Have any of you studied abroad during college, and how did you raise money for the trip?

[Ed Suspicious]

I'm a poli sci major who is about to do a lot of work based on the ideas of the social contract thinkers. I would really treasure this experience, but I hate the idea of lack of funds stopping me from taking advantage. The trip is next spring/summer.

I wanted to post the itinerary to show you just how awesome this would be for a 40 year old undergrad from Wisconsin who has never left the country before, and who has a passion for political science/theory.

Tentative Itinerary - Great Britain and its Politics is a 6 credit experience delivered in Britain during May-June 2016. Students will earn 6 credits of Political Science for a 4 week program. We learn about British history, government, culture, and politics. In addition to classroom lectures and readings we visit sites and museums, also mix in a Shakespeare play at the Globe Theatre. We want to expose you to the vibrant multicultural society that is contemporary Britain as well as a working knowledge of its history and how British politics and history developed.
Preliminary Itinerary:
Tuesday through Thursday May 17 to 19 morning classes in Oshkosh
Saturday May 21 fly to London
Sunday May 22 orientation in London and Finsbury Park neighborhood
Monday May 23 classroom; Tower of London World Heritage site; group dinner
Tuesday May 24 Houses of Parliament; classroom
Weds. May 25 British Museum; classroom; Globe Theatre play
Thursday May 26 classroom; British Library
Friday May 27 National Portrait Gallery; classroom
May 28 and 29 free days; optional Sunday church service at Westminster Abbey
Monday May 30 classroom; University College; Inns of Court? Imperial War Museum?
Tuesday May 31 Cabinet War Rooms?; exam
Wednesday June 1 bus to Oxford via Blenheim Palace; tour of Oxford
Thursday June 2 Malmesbury via bus; Stonehenge; White Horse Brewery
Friday June 3 Ashmolean Museum; Christ Church College; Oxford Botanical
June 4 free time in Oxford with afternoon train to Manchester
June 5 Manchester Free Trade Hall; group dinner
Monday June 6 People’s Museum; Industrial Museum
Tuesday June 7 train to Edinburgh; orientation to Edinburgh and Dalkeith
classroom; stay in Dalkeith
Wednesday June 8 classroom; Edinburgh Castle; climb of Arthur’s Seat
Thursday June 9 Museum of Scotland; classroom; group dinner
Friday June 10 Scottish Parliament; classroom
June 11 and 12 free days; opportunity for golf in Musselburgh and/or Highlands tour
Monday June 13 Grassmarket; Mary King’s Close; final exam
Tuesday June 14 departure for US or elsewhere

[Ed Suspicious]

1. Just to be clear; I'm not asking you for money, just ideas on how to raise it.

[elleng]

2. Write for travel publications/magazines/newspapers?

Have FUN! Sounds great. DO check out Stratford while you're there.

[Ed Suspicious]

3. Thanks. I'll have to check into that.

[DFW]

4. During high school, not college

There was (still is!) a program for high school students to spend a year abroad, started back in 1965. I was in Spain (well, Catalunya) from 1968-1969. You really need to spend at least a semester in one place. Anything else is an extended field trip. We lived with local families, which is how I came to learn to speak Catalan. Back in the sixties, this kind of thing was affordable, and my parents were able to swing it. I suspect it is way expensive these days, but I contribute heavily to the alumni fund, and designate that it is all to go for scholarships. They do offer a lot of them.

About ten years ago, my younger daughter was in college studying in Washington, D.C. She had been taking French (but also majoring in Poli-Sci/Public Policy--interned at Emily's List and hung with Howard Dean and then-Sen. Barack Obama), and was offered a semester in Paris. As this is far closer to home (Düsseldorf) than Washington DC, it was actually cheaper for us than the hefty room and board fees for GW in Washington. We went to Paris, met up with her there, and found a reasonable place to stay.


The most ironic part was that GWU sent us a form asking us if we were sure that our daughter had the necessary maturity to handle a semester in Europe. I wrote back that if she had the "necessary maturity" to be born and raised in Europe, that she could probably handle another 5 months here. They wrote back and apologized for not looking at her statistics more carefully before sending me the form!

[mnhtnbb]

5. Try looking for scholarships

Last edited Fri Feb 20, 2015, 07:37 AM - Edit history (1)

You might start here: http://www.studyabroad.com/scholarships.aspx



My youngest son had a Fulbright scholarship to spend 10 months in Berlin 2013-14, but he had already completed his undergrad work. If you're interested in studying abroad more than a month, you might think of applying for a Fulbright after graduation.

[LeftinOH]

6. I did. In Spain, my entire junior year in college.

But I was 20 years old, and most of the "funding" fell under the regular source of college tuition: Mom & Dad, plus whatever jobs I could get to earn a little money.

Your situation may be different due the comprehensive schedule packed into a relatively short time - and being a bit older than the traditional age of most undergraduates.

One potential way for saving money for a trip like this is to understand that you don't need to buy *anything* special (except getting a passport). Some people splurge unnecessarily on clothes & shoes, luggage and other supplies - and it really adds up. The lighter you pack, the more comfortable the trip will be.

[underahedgerow]

7. If it's next year, you have plenty of time to save up a couple hundred bucks a month, that is

if you're working of course. Start now and put the money in a Christmas account. You can take it out at the end of the year, and put it back into another savings account for the remainder of the time, but you'll have accrued some decent interest, even on just 10-20 bucks a week.

If you're saying it's this May, you should buy your tickets now, and get your passport now of course, if you haven't.

Are they providing a budget of how much you'll need for meals and lodging and this whole adventure?

If you end up saving more than expected, you shouldn't miss Paris or Prague. Very cheap flights/trains to be had to both destinations from the UK.

On my first trip to Europe, I saved up 4000 bucks for a month in Europe for my daughter and myself, and that included airfare. It was enough, well planned. We loved it all so much we moved to France the following year and never looked back.

[redwitch]

8. Is there a branch of the Rotary near you?

Other organizations too may be interested. Offer to speak at their meetings/dinners about your experience when you return. Sounds like a great opportunity for you. My youngest spent a semester in Ireland while in college, a wonderful time for him. Good luck!