Before you head over, make sure you know the lay of the land.

First things first
When you apply to a study abroad program, part of your application includes information about your health history. You’ll likely need to be cleared medically by your doctor to be approved to travel to your destination. It’s crucial to be honest about any medical conditions you have, no matter how mundane they may seem. Even a simple allergy can affect where you might be able to live comfortably.

Make whatever appointments necessary to not only get a medical release, but to bring everything up to date before you go: annual exams, eyeglass and contact prescriptions, and adequate refills for any medications you take. (Generic drugs will be easier to obtain overseas, so avoid taking prescriptions for brand-name drugs if possible). Get any needed procedures out of the way, including EKGs and X-rays, if they’re needed. Taking care of all of these things before you leave will be much easier than trying to get them completed once you’re overseas.

Have your doctors provide you with written statements about your prescriptions and how and why they are prescribed. Your doctor should also include comments about any special medical conditions you have as well. If you’ll need dental procedures while you’re gone, take along copies of pertinent dental records and keep everything in a safe place in case you need them.

Special needs and requirements
Once the program receives your application, they can determine if you have any conditions that may preclude you from attending, but more likely, they’ll determine what health measures, if any, you still need to take and if any specific medical needs you have can be easily met where you’re going.

For travel to most countries, you won’t need to take any special precautions ahead of time. However, there are some that may be recommended or required depending on where you’re planning to travel. If there are, get them taken care of well in advance by making your appointment with your doctor at least three months ahead of your departure. This should allow ample time for things such as completion of any required immunizations, gamma globulin shots (a preventative against hepatitis A), and further assessment of any special medical problems you may have. You may also want to ask about hepatitis B protection, especially if you’re headed to Asia or Africa.

Don’t drink the water
It’s an old adage, but an accurate one. Many regions of the world do not have water systems that treat and sterilize the water the way it is done in the United States. The same applies to food and food preparation. In the U.S., our food and water is regulated, pasteurized, sterilized, preserved, and pretty much everything else you can think of.

This keeps us safe from the some of the more common nasties seen in other countries, such as cholera and diphtheria, but it also means your tender tummy may have some difficulty adapting to the local cuisine. Use common sense and avoid eating foods prepared by roadside vendors as well as uncooked foods. And, depending on where you’re going, don’t drink the water — stick with bottled water as much as possible.

Drugs and alcohol
In some countries, access to substances such as alcohol may be much easier, since age restrictions are not necessarily an issue. You may find it especially tempting to overindulge and then find yourself dealing with the aftermath. Repeated alcohol abuse will not only leave you poor health, but your studies will undoubtedly suffer as well.

In other areas, access to alcohol may be just the opposite and consumption of it could land you a visit in the local jail. As far as drugs go, you shouldn’t be using them anyway, but a worst-case scenario in some countries could find you languishing in prison for several years. Why risk it?

Don’t go it alone
If you suffer from emotional problems, don’t expect a few months of studying overseas to cure you. It’s more likely that culture shock and separation from friends and family may worsen your conditions. Make sure that you’ve disclosed any conditions you have so that your study-abroad program can assist you in finding support and counseling if needed.

Oh, and one last thing…
If applicable to your lifestyle, take precautions if you engage in sexual activity. STDs and AIDS are still a risk pretty much everywhere, including the U.S., and are very prevalent in certain parts of the world. You should be especially cautious. If you think it’s necessary, pack condoms to take with you and follow the same kind of practical advice and common sense you would use in the United States.

First things first
For starters, you can finally start making your travel plans and packing your bags for school. However, don’t plan to arrive more than 30 days prior to the start of your program or you may be turned away at the border. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security precludes new students from entering the country more than 30 days prior to the start of school. (Continuing students may enter the U.S. at any time before their classes start.)

If you wish to arrive earlier, you’ll need to obtain a visitor visa in addition to your student visa, and it will need to clearly note your intention to study in the U.S. later on. However, before you start school, you’ll also need to change your visa classification by submitting a Form I-539 (Application for Change of Nonimmigrant Status) and a Form I-20 to the Department of Homeland Security. Doing this will cost you an additional fee and you won’t be able to begin school until the change of classification is approved.

Assuming you choose to arrive in the United States on your student visa, make sure that you take all of your paperwork with you, including your visa, your copies of the I-20 that the school sent you, and your passport. Make sure before you leave home that your passport is up to date and valid for at least 6 months AFTER you are scheduled to finish your studies.

It’s a good idea to keep a photocopy of your passport in case you lose it because it will be easier to replace if needed. You should also have your proof of financial support and permanent residence abroad in case you are asked to show them. Keep this paperwork with you at all times while you’re traveling — don’t stow it away in your checked luggage!

At the border
Even if you have a visa in hand, you could still be turned away at the border. The Department of Homeland Security has the authority to permit or deny admission into the U.S. If you don’t have the proper documentation or don’t comply with procedures, you may be refused admission.

You’ll need to fill out a standard Customs Declaration form (CF-6059) to disclose any items you’re bringing into the country that must be reported (the form will identify the types of things you need to disclose). You’ll also need to provide the address where you’ll be living in the United States (NOT the address of the school), your passport, and your I-20.

You’ll then be issued an Arrival-Departure Record (an I-94) which will have your arrival date recorded in it. Your I-94 keeps track of your comings and goings in and out of the United States. It is a very important document that you should keep with your passport, I-20, proof of permanent residence, and proof of financial resources. Each time you leave the country and come back, you’ll likely need to show all of these documents.

Smile for the camera
Depending on where you enter the country, the customs agents may also use a digital scanner to scan your fingerprints. Your digital photograph will also be taken and both your fingerprints and your photo will be matched with those on your visa to verify your identity.

These procedures, known as biometrics, will eventually be in use at all entry areas as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s goal of an automated entry/exit procedure under its U.S. Visit program.

Leaving the country
With a student visa, you can leave the country for short periods of time to go home, attend conferences, etc., but your absences cannot exceed 5 months. If you leave the country for more than 5 months, your F-1 or M-1 visa is invalid, even if it has not expired; you’ll need a new visa to re-enter the country. The exception is if you have left the country to pursue studies overseas while still enrolled at a U.S. school. In those cases, you may leave for longer than 5 months and still have a valid visa.

Once you’ve completed your studies, you have 60 days to make your preparations and then depart from the U.S. under an F-1 visa. If you have an M-1 visa, you only have 30 days to depart. After that, your visa will no longer be valid. If you haven’t yet returned home, you could find yourself in a bit of trouble.

If your visa expires while you are still in school and you leave the country temporarily, you will need to get a new visa in order to re-enter the U.S. Since you can’t renew your visa while you are in the U.S., make sure you’ve checked its expiration date and plan accordingly. Even though you have permission to stay in the U.S. through the duration of your studies, your visa can still expire before then. If you don’t leave the country, it may not present a big problem, but if you do leave and find out at the border that your visa has expired, it could put a big kink in your studies.

Also make sure that your passport is up to date so that everything is in place when it’s time to return home. (You may want to renew your passport before you leave the U.S. It will be easier than doing it while abroad.)

Biometric exits
Depending on where you leave, you may experience biometric exit procedures (scanning fingerprints and taking a digital photo) to verify your identity. Your exit from the United States will be confirmed and added to your travel records. Eventually, these procedures will be in place at all U.S. ports of entry.

United States immigration rules and procedures can be pretty complicated. Make sure you check with your local U.S. Consulate for guidance on what you need to do to obtain your student visa.

Fortunately, there are ways around this dilemma. Flexible roundtrip tickets do exist and they’re the best way to get you to your destination while allowing yourself a little leeway in changing your travel dates if needed.

Student-friendly travel sites like STA Travel (and others like it) specialize in student travel and can get you tickets at low rates and with great flexibility built in. They do have expiration dates, but you can get tickets that are good for a year — giving you at least an extra three months to hang around after the nine-month academic year is over.

The benefits of these tickets don’t end with just changeable return dates, either. You can purchase tickets that allow you to return from a different city or build in low-cost add-ons that allow for extra stopovers en route — a great way to stretch your dollars and see more of the world while you’re at it. Usually, extra stopovers are available in the airlines’ hub cities, and the stopovers can be for two or three days (or more). On your way to Athens? Make arrangements ahead of time, and you may be able to enjoy a few days in the City of Lights before landing at your final destination.

Other extras
Many student-oriented travel agencies can get you more than just discounted airfare. Most can also assist with overland travel and accommodations once you reach your destination. With access to such things as a network of student hostels, budget hotels, and package deals, they can help you plan a cost-effective travel experience from start to finish. You can usually purchase things like a Eurail or a Eurobus pass (or similar passes for other regions), international student I.D. cards, travel gear, phone cards, and travel insurance. It’s worth checking out everything they have to offer, but don’t forget to shop and compare. Good research and careful planning ahead of time can save you a lot of money!

Don’t leave home without it
Make sure you purchase an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), either through a student-oriented travel agency or through your college or university. This all-purpose card can get you a wide variety of discounts pretty much everywhere you go. It also provides you with a 24-hour Help Line emergency service as well as some basic sickness and accident travel insurance for trips outside the US.

To be eligible, you must be a full-time student over the age of twelve, and enrolled in a program in which you’re working towards a diploma or degree.

Minimize your cash
Consider using traveler’s checks and credit cards — they’re safer than traveling with cash. Stick with companies that offer extensive services in the country you’re visiting since you’ll need to find one of their offices if your cards or checks are lost or stolen. American Express, Thomas Cook, and VISA are good bets since they all have networks around the world, but it’s a good idea to find out about local preferences too.

If you decide to use traveler’s checks, keep the check registers up to date and store them separately from the checks themselves. You’ll need this information if your checks are stolen.

Plan ahead…and have fun!
There are a lot of details to take care of before you head out of the country for several months. With some advance planning and help from experts in the world of student travel, worrying about how to get from Point A to Point B without spending all your reserve cash won’t have to be one of them.

With biometrics and increased security, there are some things that will be required of you when you apply for your visa. This takes some planning, a little time and of course, a little cash. The first thing you need to do is check with the embassy or consulate to which you’ll be sending your visa application. You need to find out how long it typically takes to complete a visa approval. This is important because in most cases, you will be required to attend an in-person interview with a consular officer. However, your visa cannot be issued more than 120 days in advance of the start date of your studies.

Whether you interview or not, you will be required to have your fingerprints taken. Your prints will be scanned into a database. If you refuse to be fingerprinted, your visa application will be denied. However, if you change your mind about it later, you application will be reconsidered.

Other factors
There is a visa application fee, and in some cases, there may also be a visa issuance fee. The standard application form is known as the DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application). If you are applying for a student visa, you also need to fill out and submit the DS-158 (Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant). In some cases, you may need to fill out and submit a Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application (a DS-157).

All U.S. embassies and consulates abroad are required to adhere to the same standards when issuing visas. Your visa will be machine-readable so that it can be scanned at any U.S. Port of entry — your fingerprints will be verified at this time as well.

All of your information will be kept in a Web-based system called SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). SEVIS stores all the information gathered on international students and exchange visitors in the U.S. and enables you, your school, immigration officials, and the embassy or consulate where you applied to to verify your lawful student status.

A couple of important things to remember
Your visa may have an expiration date on it, but keep in mind that a visa simply allows you to ask for permission to enter the U.S. The visa “permission” expires on that date, so if you leave the U.S. and come back after that expiration date, you must have a new visa. This expiration date is entirely different from your authorized length of stay in the United States.

If your visa is accepted, you will be issued an I-94 (your Arrival/Departure record). This is a very important document so be sure not to lose it; you will need it every time you leave or return to the U.S. The immigration control officer will record on this document your approved Duration of Stay. In some cases, this will be an actual date — although as a student, you will likely have the letters “D/S” recorded on your I-94. This stands for Duration of Status, and it means you can stay in the U.S. as long as you continue in your studies.

If your visa expires during this time and you leave the country, you’ll need a renewed visa to cross back over the border. So, it’s important that if you head home, even for a few weeks, to check the expiration date on your visa to make sure you don’t put yourself in a bind when it comes time to return.

Additional security checks
Depending on a number of variables, you may be subject to additional security checks. The consular officer will let you know if this is necessary. The vast majority of visa approvals are issued within 30 days of the application being submitted.

When you contact the U.S. embassy or consulate, they will let you know what you need to do and can assist you with any questions or problems you might have. You can also check out estimated wait times for visa processing at www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php

Why is that? Perhaps students fear the unknown, the uncomfortable, or the inability to communicate — or perhaps they just fear not having access to modern plumbing. Whatever the reason, maybe that’s not the case with you…or maybe it is. Wherever your thoughts lie, there is no better time than now to choose a study abroad location that will broaden your horizons far beyond traditions and cultures that you already know like the back of your hand.

The future is not for the culturally-challenged
Globalization and multinational collaboration are modern-day realities and our world is ripe for intercultural exchange. Hoping to spur the development of educated, culturally savvy global leaders and innovators, new study abroad programs are popping up everyday. Students (and non-students, too!) have more opportunities than ever to study in areas where ancient cultures still exist and the contrast between rich and poor exists on a scale unlike anything we might see in the United States.

Global connectedness
More than 80 percent of the world’s population resides in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and the nations and territories of the South Pacific. Most of these countries and their varied regions boast some of the oldest cultures known to man, the cradles of civilization, the origins of the world’s great religions, and the historical basis for much of modern learning and technology.

Many of these countries also reveal the global interconnectedness of problems once thought to be isolated, but which we now know to be universal —environmental decay, population growth, immigration, human rights violations, and the use of force and weapons of warfare. Rather than learning about these problems through our nightly newscast, a semester abroad in an area where you can learn firsthand about the experiences of other cultures may be one of the most challenging and life-changing things you may ever do.

Challenge yourself
Fear keeps many of us from venturing outside of our comfort zone. If you think that the most difficult part of studying in a nontraditional location is leaving the familiar behind and stepping into the unknown where every aspect of life seems different, then consider this — it is that very difference that can make study in such a place so exciting and attractive.

You can examine political change in South Africa, rural healthcare in India, wildlife conservation in Botswana, economic development in Japan, Arabic in Egypt, agriculture in Cuba, or urban planning in Mexico City. If you know some French, why not study it in Morocco? If you’re interested in learning about post-colonial nations, Ghana and Indonesia are living laboratories. What better place than Jordan to study early Christianity, Islam, or Judaism? The art collection at your college or university may be excellent, but imagine viewing Chinese art in its intended lodging — the imperial palace in Beijing.

Give it some thought. The road less traveled often makes all the difference.

Applying for a visa
The rules and regulations governing the entrance of international students into the U.S. are somewhat complicated. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you must submit to the U.S.consular authorities Form I-20 for an F-1 or M-1 student visa, or Form DS-2019 for a J-1 exchange visitor visa. You must also provide a valid passport from your home country.

The F-1 and J-1 are the most commonly used visas by international students. F-1 visas are for full-time students in an academic or language program. J-1 visas are for people participating in an exchange visitor program (educational or cultural) in the U.S. M-1 visas are for students attending trade or vocational programs.

The I-20 or DS-2019 forms will be sent from your college after you have been admitted to a full-time academic program and have demonstrated that you have sufficient financial resources to cover all expenses. Before granting the entrance visa, American consular officers may request additional information. They must be convinced that you are a student who plans to return to your home country upon completion of the program.

About your passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the amount of time you plan to spend in the U.S. It is a good idea to keep a photocopy — having it will make it easier to replace your passport if you happen to lose it. If you do lose it, you should contact the police and your embassy immediately.

If you have any questions about matters related to immigration rules, work permits, health insurance, etc., you should check with the international student adviser at the college you plan to attend. It is your responsibility, however, to maintain your immigration status by obtaining your forms at the correct time, keeping your passport valid 6 months beyond the date of completion of your program, and maintaining enrollment with a full course load.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires international exchange programs, study-abroad offices and international community service projects to offer the same services to you as they do to everyone else. They may not be able to guarantee accessible services and sites everywhere, but they do need to assist you by finding and making international programs as accessible as possible. However, most programs don’t need a mandate to motivate them to help you fulfill your dream — they want to do it!

A helping hand
If you can’t find a program that suits your needs through your own school, there are other organizations that can help. Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and its National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in international programs and assist international exchange organizations in the process of increasing general program accessibility. The Clearinghouse provides free information and referral services for academic, volunteer, or work opportunities abroad. Both agencies also provide consultation and training to international organizations that wish to include you and others with disabilities in their programs.

Thanks to the work of these agencies and committed individuals worldwide, there are many opportunities available to you. You don’t have to shrug off your dream.

Study Abroad
More and more universities around the world have made changes to accommodate students with disabilities, and there are an ever increasing number of accessible study-abroad programs available. For instance, Lancaster University in England actively recruits international students with disabilities to its program, and many other universities provide fully accessible programs for foreign students.

As with most anything, a little advance planning and good communication on your part will help you achieve a successful experience abroad. Provide your advisers with information about your specific needs so they can help you find an appropriate program.

Work and Volunteer Abroad
As you consider your study abroad options, you aren’t limited to school-based programs. There are a number of work and volunteer programs available to students with disabilities, including international community service projects lasting from a few weeks to as long as one or two years. The types of projects available are numerous and can range from working with homeless children in Peru to helping build wheelchairs in Latin America or teaching sign language in Malaysia.

Some organizations, such as the Peace Corps, offer long-term service opportunities to people with disabilities. Others, such as the Council on International Educational Exchange, offer work programs and can assist you with identifying an employment location, securing work permits, and adapting to a new environment.

Survival abroad
In some parts of the world, you may need to be particularly innovative in solving accessibility and communication problems. You’ll likely find it helpful to contact any disability-related organizations in your host country well in advance of your arrival. They may be able to provide you information about local services such as wheelchair repair, handicapped-accessible lodging, sign language interpreters, and mobility training, as well as first-hand information about conditions for people with disabilities in specific areas.

Financial aid
Financing an international experience can be a challenge for anyone. You may be able to utilize traditional financial aid and scholarships, as well as aid specifically intended for people with disabilities. Check out resources including service clubs like Rotary International, as well as vocational rehabilitation departments. You can also contact The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange for a list of international and disability-related scholarships and grants.

Go for it!
Being disabled doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a tremendously enriching international experience. Assert yourself in locating the right program and you’ll find many opportunities that await you.

The creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and changes to immigration laws saw a temporary decline in foreign-student enrollment from 2001 to 2004. The tightening up of the immigration process introduced more stringent procedures for issuing visas, more entry denials, and lengthier processing times. However, improvements in both government procedures and school recruiting efforts seems to have made a positive improvement. Though there are still problems to work out, the U.S. government wants its efforts to improve visa procedures and immigration policies to give a clear message to foreign students: America welcomes you and encourages you to apply to and enroll in American schools.

Getting here from there
If you want to attend college in America, you have to get permission from the U.S. government first. This requires several things: you must be healthy, law abiding, financially self sufficient, and prepared to leave once you have completed your studies. Because you are not a U.S. citizen, your stay here is considered temporary and unless you have stated otherwise, your goal in coming here is not to pursue U.S. citizenship, but to pursue an education.

Normally, foreign students are admitted with one of two types of student visas: an F-1 visa for students enrolled full-time in an academic or language training program, or an M-1 visa for students attending a full-time vocational or trade school. With an F-1 visa, you’re probably attending a college, university, seminary, conservatory, or academic high school. The type of visa that you apply for is very important as each type has specific limitations, including the length of time it is valid. If you are planning to come to the United States as an exchange student, then you’ll need to apply for a third type of student visa, a J-1.

Depending on your nationality and the course of study you’re pursuing, you may be subject to a longer background security check and background clearance known as the Visa Mantis. The primary purpose of Visa Mantis checks is to prevent the distribution or proliferation of certain forms of weapons and science technologies.

Getting an F-1 or an M-1 visa
The rules and regulations governing the entrance of international students into the U.S. are somewhat complicated, but there are a few basics:

* You need to apply and enroll in a full-time academic, language-training, or vocational program before you apply for your visa. You’ll need to be able to tell the consulate what school you’ll be attending.
* The school you’re attending must be approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
* You must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses that will enable you to become proficient.
* You must have proof that you have adequate financial resources to support you while you are living in the United States.
* You must have proof that you have a permanent residence abroad.

Once you’re accepted, the school will enter your information into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which maintains information on non-immigrant students, exchange visitors, and their dependents. SEVIS is administered by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (within the DHS). The school will then provide you with a SEVIS-generated Form I-20 (or Certification of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status, for Academic/Language Students).

The I-20 form will include the anticipated date of your completion of the program under normal circumstances. This is important because it dictates how long your visa will be valid. You may get more than one of these if you’re accepted by more than one school, but you should know there is a processing fee that you must pay to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for EACH I-20 that is issued on your behalf.

To apply for a visa, you will need to contact the U.S. Embassy nearest you to set up an appointment. You should bring:

* the I-20 form for the school you will attend
* your visa application — forms DS-156, DS-158, and DS-157 (if applicable)
* a valid passport
* a 2×2 photograph
* financial support documents
* documents that establish ties to the local community
* fee receipts for the visa application, I-20 form, and visa issuance (if applicable)

In many cases, regardless of your nationality or religion, you may be required to attend an interview before a visa will be issued to you. Before they issue you a visa, the consulate must feel confident that you have every intention of returning to your native country after you’ve finished your studies.

Keep in mind — even with these things in place, you may not get a visa. Paperwork requirements for visas of all types are reviewed very thoroughly. The slightest error or inconsistency could get you turned down.

A note about attending high school in the U.S.
If you’re planning to attend public high school (grades 9-12) in the United States with a student-status visa (F-1), you’ll need to be able to prove that you have reimbursed the local school district in advance for the unsubsidized per-capita cost of the education. With an F-1 visa, you cannot attend public high school in the U.S. for more than one year, nor can you attend a public elementary or middle school or a publicly-funded adult education program in the United States. If you are planning to enter the country as an exchange student, you need to apply for a J-1 visa.

Dot your i’s
Before your school approves anything, you may need to obtain course outlines, reading lists, information on the level of courses offered, the number of contact hours, or any other information about your study abroad program that your school requires before they will agree to grant credits for any work you complete.

How your school chooses to accept foreign credits may vary. Some courses abroad may equate with required courses for your degree, or you may be allowed to substitute them for some of your elective courses stateside. Make sure you know how they will translate your credits so you know if, and how, they can actually be applied towards your degree.

The amount of credit you can earn will depend on policies of the host institution and your school, as well as what courses you take abroad and whether or not you have to pass all of them. You may need to earn a C or better to earn any credit.

Whatever you need to do to get your school’s approval ahead of time, make the effort to do so. Depending on where you’re going, this may be easier in some cases and harder in others. However, whatever you do, once you get approval, make sure you get it in writing. The agreement you each with your school may be different than those of other study-abroad students and you don’t want to come back to find that the person who approved everything suddenly retired and is no longer around to substantiate any of your claims for credit.

Cross your t’s
Some foreign countries document things differently and won’t actually provide you with a transcript. You may have to get letters from your professors to verify that you took certain courses. If you know what to expect ahead of time, you’ll know where to go to get what you need, and can arrange to have everything sent to the right person at your home school. Consider having all paperwork sent directly to your study-abroad adviser — they’ll know where to route everything so your documentation isn’t lost and delays can be avoided.

The road less traveled
Earning credit for foreign courses isn’t the only way to earn credit towards your degree. You may be able to earn credits for experiential education, work experience, public service projects, and sometimes even for traveling abroad. You may also be able to earn credits for internships overseas and in some cases, you may be able to earn credit by exam, particularly for foreign language credits (although you may be able to do so in other subjects as well). It’s certainly worth your time to find out your school’s policy on granting credit for non-traditional forms of education.

Ultimately, you may simply want to consider the personal benefits of taking a course or participating in an activity that won’t satisfy any degree requirements but might provide you great cultural enrichment and personal satisfaction. Even if you’ve already met all your elective requirements, you might find the value of an art history course in Paris, a semester of cooking classes in Asia, or a volunteer stint in the Peace Corps too rich to pass up — a healthy attitude for someone who might not return overseas for decades.

Education USA’s educational advising centers offer free information and support on a variety of different issues that you may face. Staffed by professionally trained advisers, the centers are standing by to assist you with finding a college in the U.S. and with understanding the different types of schools available so you can choose the school that’s best suited for you. They can also help you with test preparation, writing your essays or resumes, and with obtaining financial assistance. Supported by the U.S. Department of State, the centers are kept in the loop on current U.S. immigration law and security procedures, so they can guide you on obtaining your student visa and preparing for your departure to the United States as well.

Find out what’s out there
Education USA also sponsors several international education fairs each year. These fairs offer you the chance to meet representatives from various U.S. schools and are a great way to get some of your questions answered, gather materials, and perhaps see video presentations of some of the schools. Since campus visits to the U.S. may not be feasible as part of your decision-making, these fairs can be a window into some of your choice schools — and may be able to help you finalize your plans.
A full listing of Education USA’s centers and a calendar of scheduled education fairs is available at http://educationusa.state.gov/centers.htm