We got in contact with another expert this week. This time it was Cherie Sawinski, the Interim Director of the University of Wisconsin-Superior Study Abroad Office.
So, without further ado, here are some quick tips for those of you thinking about studying abroad.
1) Start Early
- The earlier you can get into the study abroad office, the easier it is. “I love when I get freshmen in my office,” Sawinski said. And the reason for that is simple; she has more time to help them. If you visit the office sooner, your chances of graduating on time go up, the number of programs that will work for you go up, and your chances of being able to afford it will go up. That isn’t to say you can’t come in later. It just means you will have a harder time getting the program to fit into your four year plan, if you wait longer.
2) Plan Ahead
- Scholarships, financial aid, program applications… they all offer strict deadlines and have specific requirements that you will need to meet. A little bit of planning can go a long way in matters of finance and study abroad. Hit up the “bank of mom and dad” and see how much they can help, apply for financial aid, save money with summer jobs, find lower interest academic loans, and budget away. You can never be too prepared. Money is a major concern for people who want to study abroad, but with a little bit of planning, it is more than possible to manage.
3) Meet with Study Abroad Alumni
- Talking with someone who has studied abroad before can be a really great tool. Got any questions? Well, they just went through it. They can discuss with you any concerns you may have and let you know how they dealt with any issues they came across. Being away from home, family, friends, significant others, familiar foods, etc. can be difficult, but they did it, and most likely if you talk with them, you will realize you can too. “I can tell a student the same thing as an alumni, but hearing it from someone their own age has a different effect,” Sawinksi said, and for whatever reason, that does seem to be the case.
4) Keep your Options Open
- Programs vary by length, price, destination, and a number of other factors, so when thinking of studying abroad it may be in your best interest to keep an open mind. Sometimes the program you want to go on won’t be the best for your situation, but that doesn’t mean you should give up. Take a chance. Listen to your advisor and see what else is out there.
5) Just do it!
- If you don’t, you will regret it. At times the process and the actual experience may be tough, but it is a once in a lifetime experience. You are much more likely to regret what opportunities you didn’t seize, than the ones you did.
What’s the worst that could happen?
For more information on study abroad, visit your university's study abroad office!