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Are you planning to study overseas? Studying abroad will open doors to new learning opportunities and experiences for you. As an international student, you will have the opportunity to explore new ideas, building up your social network and interacting with highly experienced professors and global leaders.

Studying abroad provides an all-round development and learning experience to the students. It will be a perfect blend of interacting with people from different cultures, adjusting to a new lifestyle, and changing your life perspective.

Studying overseas can be slightly overwhelming initially when you are new in the country so it’s better to have some prior knowledge by interacting with senior students, faculty members, or searching online for information.

Here are the top 5 tips you should know when planning to study abroad:

• Put your required documents in order: Going to stay in a completely different country isn’t easy. You need to be prepared with all your required paperwork in advance and take everything in control to avoid last-minute panic.  Apply for Passports as early as possible as it may take some time to process.  It’s always better to be ready with everything like your passports, college documents and visas. You need to start arranging your documents as early as you can to be well prepared and avoid stress as completing paperwork can be an overwhelming process at times.

• Decide your courses, flights and housing options: If you have decided on your study abroad destination and have been selected in your dream university, you need to ensure that your flight tickets are pre-booked to save on expenses and try to book proper accommodation in advance to avoid any type of problem later on. You can look for some of the best student accommodations online and avail good discounts. Try to find student accommodation near your university campus to reduce the travelling time and expense.  Also, have some knowledge about your course and the subjects that you have chosen beforehand so that you are not clueless on your first day. You can try and gather as much information as possible about the faculty members, places near the university or the health facilities provided by the university.  You need to know whom to contact for help and learn to adjust to a completely different and new environment.

• Keep up with your bank and check the currency exchange: It is important to keep connections with the manager of your bank as the banking system can be slightly different in a new country. Therefore you should talk to your bank beforehand to know how your debit or credit cards will function overseas. You should also check the currency difference before you leave, to plan and balance your finances accordingly. Do not depend on the currency value which you checked months ago, you need to stay updated because even a small difference matters. You can reach out to an adviser to guide you better in understanding how the banking system works abroad.

• Plan a budget: Studying and living abroad can be very financially draining especially for an international student. Also, when deciding the budget you should consider flight tickets, bills, accommodation rent and other living expenses. Therefore, it is important to set a budget for yourself so that you can enjoy your stay and plan your expenses well. You might end up spending more than expected if there isn’t a properly set budget. A lot of international students prefer to do part-time jobs to cover their rent or other living expenses and many universities in the UK, USA and Australia allow their students to work up to 20 hours per week.

• Learn about the local culture: The most exciting part about going for a study abroad programme is that you explore a new country. You should try to look up the key things there and research about the best local places, restaurants and tourist spots to visit with your friends and family. Another little tip that you could use is learning a few words or phrases in their local language. This is one of the most interesting and fun parts of the study abroad programme, where you learn about the tradition and culture of a new country. Knowing some of the commonly used phrases can be a great help in communicating and interacting with people much easier.

We hope that this blog will help you plan well for your study abroad program. Just remember to pack well and plan according to your budget to enjoy the experience of studying and living abroad. Also, visit Amberstudent to get great pocket-friendly deals and avail amazing discounts on all types of student accommodations.

Milepost One: A Free Tuition Scholarship Program for International Students

The Milepost One is a full-tuition scholarship for students eager to get on the road to a Warren Wilson degree but concerned about making it financially possible.

Warren Wilson will award up to 25 full-tuition Milepost One scholarships to students with total family income levels equal to or below $125,000 per year. This means that even families who may not be eligible for federal or state need-based grants still have an opportunity to earn a full tuition scholarship.

Requirements

To be eligible, students must:

• Be admitted to Warren Wilson College for the first-time, as a full-time undergraduate starting during a Fall term;
• Have a minimum 3.0 weighted GPA;
• Complete the application requirements by the deadline;
• Have a Total Family Income* equal to or less than $125,000;
• Live on campus and participate in the Warren Wilson Work Program;
• File a 2021-2022 FAFSA using their 2019 taxes and send to Warren Wilson College by February 1, 2021 (school code: 002979);
  • International Students must complete the CollegeBoard International Student Financial Aid Application;
• Students selected for FAFSA verification must complete verification requirements by March 1, 2021 (please note your award will not reflect your Milepost One award until you fully complete the verification process);
• Be enrolled full time;
• Maintain consecutive enrollment;
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5.

The Milepost One Scholarship is guaranteed for up to 4 years. If you do not complete your degree in four years, you may appeal to extend your Milepost One Scholarship eligibility.