If you have any doubts, work with your academic advisor to draw up your four-year graduation plan and determine when would be the best time for you to leave campus. When Should You Study Abroad? These programs encourage you to become a global citizen and may offer additional opportunities to study abroad later in your college career. The former allows you to earn college credits to put toward a degree.
Cons: Because study abroad programs for freshmen are few and far between, you must choose your college based on its options to study abroad. That narrows down your school search to just a few choices, and they might not suit you after your first year.
Depending on the grading system of the country, you may need to convert your grades or even get your transcript translated into another language.
Many international programs are taught entirely in English. Motivation letters vary in length, but expect around words as an average. Some schools will ask for one or two academic references to submit with your application. Choose teachers who really know you and ones who you have a good relationship with. Interviews are not very common, but you might be asked to do an interview over the phone or Skype. You should come with questions of your own, as well. Send a follow-up thank you note via email after the interview!
For a literature program, this could include a research paper. For an animation course, this might be a portfolio of your best work. Studying abroad can be expensive, but scholarships can be one way to majorly offset the cost.
There are many places to look for scholarships, and scholarships will vary — they could provide several hundred dollars toward tuition or could even cover an entire program. Unsure where to start? Let us be your guide! Some of these scholarships are associated with universities, but others are open to students looking to study anywhere in the country. In the directory, we give you the complete details like deadlines, awards, and eligibility.
Most universities will have a page dedicated to this information. You may also want to investigate if your current university offers students scholarships to study abroad at other universities. Some countries will help fund students who are looking to study there. If your school has given you a private grant, you likely will be able to extend that to your study abroad studies.
You did it! Once you get into a school abroad, the real fun begins. You will have to decide which school to choose. First things first. There are several things you should consider:. Apply next year, and consider a wider variety of schools. With all of your experience, it will be even easier to apply next year. Student dormitories. Socially, this is an ideal scenario.
In terms of privacy, you will likely be giving up a little privacy. All dorms are different, but you will likely share a kitchen and may share a bathroom. Check with your university for what they offer. Dormitories can often be a good value — they are often reasonably priced and are close to campus. Homestays are an excellent option for people who want to immerse themselves in the local culture. These places are also obviously furnished which are ideal for those who will only be in the country temporarily.
Of course, here too you will have to give up some privacy. But it could be well worth it if you want to integrate yourself in the culture faster. Not sure where to start? Your program may also be able to put you in touch with people.
The most private of your options, apartments are great for those comfortable with more independence. Of course, depending on where you live, your apartment complex could have lots of students which may make it as social as a student dorm.
Look for apartments that are fully furnished. Apartments can be expensive though, so you may have to get a roommate or two. There are several resources you can use, though, to find apartments for students. To avoid this, check out these landlord redflags. We also recommend reverse Google Image searching to see if the photos that are posted are legitimate, or are stock photos that are used in multiple listings. We also recommend prioritizing your safety, especially in large cities where petty crime might be common.
Managing your money is one of the most difficult things to do abroad. Is your flight date approaching? Better get serious about packing. Every region will require different items to bring, and many items you can buy there.
Read on for our ultimate packing list optimized for 6 months abroad regardless of location and then for the region-specific style advice. Toiletries take up a lot of space in a suitcase, so only bring small travel sizes to last you a week or two and then buy new stuff in your new country.
You may even find some cool foreign brands to bring back with you! American college students tend to dress in a very relaxed way to class. Many students wear sweatpants and sweatshirts or leggings and a t-shirt. In cities like Washington, D. The West Coast is also quite trendy — think loose silhouettes, white denim, and bohemian style. Many UK students are quite interested in of-the-moment trends. Swedish students are very stylish and tend to dress in a very similar uniform. Think white sneakers with loose, architectural pieces in black, white, and gray.
French students like to look good, so expect them to be wearing whatever the style du jour is. Think branded trainers, skinny jeans, a floaty tee, a patterned dress, or brogues. Skip the gym clothes, though. Neutral colors are always a good idea, and if you go for something more bright and vibrant, keep it the center piece and pair with neutral basics. Australian students have diverse style but comfort is important!
On university campuses, expect to see low-key style: a lot of denim, white sneakers, sandals, and canvas tote bags. Depending on where you are in the country, it can be extremely hot so be sure to pack accordingly.
New Zealanders are casual and chic, and most certainly do not wear sweats to class. You will definitely need warm clothing in the summer, but it can be quite windy and cold in the winter, so bring a heavy coat.
Prepare to see some edgy and androgynous looks. Ireland is known for its wet weather, but rolling up to class in rain boots and an Aran jumper is the easiest way to out yourself as a foreigner. Irish students are big into nightclubs, so bring or buy some club attire.
South Korean students care a lot about their appearances, so expect people to be wearing dressier clothes and makeup every day to school. Modesty is important in South Korea, so wearing low-cut shirts will not be very common. Koreans are very trend-sensitive, so students will dress differently year to year. Modesty is also important, so stray away from short shorts. Chinese students wear uniforms through high school, so university is the first time they can really express their personal styles.
You should choose the one that best suits your interests and goals. Below are some popular types of programs. American colleges and universities often administer a variety of study-abroad programs. They make agreements with higher education institutions abroad where American students can enroll, or they have their own study-abroad centers in the host country.
Sometimes universities give students a set schedule of courses, but in other cases, learners must arrange their own schedules. This latter option usually involves asking professors to approve of these foreign courses so that the international credits can seamlessly transfer back to a student's home university. These experiences often include prearranged housing and group trips around the country or continent.
In countries with foreign languages, sometimes professors come from the U. Students who want to learn a foreign language can enroll in non-English-speaking courses as well. These experiences are usually structured, so students take required courses and stick with their student cohort for cultural experiences and weekend trips. These programs also usually organize accommodation for students and cover many day-to-day costs through required fees. Other opportunities allow students to integrate more fully into the home country's culture.
They take courses with students from the host country, either in a foreign language or in English if they go to a country like England or Australia. Students also coordinate their own finances and housing. Learners who decide to pursue their entire degrees at a foreign university go this route, but students can sometimes enroll for a semester or year as well. Finally, you can find experiences that don't fit into the above categories.
For example, some programs take students on a cruise ship, where they attend courses and stop to explore countries along the way. Students can also apply for internships, work experiences, or research funding abroad. Everyone has different reasons for studying abroad. Your college counselor will tell you that studying abroad looks great on your resume, which is certainly true. You might feel giddy at the prospect of your Instagram feed looking like a glossy travel guidebook.
Plus, few people would deny the opportunity to eat delicious, authentic foods like Spanish chorizo or Italian risotto. But why you should study abroad isn't just about the photos, food, or even a nice line on your resume; it's also about self-discovery. Living in a foreign country exposes you to unfamiliar customs and experiences. You can learn about how other people perceive the world and reevaluate your own perspective. Most of us can't become fluent in a foreign language after spending a few hours a week in a classroom.
Fluency comes from diving headfirst into language and forcing yourself to speak as much as possible. Studying abroad allows you to practice your language skills in an intensive and immersive way. Universities often have active international student organizations, so you'll get to know people from all over the world. Often, the friendships you make during your college years last a lifetime, and studying abroad is no different.
If you're curious about your ancestry, studying abroad can be a great way to connect with your family's past. Learn where you came from, study the language, and perhaps even track down distant relatives. Studying abroad involves truly living in a foreign country instead of taking a long vacation. That's not necessarily easy, but growth comes from putting yourself in uncomfortable situations. If you commit, you'll find yourself thriving before you return to the United States.
Even if you've traveled internationally before, studying abroad is an entirely different experience — and that's partially because of pesky practical matters, like obtaining a student visa.
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