F E A T U R E   A R T I C L E How to choose a study abroad program

Are you thinking about studying abroad? You've probably imagined how exciting it would be to live in a foreign country and be immersed in another culture. But there are so many things you'll need to do before you ever get on an airplane. Read on for more about the decision-making process; then print out our checklist to help you get everything done.

The best advice is to begin as soon as possible. You'll want to have plenty of time to research study abroad programs, and to consider which ones may be right for you. Talk to your high school guidance counselor or college study abroad office about student exchange opportunities that your school may offer. On-line directories of study abroad programs are great resources because you can search by country, length of program, and academic courses, as well as request more information about any ones in which you are interested. Studyabroad.com, a comprehensive online directory of study abroad and language immersion programs, is a good place to start. There are also a number of books that you can buy or check out from the library with detailed program listings.

Deciding what your goals are will help you choose from the many options available to you. Consider why you want to go abroad:

• Are you hoping to gain experience that will benefit you when you apply to college or begin a career?
• Are you most interested in learning about another culture or language?
• Are you seeking academic breadth not available at your own school?

• whether you want to stay for all or only part of an academic year.
• the costs of any program and what you can afford to pay.
• your level of language proficiency.

For information on exams required by American schools, see the ETS web site.

After you've applied and been accepted into a program, you'll need to make sure you have the proper documentation for traveling abroad. Necessary documents usually include a passport for entering the host country, and a visa to allow you permission to stay there as a student. These may take four to six weeks, or even longer, to get. Apply for these items well in advance in case there are any delays in government processing. The U.S. government has an excellent web page that lists foreign entry requirements for Americans going abroad, a tip sheet for American students, and student visa information for students coming to the United States. Check with your sponsoring exchange agency to find out about any other documents you'll need to have, such as birth certificates, medical records and proof of immunizations. Some documents may need to be translated into the language of your host country, so make sure you allow time to have that done also. It's a good idea to get an international student ID card to qualify for student travel discounts and reduced admission at attractions like museums and theaters around the world.

The process from researching study abroad programs to arriving in the other country may be involved, but proper planning can help assure a good experience that will provide some of the best memories of your life. Be sure to print out a copy of our checklist that covers all of the typical things that must be done to prepare to study abroad, and suggests how far in advance you should do them.  Also, visit our links page to find additional online resources. 

By Susan Ernenwein and Alice Hoover

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