A Year in the Life of A Study Abroad Application Part IX: Deadline Coming!

Hi there, Tulane!! 

Only 4 DAYS until applications are due for Fall 2017 study abroad! I know that around this time, we all start feeling a little panicky because it feels like there is So. Much. To. Do. and just So. Little Time. But, I’m here to tell you: don’t worry! Let’s walk through the final steps to complete the application. 

Take a deep breath and remind yourself: we got this!

Throughout this series, I’ve talked about the program-specific items on the app, like my Application Statement, learning goals, and the courses I want to take while I’m studying at the University College Dublin. As I mentioned last time, the same advice applies to pretty much wherever you plan on going! For this post, I’m basically going talk about my experience wrapping up my application and making sure everything is in check to hand it over to the Office of Study Abroad by the deadline.

If you haven’t finished your essay, or you aren’t ready to submit it just yet, schedule an appointment with the Writing Center. The tutors there will gladly help edit your statement and polish it perfectly so that it is ready to submit! Another good idea is to swap essays with a friend to get another set of eyes on it. You definitely don’t want to submit anything with a lot of typos, and you should make sure that you are answering the questions in the prompt! Don’t just talk about how excited you are to travel; try to write about all of the amazing cultural and educational experiences you’re hoping to have!

Beyond that, it's important to remember the bottom line: Don’t worry too much about what’s not in your hands. Just keep the OSA in the loop about pieces of the application you may still be waiting for. Whether it’s watching out for your new passport or following up with your professors to get those recommendations in, just make sure to finish everything that you can (as well as you can) and keep the office informed about anything that you’re still waiting on. 

If you have questions about this process and can’t make an appointment with an advisor, just call the office at (504) 865-5339 and we can answer your questions.

Once you’ve submitted your application, celebrate! Read a little bit more about your host country! Watch some interesting films or listen to music from the place where you may be living for six months! And then, relax. Focus on mid-terms. Enjoy Mardi Gras (and read our weekly feature on this blog about Mardi Gras celebrations around the world)! In the meantime, the OSA will be facilitating the review of applications. Notification letters will go out to all applicants on March 6 to your Tulane email address!

Going through the application process has been a crazy experience. It’s been so much fun to imagine myself living somewhere completely new, out of the country, for a whole year! I can’t wait to start the next phase, when I begin actually planning my move abroad!

Talk to you after March 6!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Fat Tuesday around the world! From left: Venice, Rio, Trinidad & Tobago, Belgium.

Weekly Newsletter • February 10, 2017

Happy Friday!! The Office of Study Abroad has launched a few new programs this week that we're excited to tell you about, along with some fun upcoming events around New Orleans. Here's everything you need to know:

 

Study Abroad Returnee Contact

Drum roll, please...we're thrilled to announce the launch of our new program, SARC! The Study Abroad Returnee Contact program serves to benefit both prospective and returning abroad students here at Tulane. SARC provides a platform for returnee study abroad students to share their advice and experiences with students preparing to study abroad themselves. Not only do the SARCs rep studying abroad, they also rep their specific program and individual experience. SARCs offer credibility, experience, and perspective into what studying abroad is really like.

If you're student looking into studying abroad, check out the SARC page and reach out to any of our returnee students - they're ready to help you out in this process!

If you are a returnee study abroad student and you're interested in becoming a SARC, it's not too late! Fill out this form to join our team of student mentors. 

 

Instagram Takeover & Meet the Staff

Second drum roll, please... we're also launching TWO new series on our social media. First, we posted our first ever "Meet the Staff" introduction on our Facebook and Instagram pages. This week, we introduced the amazing Professor Annie Gibson. Follow us to stay tuned for introductions to the rest of our staff and interns! 

Our second social media series is the Study Abroad Instagram Takeover! Tomorrow, Julianne Behrens, a Tulane junior currently studying abroad in Thailand, will be taking over our Instagram for the first time to show us what a day in the life of a CIEE Thailand: Development and Globalization student is like. Be sure to follow us, so you don't miss an inside look into her weekend!

 

Fall 2017 Study Abroad Application Deadline

The Fall 2017 application deadline is only 1 WEEK AWAY!! Be sure to complete your application by next Friday, February 17. 

 

Upcoming Events & Information

• "Mobilizações de jovens, artistas e coletivos no Brasil" a lecture in Portuguese by Rafael Schincariol 
• Friday, February 10 at 4pm in Jones Hall 100A
• Rafael Schincariol is a member of the Coletivo Quem artist collective in São Paulo and co-author of Lampejos: Arte, Memória, Verdade, Justiça. He currently works for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington, D.C.
• TEDxTU: Next Steps
• Monday, February 13 at 6pm in Dixon Hall
• "Latin America at the Crossroads Seminar with Dr. Ernesto Calvo"
• February 34rd at 4PM
• "Film Screening and Panel Discussion: Neruda" 
• February 16th at 6:30 PM

 

Tet - Vietnamese New Year

TONIGHT! Celebrate Vietnamese New Year at the Mary Queen of Vietnam festival! This year's festival is particularly important because it will support families affected by this week's tornado that hit New Orleans East. 

Check out these articles about Tet in New Orleans:

• TET Vietnamese celebrations on the horizon in New Orleans area
• Vietnamese New Year in New Orleans
• Tet festival at Mary Queen of Vietnam goes on despite tornadoes

Countdown to Carnival: Mardi Gras Around the World!

In the coming weeks leading up the Mardi Gras, we will be featuring weekly explorations into Carnival celebrations across the globe on our Instagram and Facebook.  

This week, we take a peek into Trinidad and Tobago's festivities. Check it out!

"The Caribbean’s biggest Mardi Gras builds its party around calypso and soca music performances and competition. “It’s like a battle of calypso bands,” Gillease says. The celebration, which brings African and Caribbean influences to a traditional Carnival, is known for exuberant dancing and parades."

A Year in the Life of a Study Abroad Applicant - Part VIII: I am a Study Abroad Application Completion Machine!

Hi everyone!

If you’re anything like me, you probably arrived back on campus with the best of intentions to get your study abroad application submitted as soon as you could! Well, I certainly didn’t, since I got swept up in seeing friends, starting classes and getting involved again in soccer and the other things I do around campus. But something about this cold weather makes me want to just hang out inside and work on my application! So, I thought I would loop you in as I work my way through it!

Last time I wrote, I went over the time-sensitive, logistical parts of the application, like the passport, advisor and faculty recommendations, and the transcript. This week, I’m working on the more program-specific items like my Academic Statement, learning goals and the courses I want to take. I’m going to keep up my application to University College Dublin, but don’t worry, wherever you plan to go, the same advice applies pretty much!

Once you are logged in to your application, over on the right-hand side, you’ll find a list of application questionnaires. Here is where I need to spend some time and, while I do, I’ll go over each one so we can get to the nuts and bolts of what we need to do.

First off, the Academic Statement is basically just your application essay, in which you explain why you want to study abroad on your selected program, and how the program will help you achieve your academic goals. You should definitely plan to talk about the academic connections between your field of study at Tulane and what you can do on the program when writing this essay! Does it give you a new perspective on your major that you couldn’t otherwise get? Or is it something that you can’t study at Tulane because of the constraints of your major? How have you prepared for the program and courses you will take?

When writing this essay, it’s also really important to make it clear that you understand what the program offers – whether the courses are in English or the local language, what type of support services are or aren’t available, etc. Don’t write about learning French on your program if that isn’t actually an option available to you! Finally, you should write a little bit about how your study abroad experience will help make your entire time at Tulane more “international.” How will you continue to engage in global issues when you come back to New Orleans?

The second part of this statement asks you to write down three questions that you might have about your host country that you can try to answer while you’re studying abroad. You can think about these questions as part of your learning goals. Then, write a brief essay about how you will answer these questions. For example, for me, I want to know how Dubliners carry on the literary legacy of such famous Irish writers as James Joyce. One way that I will try to answer that question is by taking courses at UCD like “Reading the Story of Ireland” and “Reading Joyce.”

But truth be told, I could also take similar courses at Tulane, so I want to make sure and list some additional ways that I can learn about Joyce that I could only do in Dublin. I would definitely plan to visit the James Joyce Centre, home to many of Joyce’s writings, and the host of the annual Bloomsday festival. They also offer walking tours all year that visit many of the places he frequented or put into his books. I’ll write about those two opportunities and explain how they will help me answer my question about Joyce.

The purpose of this essay is to give us an opportunity to really show that we have some plans for learning about our host country’s history and culture while we’re there! And it’s a good way to do some research about it before we go!

All of this research, by the way, has gotten me really excited about all the Dublin eye candy I’ll get to see. Here’s a sneak peek.

In and around Dublin...SO gorgeous!

OK, enough of that! Back to work!

The last part of the application I’m going to talk about in detail is your proposed course schedule. To answer this question, you have to be able to navigate to your program’s web page and find courses that may be available for you to take when you’re there. It’s okay if these courses don’t end up being the ones you ultimately enroll in once you’re on site. The important thing is that you’re able to find course listings and get an idea of how those courses might translate back to Tulane. That’s why the application asks you to list the course at your host institution AND list the Tulane department equivalent! 

It’s also really important that you demonstrate that you understand which courses you can and can’t take. For example, at UCD, I’ll take five or six courses during the semester I’m there. But, I have to take at least four of them within my major. So if I list 4 courses outside of my major, then the Office of Study Abroad might say, “Hey, wait a minute,” when reading my application! So before completing this part of the application, make sure you know the courses you can take and the rules and restrictions that you may have to think about!

One other, minor thing. The “Backup Study Abroad Program” questionnaire was added this year because some programs fill up or have too many applicants. So in the rare case that not every student can be accommodated on a program, the OSA has a space for you to put your second choice, just in case. This way, we can all act very quickly to make sure you still study abroad, if not on your first choice program. You’re not required to fill this out, but it doesn’t hurt anything if you do!

You’ll notice that, as you complete these items, a check mark will appear in the “Received” column on your application. This way, you’ll be able to track your progress!

Remember, the application deadline is not until February 17^th, so you have plenty of time to get it in, even if you haven’t started looking! For those of you who know where you’re going, check out the Study Abroad Facebook page because we regularly post scholarship opportunities that our students should be looking into!  

If you have any questions, just send an email to osa (at) tulane (dot) edu.

I’ll be back soon so we can do one final review of all aspects of the Tulane application! 

In the meantime, keep an eye out for our weekly newsletter, posted every Friday right here on our blog. Every week until Mardi Gras, we’ll be featuring Fat Tuesday traditions from around the world! Make sure and check it out!

A Year in the Life of a Study Abroad Applicant - Part VII: Starting my Application to Study Abroad

Hi everyone!

(Almost) welcome back for the spring semester! I know class is still one week away, but I’m already thinking about the things I need to do when I get back to campus. This semester will get off to a busy start for me – and all of my fellow Tulane students out there who are planning to study abroad in the fall – because our Tulane applications are due on February 17th! The application is online on the OSA website – basically, when you are visiting the program brochure page of the program you’d like to apply for (as an example, here is the University College Dublin program brochure), you can just click the “Apply Now” button on the top right-hand side of the page. Then you log in to the site using your Tulane username and password, select the term and, voila, you have created an application!

Before I get into the weeds here, I want to make sure that everyone understands the difference between the Tulane application and the secondary application. In order to study on a Tulane-approved program, you have to apply through Tulane on the OSA website. This post will go into a lot of detail explaining that application! Many other programs have what we call a “secondary” application as well that you will have to complete. For example, to go to UCD (University College Dublin), you have to fill out the Tulane application and the University College Dublin application, which is available on their website. These applications are not due by Tulane’s deadline, you can fill them out in advance of their deadline. It’s always a good idea to look at the secondary application while you’re filling out the Tulane application in case the secondary app requires something like a faculty recommendation or language evaluation – you can get them at the same time that you’re talking to your professors and advisors for the Tulane app! You can determine if your program has a secondary application by looking at the top part of the program brochure.

OK, back to the Tulane application: Make sure that you select the program you’re really interested in when you start your application! (If you decide to switch to a different program before the deadline, you should email the study abroad office to let them know instead of creating a new application. They’ll be happy to switch it over for you.)

Once you log in, there are two different places that are really useful to look. One is the Applicant Home. (I put a screenshot below – it’s one made by a staff member in the office, so it doesn’t have any of my info on it! She has a few more program applications out there, so ours won’t look exactly the same…) You can get there by clicking the little house icon on the left side of the toolbar. The applicant homepage is nice because you are able to see all of the messages that have been sent to you through the online system. It’s really important to check on those every now and then, in case the actual messages don’t make it through your spam filter…These emails usually contain really important information like deadlines and visa info and official letters…don’t ignore them so you don’t miss anything important!

Click here for a larger version of this image

The second place where I will be spending a lot of time is the actual application portal. You get there by clicking on the program name on the left-hand side of the screen, under application! Once you click on the program name, you get to the application itself, which has a number of boxes on the right hand side. Basically, you should just click through each of the boxes and read the instructions. I’ll point out some of the things I think are really important for us to think about.

First off, there are some application requirements that we can control, time-wise, like our academic statement, the list of courses we plan to take, and our signatures on a bunch of the forms. They’ll be finished as soon as we finish them. On the other hand, we also have to rely on other people to complete the application! So, I’ll focus on those items today and in my next post, I’ll talk about the other requirements.

The big one: the passport! If you don’t have a passport yet, get one ASAP. Why? Well, first of all, you need to submit a copy of your passport as part of your study abroad application. If your passport application is being processed, you can write that and your study abroad application will still be considered, but I’d advise everyone to get their passports as soon as possible. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after the end of your study abroad program. So, if you’re going to Dublin until May of 2018, your passport should expire in December 2018 or later. (Seems like forever from now!) The reason for this is also the reason that you should get your passport ASAP: Visas and Customs!

Most of us will need to apply for a visa in order to study in our host country. (More details on that later.) Both, the staff who process visas and the officials that work in customs want to see that your passport is valid for at least six months after your program ends, so start doing that math and if you need to get a new passport, go ahead and apply before the semester gets too crazy.

The other part of the application that will require you to rely on other folks are all of the advisor approvals and a faculty recommendation! Since somewhere between 300 and 400 Tulane students study abroad each fall, professors and advisors have a lot of requests, so I think it’s a really good idea to ask them as early as possible. Most programs only require that a professor “approve” that you are a good candidate to study abroad. They don’t really even need to write a letter. With your academic advisor and major advisor, you’re expected to meet with them and go over the classes you plan to take and how you think they’ll fulfill your requirements at Tulane. (I did this at the end of the fall semester.) Then, just ask them if they’d sign off on your application. If they agree, you’ll type in their email address and the application system will automatically send them an email!

If your secondary application also requires faculty recommendations, language evaluations, or any other approvals, you can get all of this at the same time, or at least talk to your professors all at once. It’s definitely a good idea to know what your secondary application requires when you start the Tulane approval process

The last thing I will do is order an official transcript so that I can upload it to the application system. Ordering a transcript is super-easy and free, if you just walk over to the registrar’s office to get it. You can get one free transcript per week, and just keep in mind that it takes 3 days to process, so try to go get one as soon as you get back to campus. If you don’t mind spending a few bucks, you can also order them through. If you don’t mind spending a few bucks, you can also order them through your Gibson account online. The transcript should contain all of my grades from up to the fall semester, so just be sure that you request that the transcript is held until all of your fall grades are posted.  

OK, for those of us that don’t like big, thick paragraphs, here is a very concise pictograph to explain what I’ve just written!

Click here for a larger version of this image

Study Abroad Program Search!

Over the past few months, we've been working on updating the search feature on our website and we're happy to announce it's ready to go just in time for winter break! For those of you that are considering study abroad in the fall of 2017 or the 2017-18 academic year, winter break is the perfect time to do some research before coming back to campus in January. The application deadline is just over two months away on February, 17. Hopefully, our "Year in the Life of a Study Abroad Applicant" series has been keeping you well informed. This post can give you some ideas on how to use the search feature to find the right program for you! 

Using the Advanced Search feature, you can search for a study abroad program in lots of different ways. 

Search By Major: 

As you progress throughout your four years at Tulane, you’re taking care of the lower-level major requirements that are necessary before you can take some of those upper level core and elective courses. You probably want to find a program where you can take major courses that enhance what you are already doing at Tulane. Good news! The Major search function has just been updated so you should be able to find your major and pull up a list of programs that offer coursework in your field. Once you get that list, you can start visiting program websites to see what types of courses are offered and if they fit your requirements and interests! Here are some examples of programs by major:

African and African Diaspora Studies

English

Political Science: International Relations

Public Health

Sociology

This search option provides a great jumping off point to discover programs that offer your major courses. Always make sure to visit the course listing page of the program website to make sure that the program offers the courses that you need. If you don't see your major listed, or can't find a program based on your major, send an email to our office!

Search By Language:

If you know you would like to study in the language you’re studying at Tulane, you can use the advanced search option to limit results by language! Check out what comes up for each of the languages that are offered at Tulane: Arabic, Chinese*, French, German, Italian, Japanese*, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. 

*Students of Asian languages should also look at National University Singapore.

Search By Program Model: 

Our website describes the three different program models to which study abroad programs generally conform. Some programs offer the opportunity for students to directly enroll at a host institution, the “classic model of study abroad,” and required a high degree of independence. Alternatively, hybrid programs combine direct enrollment with study abroad program support. You can research the various program models on our website and search for program based on model: Direct Enrollment, Cohort/Island, Hybrid. 

Search By Duration:

Historically, “study abroad” has been known as JYA, or junior year abroad, a time when students spend an entire academic year on an international program. While study abroad for a full year has many, many benefits, it’s not always a feasible option. Your on-campus commitments to such activities as Student Government, Greek Life or community service may prevent you from being able to go abroad for a full year. Have no fear, the Office of Study Abroad offers programs for fall or spring only, as well as over the summer! 

Academic Year Programs, Fall Programs, Spring Programs, Summer Programs

We hope this little search tutorial is helpful for those of you that plan to spend (at least a small part) of your well-deserved winter break looking at your study abroad options!

A Year in the Life of a Study Abroad Applicant - Part VI: Registration for the upcoming semester before study abroad!

Hey Tulane! 

Happy start to the holiday season! It’s already nearing the end of the semester, which means that everyone is starting to plan their schedules for the spring as registration approaches. For me, spring registration means that I need to start thinking seriously about what classes I want to take before, during, and after my time abroad. According to my advisors, I should plan carefully because it’s possible that some of my major or minor requirements will not be available where I study. So, even if a course is normally taken during junior year, I might need to see if I can take it this spring or even senior year after I get back. I also don’t want to schedule something this spring at Tulane if I can find a version of it abroad…if you're planning to study abroad, you might be thinking what I'm thinking...

How do I even begin?

Well, good news! I've talked to everyone in the know to come up with some pretty basic steps that can get you (and me!) started. 

Based on some advice from different advisors, I began by using an exploratory degree audit (available to all of us in trusty Gibson) to look at my major and minor requirements. By identifying what classes I still need to take, I can analyze what should be taken next semester before I go abroad. I know that I want to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, and I saw that Tulane requires students to enroll in a Spanish class the semester prior to going abroad, so I’ll definitely prioritize fitting that in.

My next step was to identify the classes that I could potentially get credit for while abroad. I’ve heard that many students take their elective courses during this time, because it is easier to get transfer credit. Most university websites provide listings of what classes they offer, and you can always email the professors for sample syllabi. However, the best indication of what you can get credit for is by talking to your major advisor. I just had a meeting with my major advisor this week, and she told me that my department will only accept two classes worth of credit from abroad. Good to know!

The study abroad office also updates the courses that students have taken in the past on their website. If you are having a hard time finding courses on the foreign university site, just go to the program brochure page on Tulane’s OSA site and look for the link, “Courses students have taken.” For example, here is a list of all the courses students have taken at the University of Sydney, just to give you an idea.  

Also, don’t forget your Newcomb-Tulane College requirements! Tulane has a 120 credit hour requirement for all students, which will probably be more than what is required for your majors/minors. In addition, before you study abroad, you have to complete the first tier of your core curriculum requirements. You should be able to see your progress in your degree audit and, if not, you can definitely ask an advisor. If you still have some of those to get out of the way, it might be a good idea to sign up for them this spring!

You want to make sure that you can study abroad when it works for you and graduate on time, so it is ESSENTIAL to plan these things beforehand.

I definitely used some of the resources here on campus – the people! I met with my academic advisor, study abroad advisor and major advisor to plan for next semester’s registration. Here’s a breakdown of what kinds of questions you can ask these folks: 

Academic Advisor: Your academic advisor is your go-to person for all schedule-planning. They help you when picking your classes, and are the people who make sure you graduate when you plan to. Academic advisors must also sign off that they approve of your study abroad plans, so it is important to meet with them before you apply.

Study Abroad Advisor: This advisor’s role is to assist you throughout your entire study-abroad process. From helping you to understand the policies and procedures for study abroad, finding a program or helping you set achievable goals for your international experience (and preparing you to go!), the folks in the study abroad office are ready to help!

Major Advisor: Like I said before, your major advisor can help you figure out which classes you should take abroad, and also explain the process for getting major credit for the classes that you take abroad. Once you have narrowed down which program you are interested in applying for, you can look at the classes you are interested in, and then ask your advisor about the potential of getting credit.

I'm also planning to take a course offered by the study abroad office, COLQ-3050: Global Cultural Awareness, to help me capitalize on study abroad and even set up an internship while I'm abroad. The course takes place during the last eight weeks of the semester, and connects study abroad students who are going all over the world. If you might be interested but aren't sure, just send an email to the professor, Annie Gibson. 

Soooo, as I begin to plan my schedule for the spring, these are the things I’ve been thinking about and working on. Back in August, this whole thing seemed so far away, but now I’m realizing that I can start filling out the application as soon as I’ve finished my schedule for next semester. It’s so exciting to think that in less than one year, I’ll be taking my classes in Spanish on the other side of the world! 

Weekly Newsletter

Hello Tulane!

Hopefully everyone is working hard in their classes, and excitedly preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Events coming up: 

We’ve got some important events coming up for those students studying abroad in the Spring of 2017. The Study Abroad Office is holding Regional Pre-Departure Orientation Sessions next week. Attend to develop skills for intercultural communication, learn pertinent knowledge about transitioning into your homestay, and get first-hand advice from students returning from your program and international students from that country! 

For more information, access the events below:

Africa

Australia or New Zealand

Europe

Latin America
Asia

International Engagement Opportunities: 

Now is the time to register for classes! Are you studying abroad in the fall semester? Consider registering for COLQ-3050: Global Cultural Awareness in spring 2017 to help you capitalize on your study abroad experiences and set up an internship while you are abroad next fall.

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The deadline for the Critical Language Scholar Program is coming up! Have you ever wanted to learn a critical language, but never had the opportunity? Are you interested in becoming more competitive in the job market? Check out this amazing program offered by the U.S. Department of State

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Interested in becoming more involved with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival? The Cultural Exchange Pavilion team is hiring a Spanish-speaking intern to assist with translation and interpretation in preparation for the festival. More details provided here. 

Applicants may forward their resume to International@nojazzfest.com and cepadmin@nojazzfest.com. 

Interesting Reads: 

This is a shoutout to Rae Robey, a Tulane student who published an article during her time on the CIEE program in Seville, Spain. The article, published in CIEE's magazine Mas y Menos, describes the lives of first generation Chinese students in Spain, and the blend between their Chinese heritage and the Western culture in which they live. Congrats Rae! 

Ouni Zhang outside of Hiper Oriente

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The ability to study abroad is an amazing gift, and one that Tulane students do not take lightly! Read this inspiring story about a Tulane alumna who received a scholarship to study abroad while in school, and then decided years later to create her own scholarship for future study abroad participants. 

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Anthony Bourdain, interviewed recently on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, reflects on the challenges of being an in-tune, culturally aware traveler. When offered an unsavory piece of an animal to eat (check out the interview to see what) while in a village in Namibia, Bourdain accepted even though the food wasn't the most, let's say, appetizing. Among other things in this interview, he describes why it's so important to take stock of the situation and the importance of the gesture rather than declining the offer: "What am I going to do, refuse him, embarrass him in front of his people, look ungrateful? That changes the whole tenor of the relationship. Find the full interview on NPR's website:

Weekly Events: 

Come meet internationally-minded Tulanians at our weekly Global Cafe: 

This is a great opportunity to interact with international students, returned study abroad students, study abroad advisors, and internationally-minded Tulane faculty and staff. Come join us for coffee desserts every Monday from 3-5 pm in the Pederson Lobby of the LBC!

A Year in the Life of a Study Abroad Applicant - Part V: Debriefing after the Study Abroad Fair

Hey everyone! 

I hope that you all enjoyed this past weekend as much as I did! Having Homecoming, Parents Weekend and Halloween all at the same time is a lot to take in, but I had a great time. In between all of the concerts and other events taking place last week, I found some time to think about my experience at the Study Abroad Fair, and figure out how to go forward with what I’ll plan to do my junior year. I know it seems early, since the deadlines aren’t until the spring, but with registration for classes next semester coming up, I want to make sure I meet any program prerequisites! Here are some of my thoughts:

I had the opportunity to see the fair from both sides – as a student worker, manning the Summer in Senegal table, and as an interested student. Although I did spend a lot of time working at the fair, I was also able to walk around and talk to all of the program representatives about the places that I was interested in. It was such a great opportunity to ask questions to people who know these programs better than anyone else! I was curious to learn more about studying abroad in all South American countries, as well as looking for programs with a Spanish language-immersion focus, since becoming fluent in Spanish is one of my main goals.

My first stop was the CIEE table! CIEE is one of the biggest study abroad providers in the world, offering programs on almost every continent. They offer many great programs in different locations in South America, like Buenos Aires, Santiago and Valparaiso, and they also offer programs with a focus on Environmental Studies (my major). Unfortunately, though, they don’t offer those programs in the same place! It was still cool to talk to the CIEE representative about some opportunities they offer, like internships or research programs. They also assist students in finding homestay families that will help teach the language, so we have another place to practice!

Another university-based option, like CIEE, that is great for language-immersion is Middlebury. They require you to sign a language pledge, promising that you will only speak in that chosen language during your entire experience. But just like with CIEE, I wasn’t quite able to find exactly what I was looking for in terms of what I could study in the right location.

After talking to the CIEE and Middlebury representatives about their programs, I made my way over to the SIT table. SIT, the School for International Training, offers very interesting programs. They are designed around a theme – such as their program in Managua, Nicaragua, “Youth, Culture, Literacy and Media,” or the one in Dakar, Senegal, “National Identity and the Arts.” Students intensively study their program’s theme by having a mix of class lectures, site visits, guest speakers and then pursuing an independent research project. SIT is awesome if you want to study a particular topic. For example, if you are a Public Health major, you can definitely find an SIT program – like the one in Durban, South Africa – that focuses on Public Health in that location. Then, you could use your research project to help inform your senior thesis or even apply for a Fulbright. (I know, that’s way in the future! I am probably getting ahead of myself a bit!) The one major drawback, for me, is that SIT does not offer year-long experiences. The programs are only semester-based. So, I could potentially spend one semester on one SIT program and then switch to another. But I’m not sure if that’s something I want to do. I was really hoping to spend my whole year in the same place so that I could make really deep connections while I’m there. Am I willing to spend a semester in one place, and transfer to another? That is definitely something I have to consider.

The most important thing that I realized by walking around the fair is that the aspects of a study abroad experience that I value most, when paired together, significantly narrow down my options. I am confident that I want to study abroad for an entire year in a Spanish speaking country. Because I have decided to go for a year, I need a program where I can take upper-level courses for my major (Environmental Studies) so that I can graduate on time. Really identifying my goals and what is most important is actually really great. Even though it narrows my options, it means that I can take an in-depth look at the programs that will work so that I can make the best decision. 

On the other hand, while I was working my own table, I realized that not everyone has the same constraints or goals that I do. Your options may be totally different if you only want to go abroad for one semester. Or, depending on your major, if you want to just focus on your minor or even become fluent in another language, you may have totally different options than I do. By figuring out what your goals are for your study abroad semester or year, you can come up with your very own, personalized list of study abroad options! 

I’m still considering my options, but my current dream is to directly enroll at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. We will see what happens after some more research! I got some contact information of representatives at the fair, so I’ll make sure to reach out to them to learn more.

Until next time!

Emily

Part IV of A Year in the Life of a Study Abroad Applicant: Getting Ready for the Study Abroad Fair

Hey Tulane! 

Fall break was SO relaxing for me, and I hope it was for you too. I managed to catch up on some homework, see family, experience cold weather (since it’s still summer here…) and make a plan for the study abroad fair. Elsewhere on the blog, the Office of Study Abroad put together some super-helpful tips about how to make the most of the study abroad fair. Hundreds of students attend the fair every year, so I want to make sure I stay focused while I’m there!

Last time I posted, I had just written down my list of programs that really meet what I’m looking for in a study abroad experience: Language & Cultural immersion, Courses in my Major, & located in Latin America. Some of the programs are direct enrollment – like ITAM in Mexico City and Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Quito, Ecuador. When I get to the fair, I’ll try to find out if there are students who have gone on those programs that I can talk to. Then, since the program in Havana, Cuba is actually run by Tulane, I will be able to meet with the Tulane faculty and staff that do research and programming there. The Cuba program will have its own table so I think there will be a lot of people to talk to.

Most of the programs I found, though, are run by program providers who will have representatives at the fair to talk to us about everything they offer. So, over fall break I spent a lot of time on the program provider websites: CIEE; IFSA-Butler; and Middlebury. Their websites are so comprehensive and gave me a good sense of the types of courses each offers and the universities that they are all affiliated with. ALL of these programs have one thing in common: everything is in Spanish! From coursework to housing to handling paperwork, I will be speaking Spanish all the time. This is probably one of the most important elements of my future study abroad program. Knowing that they all meet that criteria, though, I’m looking forward to the study abroad fair so I can talk to students about what it was like to actually live in all of these different cities and to take classes at the universities there.

It makes a lot of sense to talk to former students. It’s just like when I talk to high school juniors and seniors as a Green Wave Ambassador when they come to campus. They want to know what being a Tulanian is like from the perspective of someone who is living it! And why not? After all, finding the right place to spend four years is a big decision, and so is deciding where to spend an entire semester abroad. Talking to returned study abroad students is basically the same thing. I came up with a list of questions so I wouldn’t get sidetracked at the fair:

• What is the city like? Is it big and loud? How does it compare to New   Orleans
• What about the university? Do professors interact a lot with students? Could you understand their accents?
• How did you make friends? Did you join any clubs or student groups?
• How did you immerse yourself in the host country?
• Where did you travel to from that city? Was it easy to get around?
• Was there anything you wish you knew before you went?

I mostly think I’m ready and I have one more tip for those of you that are planning to attend! When you first get to the fair, you’ll receive a printed map showing where everyone is at all the different tables. So when I get that map, I’ll know exactly where to go!

Hope to see ya’ll on Wednesday and at all the other awesome International Education Week events happening all over campus!