Self-Assessment Guide

Preparation for a study abroad experience is your shared responsibility with the International Programs staff. Though we will evaluate your fit for the program, it is you who will take the major initiative in determining your readiness academically, emotionally, interpersonally and medically for study abroad. Later, if it is agreed this program would be a good match for you, you will take the lead in designing your pre-departure goals and preparing accordingly.

The following list of questions is intended to alert you to the many personal issues you should address in order to be truly prepared. This kind of self-assessment will help prepare you for the study abroad application and interview, and can be very exciting. Your answers to these questions help us all determine whether the study abroad program would be a wise choice for you at this time, and can make your international experience that much more meaningful.

Initial questions

• What am I looking for in a study abroad experience? Have I made a list of my goals?

• What are my hidden (or unspoken) expectations? i.e.: to fall in love; to get a job there; because my parents did study abroad and said it will make me more educated; to discover a different set of interests; to become more worldly, etc)?

• What cultural experiences am I looking for during my study abroad period?

• How would this experience impact my career objectives?

• What courses (language, etc.) would help me prepare and get more out of my experience abroad?

• How familiar am I with my own cultural heritage? Can I answer questions about UPS, Tacoma, my hometown?

• Am I interested in study abroad in part to gain some physical distance from relationships or situations here at home?

• Am I interested in the general experience of international travel and foreign study, or am I primarily interested in just one or two countries? (i.e., would you be disappointed if we could not assign you to your first or second choice country?)

Academic readiness

• Do I have time this semester to complete the application process, attend the meetings, meet the required deadlines for paperwork, etc?

• Am I willing to deal with transfer of credits? Am I open to taking courses that would not count towards my major or graduation? What happens if I decide to take courses different from the ones I signed up for while I was still in the U.S.? What happens if I fail a class?

• Will I be eligible for financial aid while I am studying abroad? How do I apply for it? What kinds of scholarships are available? What are my chances of getting one? What happens if my check arrives after I have left? Will I still be able to go if financial aid does not provide as much help? How do I apply for next year?

Personal Readiness

• Have I been reading magazines and/or newspapers to become more familiar with world news and events? Do I know what's going on in the US as well?

• Am I prepared to discuss world events with my new acquaintances? Am I actually interested in international relations, world religions, social systems/gender/culture?

• Are the university campuses in "my" country like American ones, with lots of buildings close together?

• Do I have an option to live with a family? Am I prepared for restrictions and house rules that come with family living? The family's expectations regarding the use of hot water, heating, and power consumption? Use of telephone, kitchen facilities? Am I ready to adapt my eating habits to fit my family?

• Am I being honest with myself about any physical, medical, or emotional health issues that might make study abroad risky to myself or others? (examples: diabetes, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, arthritis or other bone/joint limitations, severe asthma).

• Have I discussed my medical insurance with my family?

• If I need medical assistance while abroad, do I know what to do? If I am sick or have an accident, how will I obtain reimbursement for costs?

• Do I have any prescription drugs that I need to take with me? Can I take these through customs into “my” country? Am I willing to select another country if my medications are on the country's “banned” list?

• Am I aware of the penalties if I am caught with illegal drugs or in the company of drug users while overseas? Am I willing, as an ambassador of UPS and the US, to be clean and sober while studying abroad?

• Am I ready to deal with long-distance relationships? Absence from family, friends for holidays, special occasions? Financial hardships? Fewer or no amenities? Can I do without easy access to e-mail? Computers? Telephone? Am I prepared to handle frustration and disappointment of bureaucratic red tape? Racial, gender discrimination or just rude treatment as an American/ non-fluent speaker of the language/"dumb tourist" etc?

• Important: Am I keeping my parent/guardian fully informed about all aspects of my study abroad program?