Before the Adventure: What to Know Before Studying Abroad

Imagine constantly boarding planes to new cities with your friends by your side; or exploring cultures unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. Studying abroad is an opportunity that most of us dream of, but many of us don’t know what to expect, or worse, don’t properly prepare and end up dreading the experience. I always knew from such a young age that studying abroad was a key element that I wanted to experience in college. Awkwardly enough, I’d say that was the motivating factor for me to actually want to go to college. The idea that I could live in a foreign country all while traveling and exploring a world that only one could ever dream of was astonishing. Actually, this time last year I was studying abroad in London. Words cannot explain how amazing and inspiring that journey was for me, but the journey may not have been like that if I didn’t do all that I needed to prepare. 

Now the real question is, how do you get accepted to your school’s study abroad program? Well, a lot goes into the application process. For starters, you will need to get your application in early if you want to definitely be considered for the program you want. I applied in the Fall of 2017 which was almost a year prior to the actual date of departure. Even then, I wasn’t accepted into my first choice of programs. But aside from applying early, you can expect to have GPA requirements and faculty recommendations. Recommendations are huge when it comes to applying for study abroad because even if you don’t necessarily have the most impressive GPA, if teachers and other close relations can explain how fantastic you are and how right for this program you may be, that will help your application tremendously. Along with the application process, it’s important to look into the cost of the trip up front and see if any current scholarships could go towards the program. I was thankful that Lipscomb allowed most of our scholarships to roll over towards the program, but some schools don’t necessarily process study abroad fees that way. It all depends on the university, so see what your school offers. 

With my experience, I had just been accepted into the Lipscomb in London program. I was ecstatic! I had so much planned. My dream was finally coming true. There was so much planning and anticipation rolling through my head, I knew I had to take a step back and do some pre-trip assessing. What was I going to bring? Who was going to be on the trip with me? How was I going to pack three months worth of clothes and shoes and accessories into two suitcases? Could I even bring two suitcases? Where would all my souvenirs fit? Where was I going to school? Oxford? Cambridge? I had so many thoughts and questions rolling through my head, I definitely had several headaches over the few months prior to departure. ***DISCLAIMER*** Those headaches were so worth the opportunity and experience I had in the end!

So, are you ready for the good stuff? The nitty-gritty stories? The crazy and wild adventures? Well…I hate to burst your bubble, but I want to acknowledge some of the necessary components that need to be established before studying abroad. Obviously the most important factor is where are you going to study? My university only offered four study abroad locations: Santiago, Chile; Vienna, Austria; Florence, Italy; and London, England. My advice would be to explore the different opportunities your school offers. Check out the different countries offered, determine when they’re offered and how that fits in with your major, and definitely explore what your school’s study abroad program is like. I was thankful to attend a university that does a group study abroad program, so we went with about 20+ other students, along with Site Directors and faculty, which made the experience feel much more safe and comfortable. But I’ve also had friends from other universities study abroad independently, where their school connects them with a host family and sends them to the foreign country on their own. Frankly, I’m not sure if I, personally, could manage that experience, but everyone I know who has been through a study abroad program like that has loved it as well.

It’s worth researching and talking with your school’s Global Learning program to see if their study abroad program is a good fit for you. And don’t forget to talk with other students who have studied abroad and examine the pros and cons of each location to get the full effect before coming to a decision. You will be living in that city for several months, so make sure it’s one you’re going to be happy in and that there’s enough for you to do when you’re not visiting other places on the weekends!

So you’re probably waiting for me to tell you what you need to bring in order to have a great study abroad experience. To be honest, it took me countless hours of research trying to figure out just what I needed to bring to make sure everything was perfect, when in reality, you need to determine a few more specifics before starting to pack. For instance, that question  earlier of who’s going on the trip with you? If you’re an introverted person, like myself, I say it’s better to gather some friends and convince them to join you on this adventure of a lifetime! I lucked out because not only did my roommate want to study abroad with me, but we found some girls in our sorority who wanted to join and share an apartment with us. This helped greatly because we all had each other and we knew that we could always fall back on one another if we ever got homesick or were just not feeling it. If you can’t find someone to join you on this journey, or you feel the urge to take on this adventure independently, go you! I will say, my friends by my side are what made my study abroad experience the unforgettable adventure it was! 

If you believe you’re ready to take on the adventure of studying abroad, that’s great! Prepare for an opportunity of a lifetime. Stay tuned for weekly updates with tips and tricks for studying abroad. Expect everything from how to pack, transportation and accommodation advice, and, of course, the good (and the not-so-good) stories from my own experience studying abroad!