by Triple Water Astrology

Created on: March 14, 2009

It's easy. Most colleges and universities offer opportunities to students who want to travel abroad for a semester or longer. Some patience, learning about the options, and developing the right contacts at your school are essential. Curiosity and enthsiasm about learning about other cultures and places is also necessary. A realistic attitude about what to expect when you are living far away from home is also essential. (I am assuming that this article is for American students who want to live abroad, but much of the advice applies to students from any country in the world.)

Decide whether you want to pay for the experience or have the school or government pay for it. It will be easier to become a foreign exchange student if you pay, but it's still quite possible to be selected from a pool of applicants who will not have to pay. Be resourceful and find out where your school is sending students this year - or next year. Often schools will send a group of students abroad every year to the same place. Apply for the program as instructed, and make sure you complete every form and submit the appropriate information. If an essay is required, treat it like a paper you will submit for a class that you need an 'A' in. Be honest in the essay, but don't hold back your accomplishments either. If you are interviewed, show your enthusiasm. Tell them why you want to go abroad and have a rehearsed answer, not word for word, but convey the ideas you want them to know in an intelligent way. Have roommates, classmates, friends, family, and even professors review your essay and application materials and practice the interview in front of them. Do you have friends from abroad who attend your school? If you don't, make friends with foreign students. Students visiting the U.S. came here because they like American culture and they're open-minded. They would appreciate knowing more about you and your country.

Planning at least a year ahead is prudent. If you want to go to a certain country, start learning its language. The internet has all kinds of information about various countries. Be realistic about what your experience will be like. Do some research about culture shock too. Often the program that will send you to a certain country brings students from that country to your school. Talk to those students and start learning about their country through them. "Bug" some professors and ask what you can do to go abroad and prepare for going abroad. Do you know any students from your school who have gone abroad? Find them and ask for advice.

You will have some fun times abroad, and it will be painful at times. You will definitely have memories that will last a lifetime, and you will become a different person. Put your heart into becoming a foreign exchange student and you will find that the committees and people in charge will having trouble turning you down.

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