Any information or tips on studying abroad?

Question

I'm going to be a sophomore in high school next year, but I'm already looking ahead to what I want to do in college. I'm interested in art the most. However, it's been my dream for the longest time to travel around the world, and studying abroad in Italy, or basically anywhere out of the US for a year seems like it would be a dream come true for me. However, I don't /really/ know what it's like.

This is kind of aimed at anyone who has studied abroad, or has investigated about it a lot, and is planning on doing it.

Is it really hard to do? I'm especially worried about going to a non-English speaking country. How hard is it for a girl who only speaks English to function in another country?

Is it hard to get accepted?

I know it will be expensive, but is it ridiculously so?

Any other pointers or information would help me a lot! Thank you very much.

Answer 1

hi  

there are some agency that do these things you can ask Italy embassy they can help you my friend

just try their site    GOODLUCK

Answer 2

you are right and you have said some myths. I am no expert but i have done it twice  and leaving for a year in china in less than 30 days.

My advice GO!

hard to do- yes and no. It can be at times the hardest thing you have ever done and sometimes the easiest decision. as far as actually signing up for a program and getting on the airplane, not terribly difficult. the hardest part is the research of planning.

I studied in Japan and when i got on the airplane i did not speak a word of japanese. It wasnt that hard. I carried notecards with words on it in japanese on one side and english on another. I also am now an expert at sherades the true international language. it is hard but, you will learn the language very fast. if it is learn a language in order to eat your stomach will amaze you with how fast it teaches you to learn a new language.

Hard to get accepted, no. If your not stupid, or a criminal its not that difficult. And by stupid i mean people who sign up to study in japan and refuse to eat rice or fish...

expensive? Depends, i went with yfu.org and i went on scholarship and cost next to nothing. but some Highschool programs can be expensive. But college believe it or not can be much cheaper AND they can transfer college credits. I am going to china for a year and overall it is costing me less than a year of university at my local state school.

i have a blog, www.chineseseahorse.blogspot.com it has some info and i am always adding. feel free to ask questions. Italy is an amazing country. Very beautiful and the men i think are the prettiest in europe.  

Answer 3

I wanted to do it my college was linked to an art school in Italy but when I got the full information- it was crazy $$$.

You have to pay full tuition in cash and then housing and living expensive and you can't work!

You would have to go to a USA school first and then do your second or 3rd year overseas.  I don't know anyone who has just gone directly overseas without being very wealthy.  If you have the money you can do it but like I said- cash up front and remember the Eruo is almost double the dollar right now.  So it it's 40,000 Euros that's almost $80,000 USA dollars.

Just got back from Ireland!

I also have know people to go to China which seem to be the easy place to get in and affordable but you have to remember- you are in a Communist country- and you don't have the same rights over there as you do in the USA.  Also don't want to be to close to any areas fighting or in war!

Answer 4

Some times depending on what school you go to you may be able to go with other people from your school and study in a different country together. I know that I went to Belize for 10 days with my school and we studied the fish. I also know that my school has taken other trips to Italy together and the students had a lot of fun. When you visit a school I would ask them what types of foreign exchange programs they have. One of my friends did a semester at sea program and she loved it. I would suggest looking into that as well.

Sometimes it can be expensive depending on what program you choose and then other times you will only have to pay what it costs to go to your home school. The most expensive part is the extra things that you want to do when you are studying abroad.

If you truly want to go to Italy I would suggest trying to learn how to speak Italian, because I am guessing that you will have to take classes in Italian if you go to an Italian school.

Answer 5

You should study abroad in high school! I am going abroad my Junior year next year! I'm so excited.

Here are some websites if you might be interested in doing a high school exchange:

http://www.usa.afs.org/usa_en/home

http://www.yfu-usa.org/

Also, Rotary is a good program.

And here is a forum with alot of exchange students and exchange student hopefuls: http://www.cultures-shocked.org/forum/