Before embarking on a study abroad, see the presentation about necessary pre-departure steps for BSU students and also the Office of Study Abroad recemmendations when abroad

1. BSU Office of Study Abroad
WINTER
Pre-Departure Template
Orientation
2011-2012

2. Turn in Documents in Office 01
• Passport copy
• Participation agreement
• Health Form
• Transfer of credit form
(semester study abroad
students)
• http://www.bridgew.edu/studyabroad/forms
• Address: Maxwell Library
RM 330
• http://www.bridgew.edu/stud
yabroad
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3. Exchanges/Affiliates 02
• Send us a copy of your
acceptance letter
• Fill out Your Transfer of
Credit Form
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4. Passports and visas 03
• Photocopy your passport
before you go, and bring it
with you
– Don’t keep it in the same
place as your passport!
• Visa requirements vary
country to country
• Study tours—if traveling with
passport NOT from the United
States, let BSU Office of
Study Abroad know ASAP
• www.state.gov
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5. Fee Payment 04
• Study Tours
– Fee bills from Student Accounts
come out in May
– Payable before you leave
• Exchanges
– Tuition and fees payable to BSU
Student Accounts before
semester starts
– Housing fees payable to host
university
• Affiliates
– Program fees, tuition, housing all
payable to Affiliate or 3rd party
provider
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– BSU does not pay affiliate

6. Meetings 05
• Each Study Abroad program
will have program specific
orientation meetings that are
mandatory!
• You will receive email with
information about the
meetings
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7. Packing 06
• Carry on luggage
– Laptops, cameras, etc
– No liquids over 3 oz. in carry on
luggage
• What to pack
– Multi purpose clothing
– Comfortable shoes
– Different outlets?
– Hand sanitizer
• What NOT to bring
– Expensive jewelry
– Unnecessary credit cards,
social security card, etc
– Excess cash
• Luggage weight – check for
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additional baggage fees with the
airline

8. Contact and Travel Info 07
• Leave a copy of your travel dates,
flight information and itinerary with
your family
• Leave copy of the Student handbook
and the BSU Study Abroad website
• Leave a copy of your passport and
travel itinerary with family
• Make sure friends and family know
how to contact you
• Let your bank & credit card company
know you’ll be in another country
• Identify In-country contact :
– faculty leader
– program director
– international programs office
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9. Academic Credits 08
• Study Tours
– 3 BSU undergraduate or
graduate credits
– Grades are calculated
towards your GPA
– Register for the study tour
online through Infobear.

10. Academic Credits 09
Fall/AY/Semester Programs
– Students have to maintain a
full time status that equals 12
BSU Credits
– At BSU your record shows
that you have a placeholder of
12 credits
– Register for the actual courses
at the host university
– OSA registers students for
Fall/AY/summer affiliate

11. While Abroad 10
• Experiencing Culture Shock
– Happens to everyone
– Everybody may experience
different degrees of culture
shock
• Intercultural Communication
• Represent us well
– BSU Conduct Code
– Host university Code
– Host country laws
• Appropriate dress
– Flip flops = shower shoes, not
appropriate for going out

12. Study Tours 11
• Faculty Leader
distributes the
syllabus
• 3 credits include
coursework before
and after dates of
travel
• All activities and
meetings in country
are mandatory

13. Semester/AY In University 12
• STUDY Abroad =
Academic focus, not just
travel
• Class attendance is
important, but may not be
factored into the grade.
• Follow the advice and
direction of your in-
country peers, contacts
and directors.

14. Style of Instruction 13
• Lecture
• Courses may meet once a
week
• Accessibility of
faculty/professors
• Participation may not be part
of your grade
• Teachers’ titles are
important part when you
address them
• See what other students are
doing

15. Style of Instruction 14
•Style of instruction may
be very different from BSU
•Professors and
instructors interaction with
students may vary by
university and country
•Assessment varies by
university and country –
reading lists, quizzes, tests,
research project.
•Grading scale varies

16. While Abroad 15
•Check BSU email
regularly
•Send back to BSU Study
Abroad any course changes
you make
•Complete new transfer
credit form via email
•Before you leave your
host university – make sure
you request to have your
transcript sent to BSU Study
Abroad Office

17. Safety 16
• Use COMMON SENSE
• Do not be overly trusting
• Do not advertise yourself as American
• Let someone know where you are
going
• Use alcohol responsibly
• Do not use any illegal drugs or
substances.
• Do not engage in un-safe behavior
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Do not go out alone at night
• Know emergency information in-
country

18. Health 17
• Recommended immunizations
• Talk to your health care
provider
• Learn more from CDC
(www.cdc.gov)
• Take Rx with you
– Extra contacts, glasses

19. Health Insurance Information 19
• CMI/Medix (www.cmi-
insurance.com)
– Study Tours
– Exchanges
– Summer programs
– Undergraduate Research
– International Service
Learning
• All students should
maintain personal health Affiliate participants
coverage provide their own
• Carry insurance cards insurance
• If in hospital-save receipts
and you will be reimbursed

20. Get the most out of being abroad 20
• Unplug—being online all the time
hinders culture assimilation
• Get involved and take advantage
of opportunities
– Clubs, sports, music, academic groups
• Global citizenship
• Prepare in advance
– Politics, history, religion, geography
• Language – basics are helpful
– Hello, Goodbye, Please, Thank
you, etc
– Numbers

21. Money 21
• Credit/Debit cards
• Cash
• Traveler’s Checks
• Diversify your sources of
currency
• Be aware of ATM fees and
exchange rates
• Plan ahead
• Ask for exchange rates in your
US bank

22. Communication 22
• International phone card
and Cell phones
– Usually is better to purchase
in country when you arrive
• Social Networks
• Email
• SKYPE and other IMs

23. Planning Your Return 23
• Course registration
– http://www.bridgew.edu/Registrar/
• On-campus housing
– http://www.bridgew.edu/RLH/
• Check BSU email for updates
• Study tours—any final projects
• Semester/AY Programs – if you haven’t
completed your Transfer of Credits – do it
once you return from your Study Abroad
program
• Study Abroad Ambassadors
– Mentor incoming international exchange
students
– Point of contact for other students
interested in Study Abroad

24. 24
Questions?

25. Additional Information 25
• Dr. Mary Lou Frias
BSU Health Services
• Cynthia Sweeney
BSU Financial Aid
• Rita Camara
Res Life and Housing
• Kim Griffin
Student Accounts

26. Additional Information 26
Happy Travels!