Studying abroad is an exciting opportunity. That said, it can feel overwhelming. From financial aid and budgeting to navigating culture shock and homesickness, studying abroad requires some serious planning and reflection. Many students find themselves wondering at some point in their career: is it necessary to study abroad? should I study abroad? and when should I study abroad?
Typically college students study abroad during either the fall or spring of their junior year. Several factors can affect whether a student chooses to study abroad either during the fall or spring semester. Usually, these factors include graduation requirements when particular courses are offered, and even climate— depending on the country they’re visiting.
There are many reasons why students should study abroad in college. That said, studying abroad is a big financial, emotional, and logistical decision. Everyone has different preferences and goals. If studying abroad won’t help you reach your goals, don’t feel pressured by your peers to do so. Remember, everyone is different.
Make a list of questions to ask a study abroad advisor and schedule a meeting with them so you can thoroughly discuss your thoughts, feelings, and questions. Plan to do this as early as your freshman year. In the meantime, read on for some valuable study abroad tips!
Study abroad programs can be expensive. Some schools don’t offer financial aid while students are abroad while others do. It all depends on your college. This is why it is important to sit down with someone in the financial aid office to discuss your options thoroughly and ensure that you understand your financial aid package.
This is also a great time to learn more about financial planning in college and personal budgeting strategies. Get a summer and/or on-campus job and start saving early. This is key to knowing how to budget for study abroad. You will also want to research and apply to study abroad scholarships.
Knowing how to manage your anxiety at college takes on even more importance while studying abroad. You will likely experience moments of homesickness. You may also, however, experience culture shock, especially if you are traveling somewhere outside of Europe.
The best way to navigate culture shock is to keep an open mind and be respectful. One of the primary benefits of studying abroad is cultural enrichment. Allow yourself to approach new experiences with curiosity and a willingness to learn and ask questions. Step outside your comfort zone and try to make some local friends.
One of the most important tips for studying abroad is to familiarize yourself with the local language. If you are studying the language while you are abroad, challenge yourself to limit your use of English. This will be especially helpful if you are living with a host family. Keep in mind, that foreign language immersion is a valuable opportunity. Do your best to make the most of it!
There will likely be times while you are abroad when there is a language barrier. Always be respectful and display a willingness to try to speak the local language. A little effort can go a long way!
The best way to know how to prepare for study abroad is to plan ahead and start early. This will help you avoid scheduling and logistical conflicts, like rushed passports, late visas, and last-minute flights. Consider some of the following study abroad advice to help you get started.
This one might seem obvious, but always research the country you are visiting prior to your arrival. Not only will this help you feel more prepared, but it will also help you know what opportunities and experiences may be available for you. It is also a sign of respect. You don’t want to arrive in a new country without any background knowledge. Conducting research ahead of time will also help you gain a better understanding of the social and political climate, as well as any relevant health and safety tips you should be aware of before your departure.
A passport application takes 8-11 weeks to process. Shipping times vary. An “expedited” passport takes 5-7 weeks to process and costs an additional $60. That said, it’s best to plan ahead and aim to get your passport at least three months before your date of departure. The earlier, however, the better!
Depending on the country you are visiting, you may also need to apply for a visa. This can be a lengthy process and processing times can vary greatly depending on the country. Conduct your initial research early. Find out how long a visa usually takes to process and go from there. Remember to give yourself plenty of time! Not having your visa means not entering the country.
Now, let’s consider some packing tips for study abroad. Your study abroad program will likely provide you with a study abroad preparation checklist. Each program and each country is different so ask lots of questions and read all of your study abroad documents and materials carefully.
Pack according to the weather and climate. Depending on the country you are traveling to, you will likely be able to buy items such as toiletries and school supplies upon arrival. This is not always the case, however. That said, try your best to pack light. After all, you’ll most likely end up returning home with a much heavier suitcase!
If possible, don’t schedule your return flight right away. You may end up wanting to extend your stay after the semester is over so you can do some independent travel. Also, emergencies do happen and if you need to return home early, it’s better not to have to buy another ticket.
Communication will be important while you are abroad. The most cost-effective solution is to buy a local SIM card
upon arrival. Some students will try to only use WIFI on their phones while they are abroad. That said, there may be moments when you do not have WIFI and will need to make a call. Rather than be charged large fees for emergency calls, plan ahead and buy a local SIM card.
While you are abroad, be aware of exchange rates. It can feel confusing to stick to a budget when you are not familiar with a currency. Monitor your spending and periodically calculate your spending into dollar amounts. Depending on the country you are visiting, you may also want to arrive with some local currency.
Typically, currency exchange shops at the airport are not the best place to go, as they charge high fees. Visit your bank before departing and ask about exchanging currency there. If you need a significant amount, you may need to wait a few days for your bank to secure enough of said currency. You will also want to get a debit and/or credit card with minimal to no foreign transaction fees. This is crucial and will require you to plan ahead.
Health and safety tips are the most important advice for studying abroad. Let’s take a look at a few health concerns to start: Be aware of food poisoning. Are there certain foods you should try to avoid? Is the water safe to drink? Do you need a special filtration system? If the water isn’t safe to consume, you will want to avoid eating raw vegetables and fruit. You will also want to avoid getting ice in your drinks.
Meet with your study abroad advisor. Are there any recommended vaccines or medications you should be taking? For example, do you need a rabies shot? Do you need to take an antimalarial medication? This answer will vary greatly depending on what country you are visiting. It’s also important to remember that travel vaccines can be expensive. Keep this in mind as you budget for your trip.
While preparing to study abroad, visit your doctor for a wellness visit. If you take any prescription medications, ask your doctor about the best way to proceed. Some countries may not have access to your prescribed medication. If this is the case, you will need to travel with enough pills to safely make it through your time abroad.
Now, let’s discuss some basic safety tips. First off, keep your passport safe! American passports are incredibly valuable. Keep your passport safe on your person; a good option for this is to wear a travel pouch around your neck that you tuck into your shirt. Otherwise, keep your passport in a locked suitcase. Also, always be mindful of who you let handle your passport.
Finally, have fun but be responsible. Many students abroad will choose to drink, especially if the drinking age is 18. Drink responsibly! You are in an unfamiliar location and should avoid putting yourself in a vulnerable position. Always travel in pairs. Don’t leave your drink unattended. Avoid drinking to excess.
And remember, this is a new country with different laws. You do not want to get in any legal trouble on account of drinking! Respect the local laws and be aware of the local culture and customs.
There is lots of advice for study abroad. Some of these tips are logistical and deal with visas, flights, and exchange rates, and some of these tips concern safety. It’s important to be prepared and to prioritize your safety while you are abroad. But don’t forget to have fun!
Yes, you should continue to take your classes seriously, but don’t spend all of your time studying. Purposefully take a lighter course load. It’s also okay to occasionally miss a class so you can make the most of the cultural opportunities available to you.
You will also want to keep a journal, write letters back home, and take lots of photographs! Many students even decide to start a travel blog. Enjoy your time abroad and do your best to make the most of every opportunity. If you have questions or concerns about studying abroad, reach out to learn more about our services.
There are many reasons college students should study abroad, but it's a big financial, emotional, and logistical decision, and everyone has different goals. If studying abroad won't help you reach your goals, don't feel pressured to go.
Many students decide to transfer. Whether it's for a different academic program, financial reasons, transferring out of a community college, or a better cultural fit. We've compiled a list of 30 spring transfer colleges with varying deadlines and pricing.
Pre-med is a career path, not a major. So, what should a doctor focus on in college? Start by choosing the major you do want, as long as it helps you meet the requirements for medical school. Follow that by keeping excellent science and overall GPAs, as well as engaging in relevant extracurricular activity all four years.
Becoming a doctor is a lofty ambition. One that requires dedication, an impressive GPA, extracurricular activities, volunteer hours, and a clear passion for medicine. These days, you don’t necessarily need to major in biology to be on track for pre-med, but you do need to carefully plan for your long-term goals. The earlier you can define these goals and work towards them, the better.
In this comprehensive pre-med guide, we will offer valuable advice for incoming medical students, as well as review key tips for succeeding during your undergraduate studies. So if you’re looking for pre-med advice, read on for helpful tips and other valuable resources.
If you are wondering where to go for pre-med or are reflecting on the question “is pre-med worth it?”, it’s important to understand that “pre-med” is not a major or an academic program. Rather, “pre-med” is a professional trajectory — albeit one that requires a lot of planning during your undergraduate degree, but still, not a major.
So what should you major in for pre-med? Technically, you can major in anything, as long as you fulfill all of your pre-med prerequisites. That said, medical school prerequisites often overlap with various requirements for science majors, such as biology and chemistry.
Discuss your academic plans and goals with your advisor (many schools offer pre-med advisors as well, so be on the lookout for the best pre-med advising programs). Depending on your specific academic and extracurricular goals, you may find it easier to simultaneously fulfill your medical school and major prerequisites by choosing to major in a science.
That said, medical schools value diversity, so feel free to consider some of the most popular college majors and programs in 2022 as well.
The most important factor to consider when determining how to prepare for pre-med is to figure out your medical school prerequisites and prioritize taking them during your freshman and sophomore years of college. This will help you stay on track. It may even help to add some more flexibility to your schedule so that you can take more electives or major in something other than a science.
Here are some of the most common medical school prerequisites:
You might also want to consider taking some of the following courses:
One way to confirm your pre-med prerequisites is to visit the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database. This online database helps prospective medical students compare and contrast various medical school requirements. There are also helpful worksheets and checklists to help you stay organized during your undergraduate studies.
Start researching prospective medical schools early. That way you can email their admissions office directly, to gain further insight on their medical school requirements, as well as other valuable advice or insights they may have to offer.
Make sure that you know how to write an email to a college admissions office before reaching out. You want to do your best to be professional, ask compelling questions, and be respectful of the email recipient’s time.
It’s important to form good study habits during your freshman year and to follow any pre-med study tips you’ve received from your advisors or members of a pre-med club or society. You need a competitive GPA to gain admission to medical school, so academics need to be a priority.
Admissions committees will look at both your science GPA as well as your overall GPA. While it’s important to do well in all of your courses, if you are struggling with any of your science or math courses, it’s important to receive extra help right away.
Visit your professor’s office hours in addition to your school’s tutoring center. That said, make sure to seek out extra help if you are struggling with any of your courses. Medical schools are highly competitive and both your science GPA and your overall GPA will be huge admissions factors.
One of the best tips for pre-med students is to engage in meaningful extracurricular activities. Medical schools want to admit students who demonstrate passion, commitment, and leadership abilities. Yes, it might be easier to simply focus on your classes and relax during your free time, but if you have medical school aspirations, you will need to take every opportunity you can to distinguish yourself from your peers. Demonstrate commitment by engaging in an extracurricular activity all four years.
Ideally, you also want to try to find extracurricular activities that are related to your larger career goals in some way. For example, if you are interested in working in pediatrics, you may want to consider volunteering for “Big Brothers Big Sisters” or working at the local Boys and Girls Club in order to gain valuable experience working with children. Alternatively, if you are interested in practicing sports medicine, you may want to play an intramural sport.
One of the best ways to figure out how to know if pre-med is right for you is to engage in job shadowing opportunities. Reach out to your family’s doctor to see if they are open to having you shadow them for a shift or two. If you are part of a college pre-med society, the organization may offer shadow matching programs that can help you get started. Alternatively, you can email hospital departments or individual doctors directly to see what their job shadowing policies are.
Overall, job shadowing is a great way to start thinking about potential specializations. After all, the medical field is incredibly varied so it’s important to start reflecting on your interests early.
Another important piece of freshman pre-med advice: don’t underestimate the importance of volunteer hours. Gain medical-related experience by volunteering at some of the following locations:
You may also choose to pursue alternative volunteer opportunities. Choose something you are passionate about and do your best to engage meaningfully and explore leadership opportunities.
While volunteering and job shadowing will help you get a better idea of whether or not you want to be a doctor, gaining actual medical work experience will give you a very clear idea of whether or not you really want to devote your life to practicing medicine.
Thankfully, there are some great and accessible medical jobs available to you as an undergraduate student.
A Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA), also known as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), is a medical professional who works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). Their duties often include feeding and bathing patients, sterilizing equipment, stocking supplies, and changing linens.
To become an LNA or CNA, you will need to complete your high school diploma or GED, take an LNA training course, and pass your exam (state specific). LNA courses typically take between 6 to 18 months, depending on the program. There are also lots of online, self-paced LNA training courses.
An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is a medical professional who works alongside paramedics, firefighters, and police officers. EMTs are first responders who respond to 911 calls, transport patients to hospitals and perform basic medical tasks. Many EMTs work for hospitals, fire departments, police departments, and ambulance services.
To become an EMT, you will have to join an EMT training program, complete 120 to 150 training hours, and pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam.
Other valuable advice for pre-med students includes engaging in undergraduate research opportunities. Not only will this look great on your resume and medical school application, but it will also help you better decide if you are truly interested in practicing medicine, as opposed to conducting medical research.
Public universities, such as the top public universities in the West, are known for their research programs and often offer undergraduate students opportunities to work with graduate students in the labs. Reach out to your professors to see if they need an assistant or if there are any research opportunities available to you. Some colleges even have a website where they post campus jobs available to undergraduate students.
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The MCAT covers topics related to medical school prerequisites, such as biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, and statistics. So while it’s important to create a study schedule for the MCAT and use various MCAT study resources, it is equally important to do well in these courses, take advantage of your professors’ office hours, and ensure that you understand all of the concepts covered in these courses.
Again, it’s important to study for exams, but studying for the MCAT will feel impossible if you didn’t prioritize learning the subject matter when you were enrolled in these courses.
You will likely have to complete an interview during your medical school applications. This is why it is important to practice your interview skills. As a starting point, review some of the most popular college interview questions and how to answer them.
You will also want to reflect thoughtfully on why you want to be a doctor. Prepare a clear, compelling response. You should be able to answer the question “why pre-med?” thoughtfully and thoroughly. Pre-med is a difficult track to pursue, so why did you do it?
Finally, you will want to review key tips and strategies for how to answer the “tell me about yourself” interview question.
There are lots of pre-med tips available to you. If you feel overwhelmed or feel like you could benefit from professional guidance, reach out to learn more about our services.
