Study Abroad Progam?

Question

Does anyone know of a good study abroad program? Has anyone ever studied abroad before and i so can you give me some advice on how to sign up and what to expect? Thanks!

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Answer 1

I picked up the packet from my universities ( Northern Illinois University) study abroad office.  I read the packet through and talked with my parents about the trip, how I would fund it and so forth.  I filled out the application and turned it in.  Next I applied for scholarships for the trip for some extra money.

Once I knew I wanted to go, I applied for a passport, and made copies of the passport to keep with me and give to my parents.  

Make sure you turn your application in promptly, i waited and was put on a waiting list and almost did not get to go on the trip!

After that I went to Borders and picked up a Travel guide book and a few maps of places I planned on visiting.  The guide book was a big help.  Afterwards I went online and was able to purchase  plane/train/boat/transportation tickets, they often have student discounts available!  I reserved tickets for a few plays I wanted/had to see for class. Reserving hotels and hostels was nice online because you can see the ratings of hostels I also checked out the cities web sites for information.

Find out who else is going on the trip, the trip I went on had a facebook group to join.  Communicating with the other students was a great way to pre-plan trips and coordinate events so that you don&#039;t have to travel alone.  

Inform your credit card and bank that you will be traveling abroad, they will ask for a list of countries you will be visiting.  Have your credit card information ( card #, phone number to call on the back of the card) in case something happens.  Have your local bank order the currency(ies) of the country(s)  you will be visiting.  This eliminates the need to wait in line at the airport to exchange your money where they charge a higher rate.  I made this mistake and while I was in the very long passport line/exchange counter my luggage was robbed and I lost $180 worth of stuff.  Nothing really important was stolen, except for my camera&#039;s battery charger, which made the trip problematic!  

Check out what voltage and plug system the country uses and buy adapters/converters as necessary.  Most laptops, phone chargers and camera chargers work fine with the different voltages.  

get luggage if you dont already have some and practice how you will pack your things, make sure to leave extra room for bringing back souvenirs and gifts.  Make sure to bring a carry on, they are great for weekend trips and shopping.

check with your schools health center if you need to get any required/optional vaccinations.  Get plenty of perscriptions if you need them.  The study abroad office will need copies of these medications instructions for your safety on the trip.  

I spent a month studying at Oxford this summer, and it was worth every minute!  I took mini trips around the country, and also visited Ireland and France!  I hope you decide to try a study abroad program, good luck!

Answer 2

Well, do you mean a high school study abroad program?

If so, I went with Rotary; a non-profit organization that sponsors you, cutting the average price in half. Many programs specializing in youth exchange cost an average of 8-11 thousand for a year exchange. Try searching for your local Rotary Club and asking for details. It usually takes about six months to a year of planning.

After Rotary, I would suggest trying AFS; I have not had any personal experience with agency, but I have Chilean friends who have gone through the program and I haven&#039;t heard them complain. Apart from that , you can easily search other youth exchange programs online. You can be from 14-19  ( 19 at the age of departure; good for those gap year students) in order to qualify for most of these programs, however between 16-19 is the best time to go.

With this type of program you can be placed with one-to-three families on average, depending on the agency. You go to a local high school and integrate yourself with the local teens ( even if you don&#039;t understand what the teachers are saying, it usually doesn&#039;t matter much!).

College programs can be found through your home college, or if not, through an outside college study abroad agency and then you would just work the details out through your home college and the foreign college.

If you are actually looking for an American education abroad, there are actually some American universities in Europe. So far I have found two U.S colleges with sister campuses in Italy and Spain. Supposedly, they are run just like American colleges, but in a different setting.

It is a little pricey though, about 7-9 thousand per semester.

If you&#039;re not set on only studying abroad, you can also work, intern, or volunteer abroad. Some programs will allow you to stay with local families and you teach them English in exchange for room and board. You can also Au Pair ( usually is open to females only) while learning the local language and culture.

I hope you decide to study abroad; it is a great experience. No, not everything is a ray of sunshine, but as a whole, it&#039;s wonderful because it builds character, strengthens you as a person, creates long-term meaniful relationships, and you can have a blast while doing it!  Plus, it should be noted that staying with a host family USUALLY lessens the chances of you becoming really homesick. For me, as long as I was around people who were nice, decent, and cared about me, I was fine being thousands of miles away from my family and everything I knew.  

Hope you find what you are looking for!

Answer 3

london!