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Before Leaving
Now that you know where and when you are going to study off-campus, the checklist begins to grow. Preparing for a long stay in another place requires getting a backpack packed (with the right stuff), taking care of required vaccinations and other heath matters, returning books to the library, completing piles of forms and maybe even move out of a room. The better prepared you are, the better the chances your time off-campus will be successful.
We encourage you to study the Pre-Departure Handbook which will get you started preparing for that great adventure.
Pre-Departure Checklist
- Submit a Preliminary Course Approval Form and make sure you understand College policies on the transfer of credit from abroad.
- Confirm your plans in writing with the Registrar's Office (by May 1 for fall programs; December 1 for spring programs). Confirmation slips are available at the Registrar's Office in Armstrong Hall - please stop by to fill one out as soon as you have been accepted and are committed to attend your chosen off-campus study program.
- Consult the Office of International Programs if you plan to participate in a program other than what you have been approved for. You will also need to file a Revision Form.
- Pay all phone bills, parking tickets and library fines.
- If you will be away during the spring, appoint a proxy to go through room selection for you. Make sure to let your proxy know what s/he should do in your absence. Proxy forms are available at the Office of Residential Life.
- Meet with your academic advisor to discuss the courses you will take when you return.
- Notify the mailroom of where to forward your mail while you are away.
- If you receive financial aid, meet with the student accounts and financial aid offices to completed required paperwork for the transfer of your aid.
- Make sure you have a passport that will be valid at least six months beyond the end of your program.
- Get any needed vaccinations or immunizations. Contact Boettcher Health Center or your physician for more information.
- Get all the required visas for your program and any countries you plan to visit. This process can take several months to complete, so do not wait until the last minute!
- Make sure that you have health insurance that will cover you overseas.
- Register your travel information with International SOS.
- Have a routine physical and dental checkup.
- If you use prescription drugs, have them refilled shortly before you leave, and check with the country that you will be living in to make sure there are no restrictions about bringing that drug into the country. You may also want to bring information with you from your doctor about the generic names of the meds you take.
- Submit a completed medical form and waiver (for students participating in Colorado College programs and blocks abroad only).
- Thoroughly read all materials sent to you by your off-campus study program.
- Learn as much as you can about your host country before leaving!
- Begin thinking about how you may want to share the off-campus experience with friends and family. Do you intend to email home or blog regularly? Alternatively, do you want to try not to be dependent of too much emailing? If so, let your parents and friends know in advance that your want to try and be immersed in the culture. For some, it helps to decide, for example, one weekly or monthly email home before departing. If you know you will be living in a rural areas, let your parents know that there may not be telephone and email possibilities.
- Contact local newspapers to ask if they might be interested in receiving news and travel essays from you. Glimpse Magazine is an excellent publication that is always looking for student submissions.
- What do you know about where you are going? Follow this link and test your worldwide knowledge.
Other helpful links:
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