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| There are a number of ways in which you can help your student prepare
for the study abroad experience: |
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| Help your student prepare to be self-sufficient and responsible. |
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| While supporting your student through the process is very important, it
is also necessary to understand that your student is enrolling in an
immersion study abroad program. This is a more independent type of
study abroad experience. One of the best ways you can help your
student is by encouraging the student to take responsibility from the
beginning in preparing for study abroad. |
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| Print, review and work through the Preparing to Go Checklist. |
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| Review the materials in your student's placement packet together. |
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UNIABROAD coordinators are always ready to provide important
information on preparing for life at the host institution. Students
should also receive a packet at their home address from the host
institution before departure. |
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| Student visas |
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| Verify that your student knows how to obtain a student visa and begins
the application process as soon as possible. Visa information can be
found at UNIABROAD’s Visa section Help Desk. It is the responsibility of
the student, not UNIABROAD or the home or host university, to ensure
that a visa is obtained in time for study abroad. |
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| Health and safety problems overseas: |
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Before your student departs on ISE(InternationalStudent Exchange) program, discuss all of the
health and safety information and what precautions should be taken
while abroad and when traveling on weekends and during academic
breaks.
A student's behavior and decisions are more likely to affect his or her
health and safety than any general conditions in the host country. A
student who doesn't prepare himself, ignores advice provided by the
home and host coordinator, UNIABROAD, and locals, or behaves as if he
or she is invulnerable, may run into difficulties.
The UNIABROAD student health insurance program
All ISE program participants are required to enroll in the health insurance
program. This requirement guarantees that all ISE program participants have
sufficient insurance, including major medical, evacuation, repatriation,
and 24-hour emergency assistance.
Keeping in touch
Before an ISE program participant departs, set up a communication plan
including emergency numbers. Set up e-mail accounts and learn about the telephone and postal systems of the host country. Find out what
your long distance carrier's rate is for that particular country. Once the
student is on site, be flexible. Give the students several days to contact
you after arrival. It may take them a couple of days to settle in and
figure things out. Consider setting up a weekly or bi-weekly time for
phone calls.
Packing and travel plans
Help your student research airfares and plan their journey. Remind the
student to pack light; he or she needs to be able to lug their baggage
around by themselves and may not have much storage space.
Prepare for the student's return
What will they need to do to arrange for financial aid, pre-registration
for courses, and housing? Making these arrangements before departure
will help the student have less stress abroad, and help them smoothly
re-integrate into the home institution after the program. |
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