One of the many opportunities that SUNY Cortland has to offer is the ability to study abroad in different countries around the world. You could study education in Australia or art in Costa Rica. The world can become your classroom. But before you can pack your bags and book your flight, you need to make sure you have everything prepared for a smooth sailing experience as a study abroad student.
Do Your Research
There are about 44 different programs that SUNY Cortland offers to study abroad. Think about what you want to study abroad for and why. I will be studying abroad to Spain and be studying Spanish for my minor. I chose Spain because of its location and the language. What better way to practice a language than by using it with native speakers? If you visit the study abroad section on the SUNY Cortland website, you will find a section that says, “Search SUNY Cortland Study Abroad Programs” and from there it will take you to a website where you can go through all the different programs and find the schools that offer what you are most interested in studying. https://www2.cortland.edu/offices/international-programs/
Meet with an Advisor and Attend Seminars
The International Programs offers a “Study Abroad 101 Seminar” weekly to give you an overview of what study abroad entails. The office also holds seminars that talk about some of their specific programs. Attending any meetings, they offer; you never know what you might learn from a session. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact any of the advisors that work in the office. They would be more than glad to answer any questions you may have.
Apply
Now that you have decided where you want to go, the next step is to apply! The application consists of a couple of forms, 2 letters of recommendation from academic professors and a 250-word essay stating why you want to study abroad. Make sure to keep track of the application’s deadline. You want to give yourself enough time to complete everything, rather than scrambling at the last minute to complete an important application.
Save
Once you have received your acceptance (and you will be accepted) start to financially plan how you will cover the cost of studying abroad. The sooner you start saving money for your trip, the better. Apply for scholarships and grants to help ease off the financial burden of studying in another country. If you can, work as much as you can prior to your trip to ensure that you will have money for food, travel, and any other necessities. While you are abroad, you are going to want to go out with friends and go sightseeing. You do not want money to be a reason to keep you from going out. The last of your worries should be money while you are overseas.
Prepare All Documents
Make sure that you have a valid passport that will not expire while you are overseas. Complete all visa applications and any additional forms. The sooner you get your visa application approved, the better. You will have peace of mind as your trip approaches knowing that you have your documents organized.
Be Prepared to Have the Time of Your Life
Once you have gotten all the official paperwork done, you can start preparing for all the fun you are going to have overseas! Pack a comfortable pair of shoes for all the walking you are going to do. Clear out storage in your phone so you can take pictures and videos of everything you see. Make a bucket list of all the things you want to do in your host country. This experience is once in a lifetime so enjoy every minute of it and do not let any type of negativity bring you down. Bon Voyage!