So, you’ve applied and been accepted into the study abroad program of your dreams! What’s next? Between paperwork, packing and preparing to live in a completely new place it can be a bit overwhelming.
Junior, Daia Bromberg has been through it all, preparing for her semester of studying at the Ithaca College London Center. She was kind enough to share some tips for the time leading up to your departure.
But first, some information about the London Center:
This program, first and foremost offers the opportunity to study in the incredible city of London. Students are presented with the chance to take classes in English, potential field trips to nearby places and a slew of incredible course offerings.
With cultural core classes related to music, theater, literature and art history, there are opportunities to fulfill some Ithaca College credit requirements while abroad. Classes in the contemporary core category are also an option including business, communication, history, politics, sociology and sports studies classes. Plus, there are chances for students to work as interns with the cultural internship program.
And this is just the academic side of things.
As a student in the London Program, you have the opportunity to live in an authentic London Flat, attend exciting events and see plenty of performances.
Daia’s Tips:
Organizing
Especially during covid there is a lot of information to keep track of:
- Make separate a email folder for notices from the study abroad office at IC and your program so it’s easy to find everything as you get prepped
- Do paperwork early. You don’t want to be negotiating with the bank two days before your flight.
- Get a clipboard with all your paperwork to go through customs in the order of likelihood they would request it and keep it with you
Packing
- You can practice packing everything a few days before you actually need to be if you’re worried about everything fitting
- It might be worth getting a handheld luggage scale
- Consider vacuum pack bags or packing cubes for clothes
Settling
- Bring some photos from home! It’s nice to be able to decorate a new space
- If you’ve never done your own grocery shopping it can be useful to have some ideas of staples to buy once you arrive
- Look into the transportation system and any apps (Citymapper is a great one) that can assist you
You’re competent and can handle challenges, the biggest thing I’d recommend rather than over-preparing is to get enough sleep before you travel and when you arrive!
