Study abroad, Part One

My tips for those planning to study abroad: (from personal experience, as I am going through the planning process)

1. Start planning early. This goes without saying. Visas and passports can take who knows how long to be processed these days. I don't want anything trivial to stop me from going overseas. You also need to know ahead of time what program you will use; what credits will transfer; how much it will cost, and how much money you will have; and countless other facts.

2. Don't let those you love hold you back. This can seem harsh. My boyfriend and I of 13 months have had to talk seriously about whether we will break up when I go overseas, and whether we will still be together at that point. It's a difficult thing to think of, but I won't let this boy, as wonderful as he is, hold me back from achieving something I have dreamed of doing since I was twelve years old. Additionally, family members or friends may be discouraging without realizing it. A friend or family member who complains about you studying abroad is stifling your educational expansion. Politely let them know that this is something you would like to do. Be confident that what you are doing is good for you.

3. Talk to the right people. Advisers can be helpful, but not always for students who plan to study abroad. Most advisers are professors whose specialty lies in helping students keep on track in terms of their core fulfillment, major, and career paths. They do not always have experience knowing what credits will transfer, and what classes will need to be taken ahead of time. If your school has a study abroad or international study coordinator, take full advantage of this person. They are paid to help you. I am having to do all of this mainly by myself; the school I attend does not have such a person, and I can tell that if it did, this would be much easier and much less stressful for me. But, money determines priorities, and there's not much I can do except deal with it.

Much more to come, but that's all for now; Right now, I need to do homework so I can keep my GPA up!

xo