Choosing a ProgramOnce you decided on where in the world you want to study abroad.
There are two programs that are available with the University of Hawaii at Manoa: 1. Manoa International Exchange (MIX): https://manoa.hawaii.edu/mix/ 2. UH Study Abroad Center (SAC): http://www.studyabroad.hawaii.edu/ Both programs are very good! UHM is partners with a lot of universities. It essentially comes down to time, money, and what country you want to go too. Also, there are differences between MIX and SAC that you can read more about here: http://www.studyabroad.hawaii.edu/students/study-abroad-vs-exchange/. The biggest difference to me is that MIX offers more options in Asia and SAC offers more options in Europe. Tips to consider when applying: 1. DO RESEARCH I really recommend doing your research on what countries and universities interest you so that you can find the best fit! If you're really clueless and want to learn more. Join the International Business Organization (IBO) *shameless plug*: https://www.ibouhm.com/. As a member I learned a lot about studying abroad through Global Analysis Workshops, it occurs after every general meeting and is open to students so you don't have to be a business major to attend or join the club. Past scholars and students who have studied abroad present about their experiences abroad which I found to be really useful when trying to figure out where I wanted to go. I ended up choosing South Korea and I'll be attending Yonsei University for the Fall 2019 semester. 2. APPLY EARLY The process in studying abroad is a pretty long one so make sure you know when the deadlines are! For MIX here are the dates: Summer, Fall, and Academic Year Exchanges: Application Opens: August 1 Application Deadline: December 1 Spring Exchanges: Application Opens: January 1 Application Deadline: May 1 As for SAC the dates differ depending on the university you're attending. Make sure to keep the dates in mind and apply early! 3. TALK TO YOUR ADVISOR I highly recommend talking to your advisor about taking courses abroad so you know the course equivalency in order to transfer back your credits to UH. For me and other Shidler students it'll be with Rikki Mitsunaga, the Shidler Undergraduate Academic Advisor. *shoutout* to Rikki for being the best IBO advisor and helping me with the entire process of studying abroad, I couldn't have done it without you. 4. PLAN AHEAD It's a year long process, make sure to plan ahead once you get accepted by booking flights, getting a place to live, figuring out wifi/transportation, and if you plan to visit other cities, countries, and do activities while you're there. 5. SAVE UP $$$ Studying abroad can be a financial burden for a lot of people but with scholarships and savings it's doable. I never thought that I would be living in Korea for four months but thanks to the Freeman scholarship, friends, and family I'll be able to fulfill my dream. Take into consideration how much money you spend now and try to budget before going abroad so that you'll have enough money to spend while you're there. I would recommend getting a summer/seasonal job, applying for scholarships, and financial aid.
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