So you’re thinking of studying abroad at some point during your life?
Congratulations on making such a great decision!
If you are still early in your university career or especially still in high school, it’s important to start thinking about making study abroad a reality now.
I’ve said before that study abroad advisors believe in planning early, and going often!
To help you prepare for planning your experience, just think about GRAPES and you will be well on your way!
G: Get excited!
Studying abroad is a pretty big deal, and if you’re not excited yet… get excited!
Just think of all of the places you can go!
Imagine restoring original paintings in a palazzo in Italy…
Researching sustainability alongside world-class scientists in Denmark…
Living with a host family in Costa Rica and finding a second home…
Studying the biodiversity in Australia…
Leading a language exchange in Japan…
Joining an education symposium in Ghana…
Investigating the history of yoga in India…
All of these – and so, so much more – are possible through study abroad.
The world is truly your oyster, and you can make your experience incredible!
R: Reflect
A little introspection goes a long way.
Start thinking about your rationale for pursuing study abroad. This will help you find a program or tailor an experience that will be the most impactful for you.
Why do I want to study abroad? What am I hoping to get out of it?
What do I want to learn about myself while abroad? What concerns do I have?
As a helpful hint, check out these questions you should ask yourself.
Notice I didn’t focus on where you should study abroad – this should be secondary to the type of experience that is the best match for you!
A: Availability
If you are already studying at a college or university, check out your school’s study abroad website for available programs, as well as the approval process for programs not approved by the school.
Keep in mind that there are many different types of programs, and some universities do not have a wide variety of programs available.
If you are still in high school, check out the study abroad websites at your top 3 or 5 schools. This will probably help you see which schools have options that sound like a good fit for you!
In addition to checking for available programs, start looking at the minimum GPA requirements. These might inspire you to keep your grades up!
P: Passport
Since you are just starting out in your research, this is a great time to do the following:
- Check your passport for its validity (and expiration date)
- Apply for a passport if you do not have one
For most programs, your passport will need to be valid for at least six months past the last day of your study abroad program.
If you aren’t thinking about studying abroad for another few years, at least you are now aware of how long your passport will be valid!
Side note – if you put off checking your passport until after you have been accepted to a program, you run the risk of not having enough time to get a visa if your host country requires it.
And yes, I have seen this many, many, many times before, despite many warnings to students!
E: Evaluations
Read some evaluations of programs you are looking into! There are some websites with program evaluations, and some programs have program evaluations available for you to see right on their websites.
Abroad 101 is one such study abroad review website – keep in mind that not all programs have reviews, as many evaluations are not mandatory (and you might not find many reviews of exchange programs).
However, you can also ask your study abroad office to connect you with students who have studied abroad where you plan to go.
As a warning about the student connection, study abroad advisors cannot share any student information unless the student has expressly provided consent.
If you ask to have your email shared, that would help make the connection happen.
S: Schedule
Before you start an application (or start researching flights), go ahead and think about your ideal schedule for your study abroad future.
Do you want to go for a semester?
An academic year?
A summer program?
Winterterm?
Spring break?
Do you want to go abroad as many times as you can (afford)?
Do you need to make sure you have time for internships?
Thinking about this early will help you schedule your study abroad experience academically and financially, and will also help you manage expectations for your involvement in on-campus events, organizations, and activities.
So there you have it! Pre-planning for study abroad is as easy as GRAPES 🙂
Related Posts:
Prioritize Travel Saving (+ Calculator)
7 Habits of Successful Study Abroad Students
How to Get Credit for Study Abroad Programs
Websites You Should Know for Study Abroad
Study Abroad Guide: Preparation Phase