I Applied to Study Abroad: Here Is What the Process is Like
By: Hannah Skinner ‘23
It was always a dream of mine to study abroad, and today, I am finishing up the last parts of my application and am on track to leave in the spring semester! The application process is long and can be a bit daunting, so here is a breakdown of my personal experience.
If you want to study abroad, you must start by considering which country and which university you want to go to far in advance. Some students select a university based on program or major, and others select a university for foreign language study. You may need to be flexible with where you go based on what each university offers. For me, I am applying to go to Yonsei University in South Korea for both of these reasons; I will be able to fulfill major requirements while continuing to study the Korean language!
Yonsei University
My Application Process:
Note that this is my unique experience and there will be some variation in the processes depending on the program. There are also different timelines for the application depending on if you select to go in the spring or the fall. More information can be found at the USC Overseas Studies site.
First, I applied through USC on their study abroad portal. This application opened in August, and it required things like an essay on why I chose Yonsei University, a professor’s letter of recommendation, and a list of courses I want to take at the host university. I worked with my advisor on this course list to make sure these courses would count towards my major. There was also some personal and academic information to fill out. This was all due on September 10th.
Second, the Office of Overseas Studies scheduled an interview with me. This interview took place towards the end of September. It was a group interview and the questions were about why I wanted to study abroad and a bit about the culture and history of Korea. I would say that the interview had a comfortable and casual atmosphere.
Third, after interviews, USC sent out nominations. Keep in mind, some overseas programs are competitive, others are not, so admissions vary. Back at the USC study abroad portal, I clicked commit and began to fill out more forms related to travel advisory, medical treatment, emergency contacts, and passport information. This is what I am currently working on. I also need to complete the direct application for my school. Yonsei University emailed me a link to set up an account and fill out their online application.
This will be the last of the university applications I need to do, but there will still be a lot of research and logistical planning before I leave. Thankfully, this process starts very early so there is plenty of time to prepare!
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