Congratulations! You have been accepted into a program and are going to study abroad! In a few months (or weeks!) you will embark on the adventure of a lifetime; however, there is much to be done before you go. It may seem overwhelming now but remember that you can always stop by the Study Abroad office with your myriad of questions. We've also scheduled a number of helpful events that can prepare you for your international experience. Don't forget to check out other sections of the Preparation portion of the website to understand things you should do before going abroad.

TIPS for Students Studying Abroad

Every semester, Study Abroad runs a large group pre-departure orientation called TIPS for Students Studying Abroad. We cover all kinds of important issues including health, safety, identity, cultural adjustment, money, and more. We also give away a $500 scholarship good toward your study abroad experience. This semester's event will be held on Saturday, April 27, in 100 Phillips Hall. Registration will begin at 12:40 pm. The event will run between 1 and 3:30. All potential study abroad students will receive an invite to this even sometime in mid-April. No RSVP is necessary. 

Slice of Advice

In addition to presenting students with useful information, Study Abroad also offers outgoing students a chance to talk to a returnee that previously studied abroad. We run an event called Slice of Advice to help connect these two groups. Study Abroad will serve pizza and refreshments at this event. We will be hosting the next Slice of Advice on Wednesday, May 1, in UCC 2780. We'll open the doors at 5 pm. UCC 2780 is on the second floor in the southwest end of the Old Capitol Mall above CVS. Study abroad students interested in attending this event must RSVP to study-abroad@uiowa.edu by Wednesday, April 24. If we receive your RSVP after that date, we may not be able to line-up a returnee for you. Please note that this event is only open to students studying abroad during the fall and academic year. 

Optional Sessions

We also run a number of optional sessions. Feel free to attend any, all, or none of these events. Here is this spring semester's schedule:

Living with a Host Family
5-6 pm on Monday, April 22
UCC 1124
Gain advice from peers on how to best adapt to living with a host family abroad. You’ll learn about what kind of gifts to bring, what to do in those first crucial days, and how to make reasonable compromises with your new host family. If you’re nervous about living with a host family, come to this session and have those fears addressed. 

Maximizing Language Learning While Abroad 
6-6:30 pm on Monday, April 22
UCC 1124
This session will offer students practical advice on learning the target language outside of the classroom. Whether you’re a language major or a student looking to get the most out of your study abroad experience in a foreign language speaking country, this session will prepare and motivate you to take your language skills to the next level. 

First Time Solo Flyers 
4-5 pm on Tuesday, April 23
UCC 1100
This event will be run by a representative from Meacham Travel Agency and will be geared toward students with little to no travel experience, or that have only traveled with family members or in large groups. Come to this session to learn how to navigate airports, deal with immigration, survive long plane rides, and other tricks to get you where you need to go.

Traveling Around Europe 
7-8 pm on Wednesday, April 24
UCC 1100
In this session, students that have traveled around Europe will share some of their suggestions on how to travel cheaply and safely across the continent. They’ll use their own personal stories and experiences to help those going abroad make informed decisions about experiencing the flavor and culture of many diverse destinations in Europe.  

Packing Seminar sponsored by Active Endeavors 
4-5 pm on Thursday, April 25
UCC 1117
This event is jointly sponsored by UI Study Abroad and by the local outdoor store Active Endeavors. Door prizes including travel gear and accessories will be given away courtesy of Active Endeavors. If you haven’t thought about what or how to pack for your study abroad experience, this session will help you make some of those decisions. Learn about luggage, electricity conversion tools, temperature appropriate clothing, and much more. 

TIPS Handbook

To help smooth your transition abroad, Study Abroad has put together a handbook that condenses a lot of information on this website into one document. Stop by the Study Abroad Resource Room to pick one up.