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Exchange programs are
open to Truman students only!
Although most of the information provided on our
site applies to all students, non-Truman students should check with the appropriate officers at their home
school to find out whether or not their university will allow them to
participate in one of our programs, and whether or not their university will
provide financial assistance.
The financial aid
information provided applies only to
Truman students!
Financial aid is available
from Truman to Truman students only. Students at C.C.I.S. Member Institutions
should apply through the study abroad office at their home institution.
Below is a checklist of things to consider while planning your
study abroad experience.
☐ Decide on your program.
☐ Get or renew a passport.
☐ Determine the visa
requirement for your host country. The Center for International Education
can provide this information.
☐ Get an
International Student Identification Card from the Center f
or International Education.
☐ Learn as much as you can about your
host country.
☐ Apply for a credit card and debit card that can be used abroad or check with your current company to notify them of
your plans.
☐ Choose classes and meet with your advisor or the division office about substitution of classes.
☐ Talk to your
advisor about registration for the semester after you return.
☐ Arrange for housing abroad. The CIE will help you with this.
☐ Visit the Residential Living Office before you leave if you plan to live on campus the semester after you study abroad.
☐ Make arrangements with your landlord and roommates before you leave if you are living off campus.
✓ Check with the Financial Aid Office if you need financial assistance.
✓ Check with your
doctor and the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) for possible health concerns in your host country and to determine if you need inoculations.
☐ Get an international calling card.
☐ Update your email address with the Center for International Education.
☐ Buy plane tickets to your host country and
back to the U.S.
☐ If you are living with a family in your host country, contact them before
you leave. PACK!!
Study Abroad Checklist That is an
excellent question, and one you almost certainly have asked yourself since you
are browsing our web site. There are a
lot of reasons to study abroad – a desire for travel or new experiences, the
chance to practice another language, the opportunity to find yourself and
discover your capabilities in the world, to make new friends, to live in a
different culture . . . the list could go on and on. However, the benefits center on three types
of reasons: • Personal growth
• Career enhancement
• New perspective on world affairs
There are important
questions to consider before you make any plans to study abroad and your
answers will hopefully help determine the type of program you pick, the country
you live in, the places you travel, and even the type of housing arrangements
you make.
Studying abroad is one
of the great liberal arts traditions.
The concept of studying abroad as we know it dates back to early German
universities; German students would travel around in Europe for a year or more
during or immediately following their formal university education.
As a student of the
liberal arts and sciences, you are privileged to be a part of this prestigious
academic tradition.
Of course, there is a
lot more to studying abroad than academics!
Studying abroad is about much more than merely going to classes in a
different geographic location from Truman. It is an opportunity for you to
really think about and focus on an entirely different way of life; and more
importantly, the chance to focus on who you are and how you fit into your own
society. That is probably the true
essence of what study abroad is about:
being able to immerse yourself so fully in a foreign culture as to
become a real and vital part of it, while maintaining and broadening your own
sense of cultural identity. Of course, you will never be a native of that
language or society, but to become a fully functional member of a new culture
is an incredible rush. You will learn so much, not only about your adopted
society, but also about your own; and not just about your new friends, but
mostly about yourself. You never
know – your dream could be just sitting there, waiting for you to come along
and grab it. The more you know about yourself and your place in the world, the
easier it will be to find and grab that dream.
For now, the best thing to do is be prepared, open wide your mind, and
relax. The possibilities are endless and
right on your doorstep. So have fun and
good luck!!! Just don’t forget to come
home when it is over. It is such a
cliché, but really - studying abroad is mostly about self discovery. You won’t
have any idea what you are capable of when heading out, and you are guaranteed
to surprise yourself – with both your limitations and your abilities. The world
is wide and wonderful, the best possible stage in which to learn about yourself
and discover what you really want out of life.
One of the most
stressful parts of any travel situation is packing. Some people simply throw
their favorite clothes into their suitcase and hit the airport. Other, like me,
spend weeks selecting the perfect items, scouring the internet for the best
deals, and making ridiculously organized lists itemizing everything they plan
to bring. Okay, maybe that’s just me.
The holidays are over
and, other than the extra pound or two I’ve gotten from all the rye bread and
cheesy chicken dip, I have received almost everything I wanted on my Amazon
wishlist “Ireland.” This included outlet adapters/ converters, a new carry on,
and some other Irish essentials.
One of the most important things to pack is
your clothes. The hardest part about this section is deciding what clothes you
want to bring versus what you need to bring. For example, I hate any outfit
that doesn’t include sorority v-necks, a Columbia jacket, Sperries, and norts.
However, I want the Irish to think that I’m fashionable and cute, so I’ve made
the executive (and difficult) decision to only bring three pairs of norts.
Bring what clothes you’re most comfortable in, but remember that other
countries are not always okay with you constantly dressing like a bum. Also, I
have been told that athletic gear, in Ireland and the UK, is considered low
class, and the last thing I want to be seen as is low class.
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