Studying abroad is serious business! First, you will be earning credits and grades that will go toward your graduation requirements. Second, you probably also want to fulfill a personal objective and will have to put plans in place to achieve these goals. Finally, you will be investing serious time, effort, and money on this venture. Thus, it’s imperative that you choose a program that will allow you to get a sound return on your investments. But with so many programs to choose from, how do you decide which program is right for you? How do you narrow your options? The steps outlined below should get you off to a good start:
Check-out the Pre-planning Worksheet.
Purdue Study Abroad oversees more than 300 different majors in over 45 countries. To determine which programs are right for you, you need to determine your academic, professional, and personal goals, desired timetable, and potential constraints. This worksheet will allow you to examine your situation and identify the factors that will dictate which study abroad programs will fit your personal circumstances.
Explore your options.
Once you have completed your pre-planning worksheet, do a Program Search to investigate possible options. Be aware of the differences (financial, academic and other) between the types of programs offered.
https://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/programs/search.cfm
Alternatively, you may want to schedule a meeting with a study abroad advisor by calling the Study Abroad Office at 765.494.2383. Be ready to discuss your objectives, preferences, and factors that might hamper your plans.
NOTE: Applicants for Departmental programs do not need to meet with a study abroad advisor. Proceed to the program's web page and continue the application process.
Investigate your options more carefully.
At your meeting, the study abroad advisor likely will recommend a few programs. Now, it’s up to you to investigate which of the programs will best meet your needs. For each program under consideration, examine the academic system, level of academic and social support, accommodations options, available extracurricular activities, and other factors that will affect your study abroad experience. Make sure you also meet the program’s eligibility requirements. If you have additional questions, consult your study abroad advisor again, read testimonials from previous participants, access the host university or study program website, or get in touch with previous participants.
Select a first choice program and a serious second choice.
You can only apply to one program and name one alternate.
Develop a tentative study plan.
Students receive direct credits for courses taken overseas. These will be recorded on your Purdue academic record and affect your GPA. To ensure you are applying to the program that will allow you to graduate on time, developing a study plan as early as possible is crucial. Many programs also request a list of courses at the time of application so you need to be ready with course choices by the time you complete your host institution’s application form.
If you’re feeling confident that you have made a good choice – go to the web flyer of the program you have selected and start the application process.