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Studying abroad is great fun, but it's not free. You probably knew that. But what you probably do not know is that the University of Michigan has a great page detailing creative ways to raise money to go abroad. Not only that, but it has great tips for how to manage finances and make sure that you can go.
Studying abroad could be just one click away!  Kelley Tibble Dreaming of Costa Rican beaches? Paris at night? An espresso by the Duomo? Brought down to earth by that ever-present problem, money?
No fear. Going abroad - never mind studying abroad - is rarely the cheapest of things to do with your semester, but a lot of people limit their imaginations when they think of where money can come from. The point is, if money's an issue – do your research and don't give up just yet. So, first all, you've got the study abroad scholarships our office offers. All you have to to do is give some extra information and write a short essay about why you need the scholarship. Could get you another thousand dollars or more. Not a bad start, right? Then read this studyabroad.com page on scholarships for studying abroad. It gives five categories of scholarships and a long list of specific ones, with links. Click, read, think, fill out form, get money, go abroad. Hopefully, it's just as simple as that. Finally, come to talk to us! Tami Lorenson and Tonya Veltrop both have oodles of information on everything related to studying abroad, so come and learn. Most importantly, don't just assume you can't go abroad because it's too expensive. Read, learn, and make an effort, if it's what you really want! by Fedor Zarkhin BBC Travel's got it all: gorgeous photos, interesting articles, and travel tips. Whether or not it's your host country you'll be reading about, you're bound to find something that'll grab your attention on BBC Travel.
But you're probably so busy these days you don't have time for pleasure reading. So click on the link above, then click on "Explore Destinations." Pick your host country or any other country you think you might visit while abroad and browse the articles. It'll serve as a good break from the end-of-semester panic session, and it'll teach you something about the place you'll be exploring this Summer or Fall. Let's say you're going to Germany this summer. We click on the link and find: info on eating vegetarian, a guide to the Bavarian Alps, an article on bathing in a beer spa, photogalleries, a guide to Berlin. And that's just the tip of the iceberg that is the BBC's archive of articles on traveling in Germany. Let's go to the other side of the globe, now, and check out Buenos Aires. BBC Travel will teach us about Cowboy Fairs and drinking mate and more. Five pages of articles. One more country, just for good measure. Some of you will be going to Prague this summer. Would you like to learn seven surprising facts about Czech beer? Side trips to take from Prague? Prague's historic coffehouses? Yes, I humbly posit that you would. So go to BBC Travel. Read up. Get inspired. Get excited. by Fedor Zarkhin  Soon – very soon – you'll be running frantically around your apartment and trying to figure out what to take with you abroad. Some of you will pack for only a few months, while others will pack for a whole semester. Either way, the task is not one to be taken lightly. You want to make sure you've got what you need, both for the travel to your destination and for your stay.
There are a few things to consider when packing your things. Obviously you want to have everything you'll need when abroad. But you don't want to be hauling pounds upon pounds of stuff you'll use once or twice. You also want to think about what products you won't be able to get abroad (peanut butter?), what will help you feel comfortable, what kinds of situations might arise requiring different kinds of clothes, etc. This New York Times article suggests packing the bare minimum, especially now that airlines often charge for extra luggage. This article also has lots of unexpected tips on kinds of clothes to take. And it would make sense to heed advice in this article – the tips are based on interviews with flight crews, the "pros" of packing. If nothing else, however, it's important to have a checklist. Sit down and brainstorm everything you could possibly need to take with you. Decide how often you'll want to do laundry, how many kinds of occasions you want to have clothes for, and what kinds of electronics you'll need, for example. Make an exhaustive list, then tweak it to accomodate the fact that there are no jumbo jets with the express function of moving your entire life's possessions abroad. This page has a great checklist you can use. Highly recommended. If you want to know what'll be provided to you on site, go to the hosting university's website and find the international handbook. It'll tell you things like whether you'll get a set of sheets or not (and more often than not you'll get a set). by Fedor Zarkhin Don't worry, you're almost there... almost done with the semester, almost on the plane, almost settling into your apartment, almost chasing down heads of state and filing copy.
But not just yet. Among the numerous things you need to do before you go is attend a pre-departure orientation session for your program. So put the date on your calendar and watch your e-mail. You don't want to miss this! Below are dates and times for the orientations. All orientations are in 134 Neff Annex except the China Info Session, which is in Tucker Forum. And if you're a Brussels students you can go to any of the three sessions available – but please tell us in advance which one you'll be going to. 4/19 @ 4pm – Brussels 4/19 @ 5pm – Photojournalism in Germany 4/20 @ 2pm – Brussels 4/23 @ 4:30pm – China Open (Tucker Forum) 4/24 @ 2pm – Brussels 4/24 @ 5pm – Buenos Aires See you then! by Fedor Zarkhin Why study abroad? After all, it's not cheap, it can be stressful, and your mom won't come get you if you get in trouble. I mean really, why take risks when you can sit at home and watch TV and eat potato chips or just read about traveling abroad? While for us over here at the office the idea of going abroad is a no-brainer, we decided it would be interesting to see what the rest of the internet has to say. So below are some of the reasons that made top 10 lists, with links to the sites. As you look at these, think about what studying abroad might mean for you.  Here are some of the University Study Abroad Consortium's reasons students should study abroad:
1) Change your life 2) Gain new perspective 3) Discover your passions 4) Enrich your education According to Study Abroad 360, the following are some of the main reasons you should study abroad: 1) Learn the language 2) Be a better job candidate 3) Create a lifelong love affair with another country 4) Gain a new appreciation for your home country 7) Meet interesting people 8) Find out they're nothing like us 9) Find out they're just like us Studyabroad.com also has a few good reasons: 2) Try new foods 5) Increase personal confidence/pride in self by surviving in a different environment 7) Become more independent 8) Improve communication skills So which of these are most important to you? Can you think of any more reasons why studying abroad can be good for you? Oh, right, one thing none of these websites mentioned... studying abroad is just great fun. by Fedor Zarkhin If you're a Walter Williams Scholar, don't forget that you get a $1,000 scholarship for any of our study abroad programs, and our New York and Washington D.C. programs. Are you going to let that money go to waste? We sure hope not!
Here's what you need to know, pulled from the Journalism Scholars and Walter Williams Scholars page: The Walter Williams Scholars ProgramThe highest-achieving Journalism Scholars win separate designation as Walter Williams Scholars. The Walter Williams Scholars program is named in honor of the School’s founding dean, a Missouri newspaper publisher who went on to become president of the University of Missouri. Qualifications: To win acceptance into the exclusive circle of top Walter Williams Scholars, incoming freshmen must earn an ACT composite score of 33 or higher (1440 or higher on the SAT). They also must rank in the top 20 percent of the high school class (if the school ranks) or must have maintained a high school GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale. Admission is by invitation only. Benefits: Walter Williams Scholars are also Journalism Scholars and have all of the rights and privileges enjoyed by that group. Additional benefits include:
By Erin Meyer So you've chosen a destination, attended an info session or two, swung by the Study Abroad Fair (BE THERE: Wed., Feb. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), started your application and then reality sets in: how am I going to afford this? Luckily, there are several scholarship programs available for those interested in studying abroad. Highlighted below is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program which has been helping undergraduates finance their international educations for over a decade. Read below for more info and check out this YouTube video that overviews the program. From the Gilman Scholarship Program's website: What is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program? The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for undergraduate study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide. While you're mulling over the possibility of applying to study abroad in the Fall, don't let money hold you back. There are options if money is an issue, one of which is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which awards up to $8,000 dollars for a student's study abroad expenses.
Here's what you need to know about this scholarship: To qualify, you need to already be receiving the Federal Pell Grant or have proof that you will be receiving it the semester you plan to go abroad. No ifs, ands or buts. These are the kinds of students the scholarship is meant to aid: – Students with high financial need – Students studying in non-traditional countries (i.e. not Western Europe, Australia or New Zealand) * Of our programs, Chile, Argentina, Japan and Singapore would apply. * Although this is suggested, it is not a requirement. Students do get scholarships even if they aren't studying somewhere remote and exotic. – Students with diverse ethnic backgrounds – Students with disabilities If you're accepted you will get up to $5,000, with about $4,000 being the average. If you're on our Japan Exchange program you will be eligible for another $3,000 in the form of a Critical Need Language Supplement. And there's just one other thing you definitely need to know and not forget. The application deadline is March 1st, which is a month before the MU Journalism Abroad application deadline. As the semester progresses, we'll be posting information on other study abroad scholarships, reminders about deadlines and application tips. Did you know that next week is the 12th annual International Education Week? From the International Education Week website: "International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States." Check out this video from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and visit the International Education Week website to learn more. While you're there test your international knowledge with the Global IQ Quiz. |
AboutFollow this blog to keep up with J-School Study Abroad. For more information visit MU Journalism Study Abroad.
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