Planning Your Experience
Having trouble deciding where to go, what do do, and when to do it? Read our section on questions to consider to help decide what type of educational experience abroad is best for you. For some students, taking a traditional academic semester overseas during their junior year is ideal, but for others a summer volunteer or internship experience, or even a meaningful alternative spring break trip, will meet your needs and desires. Many roads lead abroad, and we highly encourage you to think ahead, and carefully, about what promises to be one of the most significant experiences of your life! Continue reading.
John Irving, author of books such as The Cider House Rules and The World According to Garp, once wrote, “My year [of study abroad] was the single-most important year of my education, or perhaps more broadly, my growing up….I became so excited by the city and its history and, outside of [our professor’s] philosophy courses, was so encouraged by him to explore Vienna more….I know I feel permanently attached to the city, and in the time in my life, that I feel I first became vividly aware of other people’s lives all around me.” Continue reading.
Duke University graduate and former Fulbright Fellow Sara Lipka studied in Bolivia, Chile, and England. She's got tons of great advice for how to get the most out of your experience abroad!
Know if a small or large program is right for you? Curious about how to meet locals and participate in the culture? Wondering how to combine a variety of academic interests? Listen to this interview to get a well-informed opinion.
Five Steps for planning an international experience:
1. Meet with your study abroad adviser or academic adviser at least six months before you plan to go abroad, and preferably a year ahead. Every
college and univesity has different policies for studying, interning, or volunteering abroad. Your school may even have different guidelines for different majors. Your adviser(s) can help you figure out how going abroad will fit in with your academic curriculum and goals.
2. Research the programs and/or foreign universities you are interested in and make an attempt to talk with returned study abroad students who pursued a similar path. Once you've determined whether you want to and can study, intern, or volunteer abroad, then choose the program that best fits your needs and interests.
3. Apply for your program or begin the process of direct enrollment. Education abroad programs can fill up quickly, so you should get started early and consider applying for a few programs.
4. Get your study abroad courses approved. After you've made all your big decisions, discuss your interests with your adviser and ensure you've taken all measures to get credit for the classes that you'll take overseas.
5. If finances are a concern, apply for financial aid or for scholarships, grants, or possibly student loans, although you should discuss these options with your study abroad adviser or financial aid adviser. See Abroad View's Money Matters section.
