I always knew I wanted to study abroad in college, that was never a question. However, the entire process of applying was a struggle. Finding out what exact city I wanted to be in, and then what specific program, AND THEN all the steps that came in with your applications… it was a nightmare. Let’s just say October was not a fun month when it came to this. I wish I had some advice as to what it would actually be like, but that is why I am here writing this blog, in hopes of making your application process go smoother with less tears. I am coming from my experience as a junior applying to go abroad my second semester, during the spring.

If you go to the International Programs Office, or better known as the IPO office, everyone there is absolutely so friendly and welcoming, don’t get me wrong, but definitely come with specific questions. My main frustration was that I (and my friends who felt the same way as I did) felt that no one really told you all the steps you had to take or should have taken during the summer to begin your abroad process. When I asked for input from my friends’ frustrations, many said even thought you are assigned a specific advisor for abroad, they do not reach out and help you, unless you come to them WITH QUESTIONS. What I mean by that is, come prepared with specific questions: whether it be payments, what specific programs offer, etc- come with exact questions or the IPO will not be able to help you much. Don’t bother going unless you have questions in mind, because they can’t really help you at all, but give you a general run down of things. Basically, some questions don’t arise until you get to the program. I hope my advice in this blog will help you avoid the mistakes I made.

I remember going to meetings for abroad in the semesters past, and I was always told not to worry about applying for abroad until the semester before. But you very well should: think about your passport… Will it expire 6 months AFTER your programs ends? If not get it renewed right away!!! Or else you would have to fight for yourself to get a Visa appointment and that is not easy at all. I knew my passport expired May 2020, but I had absolutely no idea about the 6 months rule. I thought I had enough time to get it renewed during Thanksgiving break. I was wrong. What I should have done was get it renewed during the summer- without paying the expedited fee which was a couple hundred, including taking a passport photo. Getting your passport expedited just means that you pay extra for your passport to be done in a few weeks, rather than a few months. I wish I knew about all of this earlier, so I could have just gotten it done without paying the expedited fee during the summer. So whatever program you chose to do, there is a group visa option. I was not able to do this because I was getting my passport renewed. The deadline for the group visa for API Madrid was one of the last weekends in October, but again, I didn’t have my passport ready (you would need the new, most updated passport, not your old one). I had to get an individual visa appointment from the Boston consulate, where I could not find an appointment until December, when I had been looking since October. So extremely scary and frustrating since you need a visa to be able to go abroad. However, Cristina Sosa, who is in charge of those students going to Spain, always emailed us to let us know when to check the consulate website. The appointments are very, very limited, so even when we were told to look on the website for appointments on this day, I could never find one. And believe me, I was always on that website. Some of my friends in the same visa appointment as I was, had the same issue.

So besides the passport and visa situation, my other struggle was finding what city and program I wanted to do. But that is more of a personal choice. I knew I wanted to be in Spain; so I did a lot of research as well as personal reflection since I had been in the country a few times before. When I narrowed down to the city, finding out what program was best matched for me took some years off my life, not going to lie. The prices were almost the same, and one program was longer than the other, which I wanted to do, however I had to think about which program’s classes were better for me, because they are not the same. This took so much time to think about, and I wished I spent more time in the summer with it. I did some research during the summer, but I always thought the choices of which city and program would just come to me during the fall. The applications for Barcelona, Spain were due very early: October 5. To my friends’ complete and utter shock, they had no idea until literally the week before it was due. It was an extremely difficult time for them as they had to do every single thing in a week. Luckily for Madrid, applications were due October 15 so I had a little more time. The amount of phone calls I made to the IPO office, you would think they were on speed dial. And the amount of times I visited the office. I also called my program, API, many times to talk about finances, what the program offered, visa appointments, paperwork, etc. It is a lot of advocating for yourself. Don’t be afraid at all to pick up the phone and ask questions!

But through all this! I made it! My friends who applied to their programs a week before the deadline, made it! That is not recommended at all, but they did it! The reality of applying for abroad, as with any big trip and decision, goes with a lot of steps and paperwork. That is NOT to say you shouldn’t do it “because it takes a lot of work”. Everything good in life takes some effort! I just wished we got more guidelines and the actual truth about applying for abroad, than to be told that “its easy” and “not to worry about it until the semester of”.

So, here is my list of advice for students applying to study abroad:

-Find out where you want to go, then eventually the program

-Before the school year ends, go to the IPO office and ask questions about abroad and the application process! For example, the end of your sophomore year before the summer, go see them so during the summer you can prep to apply for the fall. Even if you don’t do this, 100% see them early on in the fall.

-MAKE SURE YOUR PASSPORT WILL NOT EXPIRE UNTIL AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AFTER YOUR TRIP ENDS (please check)… group visa will be so much easier than an individual visa

-****ignore if you are doing a UMass specific program*** There will be 2 applications, the UMass one (will be due later than your actual program one).

-Meet with your advisor(s) early! They will let you know which programs are better for you CLASS wise, and what classes you can take! Very important.

-For API Madrid, I had to send my transcript to my API program advisor. I ordered 3 copies before someone told me that you had to do it electronically to API ADVISOR’S email

-DO YOUR SCHOLARSHIPS

This post is meant to give you helpful advice and an insight into applying abroad! If you are ready, unlike I was, for all the steps and start early, you will be fine! This is not to discourage anyone to not go abroad, but rather just some knowledge I wish I knew when I was going through it :)