Want to study abroad, but have some questions? Don't worry, this page is here to help! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a study abroad program at Lamar University. More information about LU study abroad trips can be found on the LU Study Abroad webpage, which will be listed at the bottom of this article.
*These steps are the ones I took when I became interested in the Summer 2016 study abroad program in Japan. You may expand, combine, or reduce steps if necessary. Required steps students must take are highlighted in red.*
Step 1: Find a program that aligns with your interests. The first step to finding the perfect study abroad program that fits your needs is to look and see what each program is offering in terms of experience, courses & coursework, and activities. You may do this in one of three ways: a) Go to the Study Abroad office (located in room 215 in the Wimberly building) to get access to fliers, brochures, and information about the different study abroad programs being offered each semester. You may also e-mail Dr. Jeff Palis or Ms. Brittney Crossley to set up an appointment if you have specific questions about a program. Their e-mails are [email protected] and [email protected].
b) Go online to the Study Abroad webpage for LU and search through each program via computer or cell phone. (I found that it's easier to see the documents on a computer rather than looking on a small smart phone or cell phone screen). The programs are divided by semester and then by country of interest. *The link for that webpage is located at the bottom of this article*
c) Talk to faculty, friends, and associates to see if they know of any study abroad programs that might be of interest to you. This is how I found out about the Japan study abroad trip for the English department. Dr. Smith talked about a few activities that the students would be able to do while in Japan at the beginning of the Fall 2015 semester. After that brief conversation, I was hooked!
Step 2: Find the appropriate contact for that program, reach out to them, and express your interests in the program.
This is extremely important. Notifying the appropriate professor or leader of a certain program you are interested in is vital to your study abroad experience; they won't know if you don't tell them. You can do this by either e-mailing the contact for your study abroad program or scheduling an appointment with them during their office hours. Express your reasons for wanting to go on the study abroad program in a professional manner, and ask if there's any way to get more information about the program at that point.
Step 3: Attend any interest meetings pertaining to your study abroad program that are hosted by faculty members or students.
If the head of your program specifically says these interest meetings are mandatory, you must attend the meeting. However, I advise that you make the time to attend any and all of the meetings that pertain to your study abroad program; the information you gain will help you become more informed about the application process, study abroad program, and your fellow students who are going on the trip with you! At the first meeting for your study abroad program, I would try to get contact information from the head professor and two other students. This will benefit you later on in case you miss a meeting and need to know what happened.
We had several interest meetings for the Japan study abroad program; some of them were led by Dr. Smith and Dr. Sato, while a few were led by LU students. These meetings lasted from thirty minutes to at most, two hours long. These meetings definitely helped ease the tension surrounding the trip, and many students were able to get answers to questions they had about the application process, traveling, and more.
Step 4: Complete all of the required paperwork for your study abroad program.
I can't stress this enough. The paperwork and time that goes into these programs is extensive but necessary to ensure that you have the best experience possible while traveling abroad and representing Lamar University. There are several documents you need to fill out. Here are the main ones:
**Note: After filling out the program application and health information paperwork for your study abroad program, you must pay the deposit for the program to reserve your spot. If you fail to do this, there is a possibility that you will not be able to attend the trip. Once you pay your deposit, your spot will be reserved in the program.**
There may be extra paperwork that you need to fill out for your course; talk to the professor who is heading the program if you are unsure. Keep in mind that you need to fill out and return the required paperwork in a timely manner; procrastinating or forgetting certain documents required for the trip will not turn out well.
You will need a passport if you plan on traveling outside of the United States on your study abroad trip. The Study Abroad Office created a very handy PDF that gives places where you can go to apply for a passport, as well as what you will need to bring when you go. You can find that PDF here: http://www.lamar.edu/study-abroad/_files/documents/Passport%20How%20To.pdf
Step 5: Begin to raise money for your study abroad program/ start fundraising!
So you have filled out all of the required documentation to go on the study abroad trip--good! Now it's time to start thinking about finances and raising money for your trip. An easy way for you to raise money for your study abroad trip is to participate in fundraisers or start a fundraiser of your own. These fundraisers will help you financially and emotionally; you might make amazing friendships while working towards a common goal with your fellow students. Talk to your professor and other study abroad colleagues to see if there are any opportunities to sell baked goods, drinks, or trinkets to raise money in time for the study abroad trip.
I participated in several fundraisers for the Japan trip; we sold bags of tea, baked goods, fruit sushi, and drinks on different occasions across campus. These fundraisers helped many of the students who went to Japan in a huge way. I also held a personal fundraiser with my family right before we left for Japan to raise a bit more money for the trip. Believe me, putting effort, time, and cooperation into these fundraisers paid off when we left for Japan, and I'm glad I participated in them. While raising money for the trip, I learned more about different people who were going to Japan as well as the leading professor of the English course, Dr. Smith.
If you are not able to participate in a fundraiser, talk to your leading professor to find out another way that you can help with it without being there; whether that be organizational leadership, designing a poster, etc. Fundraisers are definitely a helpful key towards a successful study abroad trip!
Step 6: Look for and apply to any scholarships and/or grants that might be available for your study abroad program.
Money can be sparse, but scholarships and grants are here to help. Another way you can raise money for a study abroad trip is to apply for a scholarship or grant. I have supplied the link to the LU study abroad scholarships webpage at the bottom of this article; once you open the webpage, simply scroll down to click on and view each separate scholarship/grant and what they entail. Some of them heave deadlines, while others have essay requirements; it's up to you to decide which one best suits your needs. After you find the scholarship or grant you would like to get, go ahead and start the application process. If you have questions, you can always e-mail Dr. Palis or Ms. Crossley for help.
The scholarship I applied for was the Creative Cardinal Scholarship. While I was in Japan, I took over 2,000 photos, conducted several interviews, and gathered over thirty minutes of video to create my final three to five minute video as required by the scholarship. I also had to pick fifteen photos that I believe portray Japan's creativity, simplicity, and grace. You can see these photos and video in the Travel Photography section of this website. There are also other pictures to look at in that section, as well.
Here is the description that accompanies the Creative Cardinal Scholarship on the LU study abroad scholarship website: "The Creative Cardinal Scholarship has been created to enable more LU students to study abroad. It is available to students in all majors participating in an LU short-term, faculty-led program. Funding is available for 1 student from each of our approved, LU short-term programs. Applicants must fill out the application form and deliver it to the Office of Study Abroad by the application deadlines to be considered for this scholarship. Awards between $100-450 depending on program and duration. Spring Break program deadline is February 1, 2016. Summer program deadline is March 1, 2016. Iceland Program: April 22, 2016" (Study Abroad Scholarships).
There are several scholarships and grants to choose from on the website. You can also look online elsewhere for scholarships if none of the ones listed on the scholarship page for LU suit you. Step 7: Collect all of the necessary materials for your study abroad course.
Contact the professor in charge of the course you are taking and write down any and all study materials you will need. Then, go get them! You can even look online at sites like Ebay, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble to see if they have the books and/or materials you have to have for the class. If necessary, you can even share books or other materials with another student going on the trip; this will cut down on book and material costs and might save you money!
Step 8: Gather all of your travel documents/ double-check your passport!
You should do this approximately 2-3 months before you leave for your trip, unless you have done so already. Make sure all of your contact information, traveling documents like your passport, medical documents (if any), and itinerary are together and safe in one place. Double-check your passport's expiration date; it takes an extended amount of time to fix/revise passports and if you neglect to fact-check your passport, you might be in a bind and left behind from the trip.
Step 9: Attend the mandatory study abroad meeting hosted by Dr. Palis and Ms. Crossley.
This step is highlighted in red for a reason; please, please, please do not miss this meeting. When it comes time for the meeting to occur, an e-mail will be sent to you via Ms. Crossley or the professor in charge of your program explaining where and what time the study abroad meeting will take place. If you find out that you absolutely cannot make it to this meeting, contact either Dr. Palis or Ms. Crossley immediately; since they are taking the time to create this meeting and provide you with vital information towards your trip, it would be wise to inform them if you are unable to make it on time, if at all.
The meeting I went to this past spring semester lasted approximately an hour. Dr. Palis and Ms. Crossley handed each of us a packet that contained a few of the latter documents listed above, two information sheets about the CDC and STEP program, a info sheet over the photography contest, and other papers. They answered many questions about finances, traveling, passport issues, coursework, and more. It would be a good idea to bring your passport when you attend this meeting, just in case. Two of the most important documents you will receive at this meeting are info sheets for CDC Traveler's Health Guide and the STEP program. The CDC Traveler's Health Guide is a beneficial website that lists specific vaccines one would need to take if they are traveling to a specific country. You also have the capability to read about certain vaccines and diseases to help you be more aware of what you need before you travel.
The STEP program is short for Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. The U.S. Department of State created this free program to help individuals who travel abroad register their trips with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to them during their travels. This helps the U.S. Embassy track your whereabouts in case of an emergency and allows you to get in contact with family or friends in case something bad happens back home. Everyone who attends a LU study abroad program is advised (and must, in my opinion) enroll in this program and use the CDC website to their benefit.
Here is the link to the STEP program enrollment page. Once you're there, click on the left square that reads "Traveling?", and then begin filling out your application. It's a good idea to have your passport, address(es) of where you will be staying while abroad, and any personal information like your SSN and emergency contact info available while you enroll in the program. If you are unsure of the address(es) of where you will be staying while abroad, contact the head of your program or another student for help. If need be, e-mail Dr. Palis or Ms. Crossley if you absolutely cannot find any available information.
Congratulations! You have completed all ten steps to be able to go on your study abroad trip. A few days before you leave, double check your itinerary, passport, and luggage to make sure you have everything you need for the trip. Another good idea would be to double check to see if you need to complete any coursework before leaving for the study abroad trip.
Now, go experience the trip of a lifetime!
Important Links: LU Study Abroad webpage http://www.lamar.edu/study-abroad/general-information/study-abroad-programs.html