Murphys Law Gone Right

A short while ago I had a minor crisis. I thought I wouldn’t be able to study abroad because of a required class that was being offered in the spring. Luckily, every problem was solved. Nevertheless, I felt this was a good opportunity to discuss what you must do in order to successfully study abroad. It is not difficult to receive permission, and I firmly believe there is a program for most everyone (yes that’s right! you engineers and science majors can do it to). Because scheduling classes can be difficult, some people choose to go away in the summer. Overall though, there is something for everyone. One of my good friends went to Paris this past summer and worked in a hospital. She’s writing a guest blog about it so stay-tuned. So, for your enjoyment and for the sake of progress, here are 7 easy steps to studying abroad.

Step 1: Decide WHEN you want to go abroad. This really is crucial. Make sure there aren’t any required classes being offered check to see if specific programs are better in the fall or the spring. For example, there was a business program in Grenoble, but the fall semester gave you some sort of certificate acknowledging your completion of the necessary classes a business certificate. The spring did not offer such a certificate. I would just like to recommend not letting anyone influence your decision. If you want to go abroad in the spring because all your friends are going abroad then, really make sure it is what you would want to do. At first I  thought I would go abroad in the fall, since all my friends from home were going then. We had it all planned out and in fact, they were all planning on being in Europe. Well, one is in South Africa, two decided not to go abroad, and another was suppose to be in Paris for a year, and now its only a semester. Even my friends from Hopkins changed their plans. Would I have gone abroad in the fall, if I had known that people were going to change their plans? Maybe. I can’t really say. Overall, the lesson learned is that you should make the choice based simply on your preferences and not worry about anyone else’s plans. You should of course pay attention to any required courses and pay attention to what your academic schedule permits, but after that make your decision. It’s also important to note, you can go abroad for the whole year–just a thought.

Step 2: Choose a program. I’ll be honest, for me this was possibly the most difficult part. I cannot necessarily say the best way to go about doing this. I personally, narrowed it down by continent and then by country (although, to be honest, the country part was insanely hard for me). Some things you might want to consider: which classes will relate to your major, what type of weather you like, foreign language experience, whether you want to do direct enrollment or through a study abroad program like IES or CIEE, whether you want to do research, whether you want to travel to other countries. Some of the things that influenced me were: proximity to some sort of water (i do not like being inland), ability to take classes that interested me at an excellent university(go UvA!), living in a place where people speak a different language– but also all speak English, and having the ability to travel to other countries.

Step 3: Make an Appointment with the Study Abroad Office. If you have picked a program great! If you have a few choices, talk it through with the study abroad director, Dr. Citti, and she may have a few good ideas. Also, while you are there, make sure to get all the forms you will need to get official approval.

Step 4: Complete the Forms. You have to get a waiver signed and also meet with your academic advisor and make sure your classes will be approved. Once you get your advisor to sign the form stating that your time abroad will not inhibit progress for your major or your ability to graduate, you must bring it to the office of the Dean of Students (and the Dean of Engineering if you are an Engineering major).

Step 5: Apply to your program and hopefully get accepted!

Step 6: Bring the forms to the study abroad office where they will send them and fax the appropriate information to your programs. Also include a copy of your acceptance letter.

Step 7: Start packing because you are ready to goooo!!!! So some things that you may want to consider and do upon acceptance to a program.

• Make sure your passport does not expire while you are abroad. Your program will not accept a passport that expires while you are in another country and it takes a while to have your passport processed so do it early!

• Check and see if you need a visa to live there (I know France and Spain require them). I do not need one, I just get a residency permit upon arrival, but I had friends who had to visit the embassy of their future homes in Washington D.C.

• Get a physical. Most likely your program will require an up-to-date physical (along with other forms) shortly after your acceptance.

• Look for scholarships! There are plenty of scholarships available and opportunities for funding abroad. I highly recommend looking around. There is plenty of information in the Study Abroad Office regarding such scholarships.

• Look for flights early! I am currently in the process of looking for flights. The sooner you book, the less it will cost.

• If you live in on-campus housing notify the school of your departure. If you live off-campus start looking for a subletter, unless of course you are willing to pay rent and not live there.

• Finally, check to see where your friends will be! Start getting ideas of where you want to go and visit. Even if you don’t end up going to such places, its still fun to think about reuniting with Hopkins people and friends while out of the country.

Well, I’m sure I will have plenty things to say once I am abroad, but until then you will have to linger in uncertainty. I am not going there until January 28th and I still have a bunch of papers and finals to finish before I even think about it. I can’t wait though, to go shopping and get an amazingly European wardrobe so I can be photographed by my favorite fashion blog The Sartorialist. I also am hoping to return to Hopkins in January just for a short visit so I can see a few friends and maybe (cross-my-fingers) go to the inauguration. Until next time…