SBCC Study Abroad Programs are faculty-led and change every school year. That makes our programs unique and it is very exciting for our SBCC faculty as well as for students.
It allows for diverse program offerings being led by a diverse faculty. It enables unique program combinations such as different destinations with different classes.
For example, by offering a program in Paris, France, with an art professor one year and then with an English professor another year, students who prefer one subject over another have the opportunity to study in a destination they want to get to know and taking courses that they are more interested in. It also makes it possible for different professors to lead a program in a popular destination, or for one professor to lead a program in different destinations each year.
Once you have decided that studying abroad is something you want to pursue at SBCC, there are three tips that will help you along the way. First off, congratulations for making this decision! It will change your life and allow you to make memories for the rest of your life.
Here are some helpful tips for your next steps
SBCC Study Abroad Programs are not "sign me up" programs.
After you have completed your initial research and chosen your program, you will need to apply for the semester or short program. As you go through the application process, the most common mistakes I see is starting off by not reading the information that is available to you ahead of time.
TIP: Do your initial research and read all the program details before choosing a program.
Studying abroad requires some preparation, (academically, financially and personally) and that includes the application process. I strongly discourage you from making an impulse decision and applying for a program on a whim. Applicants pay a non-refundable application fee, which you are responsible for paying after you have officially been accepted into the program. This fee is part of your first program payment and holds your spot on the program.
Completing a program application because it's easy and sounds good in the moment and then realizing that you don't have the money to pay for it later can put you in a difficult financial situation. There are no waivers for the application fee and while you don't pay it the moment you click "Submit" on the online form, you are responsible for paying it as soon as you are officially accepted into the program. SBCC Study Abroad accepts students on a first-come, first-serve basis, so unless you don't fulfil the minimum requirements or apply after a program is full, there are very few reasons why you will not be accepted into the program. That means, your application fee will be due just a few weeks after you submit your application, when you receive your official acceptance notification.
TIP: Start the process early, save up for your application fee and make a plan for saving up for the rest of the program cost before the payment deadlines, which are listed on each program page. The best time to start the process and allowing yourself time to get the money together (either through saving, applying for scholarships, holding online fundraisers or more.) is about one year prior to the start of the program.
Details for each SBCC Study Abroad Programs are different
In addition to reviewing the program information that is available for each program on our Study Abroad website, we also offer information sessions, financial workshops and more, which you can find on our Events page. Applicants can also meet with the Study Abroad Program Advisor or the faculty leading the program to get support.
Each of our programs is different, and we offer different programs each school year. While there are a few things that each program has in common (i.e. you must be 18 or older and in good academic standing to apply, the program cost will always cover your housing and mandatory excursions) most details differ from program to program.
That includes which materials or documents have to be submitted, program cost, what is included in the program cost and more. Our programs entail two components that make up the program:
The destination + The academic classes offered on the program = The Study Abroad Program.
We do not offer a la carte programs. If you choose a specific program, you will be in that destination and you will need to enroll and fully participate in all the classes offered on this program. You can not drop a class while abroad and you can not pick and choose classes based on the credits you still need. The reason is simply because the faculty who leads the program will teach specific courses. On semester programs, we additionally hire local faculty who will teach their courses. During our programs, you are enrolled at SBCC, you will not enroll or attend a foreign university.
TIP: Utilize all the resources and be familiar with what you apply for, what is expected of you and what you can expect from the program. Review the program information on the website and attend the info sessions to ask questions before making your decision.
Introduce yourself to the faculty or staff involved in the process
Here is a general life tip, but it applies in this situation as well. People who know you will be more likely to think of you when there are opportunities available. It's human that someone who knows you, or at least has met you once before, will be more likely to go above and beyond to help you and it will also make it more comfortable for you to ask questions or ask for help. So be sure you attend a program information session so you can meet the faculty leading the program you want to participate in. This way, you can already get an idea how you like the main person that goes abroad with you and it will make the interview with the program director much easier. It takes some pressure off if you know who the person is who will interview you as part of the application process. Stop by, or schedule a Zoom call with the Study Abroad Program Advisor. Even if you don't have any specific questions at this time, just drop by to introduce yourself! We love meeting our students so we can help them along the process.
TIP: Reach out to the Study Abroad Program Advisor to introduce yourself, even if you don't have any questions.
Once you are ready to submit your application, head over to our other blog, which talks about common mistakes when submitting your Study Abroad Application and how to avoid them. Good luck on your study abroad journey. We hope to send you abroad soon for an unforgettable experience.
Study Abroad Program
Phone: (805) 730-4294
Email: nwalther@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Set up an appointment with the Study Abroad Advisor HERE
Website: sbcc.edu/studyabroad
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