Study Abroad Pre-Departure Checklist Acceptance to 6 months prior –

Study Abroad
Pre-Departure Checklist
Acceptance to 6 months prior –
!Obtain/renewyourPassport.Makesureitissignedand
validforatleast6monthsafteryourreturn.
!PayyourStudyAbroadDeposittoUBO.Rememberthis
depositgoestowardstheoverallcostoftheprogramandisnonrefundable,shouldyouchoosenottogo.Pleaseseethe
cancellationpolicyonourwebsiteformoredetails.
In Terra Dotta: Complete, E-Sign, and Submit
https://jmu-abroad.terradotta.com
!IntenttoParticipateForm
!DepositPaymentReceipt
3 months prior –
!Applyforyourvisa,ifnecessary.Thismaybedonein
conjunctionwiththeoIP,yourprogramdirector,oryoumay
requirematerialsweprovidetoobtainthisdocument.All
programsandcountryrequirementsvary.
!Purchasethelocalcurrencypriortodeparture.Yes,
ATMsonsitewillgiveyouthebestrate,butit’sagoodideato
startwith100dollarsofthelocalcurrency(insmallerbills).You
mayneedcashfortaxisorfooduponarrival,priortofindingan
ATMonsite.
!Contactyourbankandcreditcardtomakesureyour
cardsandPINwillworkabroad.Ifyoudon’thavea4-digitPIN,
!HealthandEmergencyTreatmentAuthorization
askhowtouseyourcardsabroad.Besuretolearnabouttheir
internationaltransactionfee(0-5%foreachpurchase).
!PassportInformation
!Bookyourflightafterconfirmingthiswithyour
-UploadacopyofthesignedIdentificationPage
!OfficialPassportPhotos
(SemesterinFlorence:summer4photos|fall/spring5photos)
6 to 3 months prior –
!Verifythatyourfinancialaidisinplaceandyouhave
filledoutallthepaperwork.
!SignyourFAFSAforthenextacademicyear,if
ProgramDirector.Considersigningupforanyfrequentflier
milesnow.
!AddyourFlightItineraryintoTerraDotta
GoingAbroadandReturningfromAbroad*Makesureyour
itineraryincludesallflightnumbersandlayoverinformationif
youchangeplanes.
!ForacopyoftheStudyAbroadHandbook,visittheFor
AdmittedStudentssectionofourwebsite.
necessary(springstudentsespecially).Thisapplicationmust
!Talktoyourdoctoraboutprescriptionmedications
besignedbythestudentandnotapowerofattorneyorparent.
thatcanbefoundinthecountryyouwillbestudyingin.
!Researchthecountryandcityinwhichyouwillbe
Consideroptionsforgenerics.Havesufficientquantitiesof
prescriptionstolastthroughyourtimeabroad.
living.Knowthelocalweatherforthetimeframeyou’llbeliving
abroad.Readbooksontheculture/generalarea.Purchaseanapp
orguidebooktouseabroad.Buyordownloadamapofthearea,
transportationsystem,etc.Investinaphrasebooktobrushup
onsomebasicvocabulary.
!Scheduleadoctor’sappointmentorphysicalpriorto
departure.Makesureyoushareyourtravelplanswithyour
physician.Acquireanynecessaryvaccinations(moretocome
aboutprescriptionmedications).
!Consultprogram/directorregardingcoursesofferedfor
yourchosensemester.Discussstudyabroadcourseswithyour
academicorfacultyadvisor.
!CheckMyMadisonforanyholds,financialoracademic.
!Enrollinafull-timeschedule.Besureyouareregistering
forclassesspecifictoyourabroadprogram.ThiswillNOThappen
automatically.Youmustregisterduringyourscheduled
appointmenttime.Donotwaituntilonsitetoregister.
!Shareacopyofyourstudyabroadand/orprogram
handbookwithyourparents.
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over
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1 month prior –
"RegisterwiththeDepartmentofState–(oIPdoesthat
foryou-you’rewelcome!).
!Ifyoutravelbeyondyourhostcountry,besure
toregisteryourtravel.
!Developacommunicationplanwithyourfamilyand
friends.ConsidersettingupaSkypeaccountandpracticing
withyourfamilypriortoyourdeparture.
!Determinewhetheryourcellphonewillwork,ifyou
planonusingitwhileabroad.
!Makesurefamilyandfriendsunderstandinternational
dialinginstructions.
!Startapackinglist.Checkyourairlineforanybaggage
restrictions.
!Purchasevoltageconvertersoradapters,ifneeded.
!Obtaintraveler’sinsuranceforanyelectronicsor
valuablesyouwillbring,considertripcancelationinsurance
tosafeguardyouinpersonalortravelemergencies.
!PrintyourCISIinsurancecard(sentviaemail).
!VerifypaymentfortuitionandfeesforStudyAbroad.
Fullpaymentfortheprogramisduebytheon-campus
tuitiondatesorpriortodeparture,whichevercomesfirst.
!Puttogetherabudgetforyourtimeabroadof
estimatedandfixedexpenses
2 weeks prior –
!Informyourcreditcardcompanyandbankthatyou
willbeoutofthecountryandmakingtransactionsfrom
abroad.Whatisyourplanifyouloseyourwallet?Thinkabout
alternativeoptions.
!Makephotocopiesofimportantitemstosaveat
home(passport,visa,creditcards,insurance,anditineraries).
!Checkholdsandconfirmpayment–again!Youwillnot
beabletomakeanyschedulechangesifyouhaveaholdon
youraccountorhavenotpaidtuitionandfeesinfull.
!Gatherphonenumbersandemailaddressesforall
necessaryonsitestaff.We’llgetyoustarted:
OfficeofInternationalPrograms
1.540.568.6419|[email protected]
!Buyajournalorestablishanonlinejournalorblog.You
willwanttofindawaytorecordthesemomentsandfirst
impressions.
!Beginwritinginyourjournalorstartbloggingpriorto
departuretocapturetheentireexperience
!PackandPackEfficiently.Besuretobringclothesthat
layerwell,washwell,andareseasonappropriate.Consider
steppingupyourwardrobe,asyouwon’twanttolooklikean
Americancollegestudentabroad,trustus!Ladies,sacrificeapair
ofsweatsandflipflopsforanicedressandshoes.Gents,tradein
oneofyourhoodiesforapolo/dressshirtandblazer.Overall,
withtheamountofstuff,followthisrule-Whenitdoubt,leaveit
out!
Other items to consider –
!Refertohttp://studentsabroad.state.gov/for
informationaboutabsenteevoting,ifapplicable.
!Getinformationaboutfilingtaxeswhileyouare
abroad,ifapplicable.
Add your own –
!_____________________________________________
!_____________________________________________
!_____________________________________________
!_____________________________________________
!_____________________________________________
!_____________________________________________
OfficeofInternationalPrograms
MSC5731
JMAC6,Suite22
Harrisonburg,VA22807
T:540.568.6419
E:[email protected]