroad advisors are experts on study abroad.
They have all the information you need to pick the study abroad program best
suited to your needs. Chances are they’ve studied abroad themselves at
some point.
Questions to ask a study abroad
advisor:
How much is this going
to cost me? And what about financial aid?
Find out what is included
in the cost of your program. Many programs include tuition, housing, and some
meals. If you have
a limited travel study budget, you may want to consider the cost of living
in your chosen country. Life in South America is far cheaper than in London.
Find out what financial aid options are available to you. If you are already
receiving financial aid, you may be able to use it for your studies abroad.
It’s a good idea to talk to your financial aid advisor and your study
abroad advisor to find out what financial aid options are available to you.
The key to the financial process is to find the person responsible for overseas
financial aid, and to talk to them directly.
Can I get a scholarship to study
abroad?
Many study abroad programs offer scholarship
opportunities for eligible students applying through their program. Outside
of these schools there are few general scholarships for undergraduate students.
Check www.rotary.org.
Should I get insurance?
If you're going to be traveling for a while,
you might want to consider getting travel insurance. Ask your study abroad advisor
what insurance options you have (sometimes you are covered through your program)
or check out Travel
Assistance International or Hinchcliff
International Group Services.
Will I get credit for the classes
I take abroad?
It is possible to get academic credit through most study abroad
programs. As long as the program is sponsored by any college or university,
and you can prove to your academic advisor that the classes fit in your general
education or major requirements, you should be fine.
Know where you stand before you leave. Make sure your general
education requirements are fulfilled (or on track to be fulfilled) and that
your graduation date won't be pushed back by your jaunt abroad (unless you're
putting off graduation on purpose).
As always, talk to your study abroad advisor to make sure you
get credit for the courses you take abroad. Also, just in case you encounter
any problems while you are abroad, it’s a good idea to get your advisor's
contact information before you go.
It’s always a good idea to get written approval of your
overseas coursework before you leave, just in case there are any problems. Make
a list and have your study abroad advisor sign it.
If you're organized enough to pull it off, you should keep
your coursework from your studies abroad. This way you will have proof of the
work you did.
Where
will I be living?
Check to see
if housing is included in your program fees. If it’s not, see if they provide
assistance in securing housing.
Some programs offer you
housing choices including student housing or apartments with other students.
The more exciting option is to do a home-stay with a local family.
Ask about finding a host
family. Living with locals is a great way to experience some local culture,
learn the language, and make foreign friends.
When
should I go?
Decide when
a semester abroad would best fit into your academic and social schedule. Would
a summer session fit best, or would you rather head south for the winter semester?
Don’t worry about
what you will miss at home. Your worries may inhibit one of the greatest experiences
of your life.
Where
should I go?
With programs
in practically every country, where to go can be the most difficult choice you
make when deciding to study abroad. Do your research, talk to your study abroad
advisor, and ask around campus for advice from those who have already taken
courses abroad. Above all, don’t stress too much, chances are, you’ll
have a blast no matter where you end up.
What
about Semester at Sea?
If you can’t
pick just one country to study in, you might want to consider studying with
Semester At Sea. Semesters start at $9,275 and hit at least nine countries.
You miss out on the cultural immersion that long-term study abroad programs
offer, but you get to travel all over the world. Students can select from 23
general courses in business, art, communications, and humanities. Credits are
transferable to most universities. Go to SemesterAtSea.com
or check out Sea of Education Association
for more options.
