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- [ Guide To a College-Year Abroad ] [ By McCoy ]
-
-
- ____________________________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________________________
-
-
- ---=( DISCLAIMER )=---
-
- YOU WILL USE COLLEGE-YEAR-GUIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
- I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN WHILE OR AFTER
- READING THIS COLLEGE-YEAR-GUIDE!
- IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, THEN I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY
- REPLACEMENTS OR PAYMENTS CONCERNING DAMAGE OR SATISFACTION!
-
-
- ---=( My Guide To a College-year abroad )=---
-
- Before you start read this hints and tips I must inform you that most of
- these hints is written for those who are going to college in U.S.A.. If
- you are going to another country this might be a good help, but some of
- the facts and info might not be quite right.
-
- My english(american) is NOT as good as I wish it were. I haven't been
- to college in U.S.A. yet. All these hints is only all those hints I've
- heard from friends and other people.
-
- Written in some kind of strange order:
-
- - If you are able to, visit the college some month BEFORE you
- are supposed to start and check the place out. Talk to
- the staff at the school and some of the students.
-
- - If not, make a short phone-call, it may cost you a little, but it's
- nothing compared to detect false information too late. Talk to
- the staff and ask them every question you want to have an answer to.
-
- - Make the TEST-OF-ENGLISH-AS-A-FOREIGN-LANGUAGE (TOEFL) test as soon
- as possible. It takes some time to receive the results.
-
- - Be strong. Every struggle feels harder if you are by yourself
- away from Mom, Dad and your computer. Believe me I know!
-
- - Christmas and other special holidays is a pain! But by this time
- you'll have most likely made some friends which can help you
- through your "I WANT TO GET HOME"-feelings.
-
- - Bring your own bed sheets (linen). At least one set even if they
- say you don't have to.
-
- - Try to open a bank account at a city near campus BEFORE you go.
- By doing this you don't have to carry all money with you.
-
- - Bring you own condoms (a must for swedish guys). You never know!
- <nudge nudge> =O)
-
- - Be prepared of that it might be hard to make as good results
- in schoolwork as it is at home. It will take one or two month
- until you have made a routine in both language and studying.
-
- - Try NOT to be so much with other guys from your home country.
-
- What I mean is: One Swedish person is open for any idea,
- Two swedish person is open for any swedish idea.
-
- Besides you'll only speak swedish (or whatever your native language
- is) with them anyway and that is probably not what you want to do.
- BUT it is an advantage if there already is some guy from the same
- country as you studying at the same college. He can give you hints
- and tips about life at college in you own language. It IS a great
- help.
-
- - They way you live at dorms is often 2 and 2. You share one room
- with another student of the same sex <nuts> =O). And you share
- a bathroom with a toilet and a shower with the room next to you.
- A quad. The bathroom is situated between the rooms with two doors
- connected to it. One from respective room. The next room of your
- quad is also of the same sex, but the next quad is usually a quad
- of the opposite sex.
-
- - Housing is another way to live. It means that you will live with
- a family. I wouldn't recommend this, but if you are lucky you
- actually can have a GREAT time if you can cope with the family.
- They will probably have own kids which is cool, but not if you're
- having an exam the next day. And if they don't have any kids they
- CAN be quite boring. Not that it will be like that. It's just
- my opinion. You'll get your own room, home-made food everyday
- and some great friendship with the family. It's up to you, but
- almost everyone I have talked to recommend living "by yourself" at
- some dorms.
-
- - If you are going to live on/off-campus be prepared to that you have
- to make your own food the days before the school starts. The
- cafeteria/restaurant at school usually open the same day the
- school starts. It may be a little hard to make food at some places
- but it's just for a few days, so hang in there.
-
- - It is recommended to live at dorms the school offers you at least
- one year. Living by yourself gives you so much other thing to handle
- than you probably are able to handle. You know, school, language,
- insurances a.s.o.
- Living at an on/off-campus dorm will also give you many friends
- to share an own apartment with the second year i.o.w. cheaper
- living expences per person.
-
- - The best thing to go to college "through" is to use a company that
- does such kind of things. They will fix all necessary applications
- and insurances. BUT choose a company that don't have so many
- colleges to choose from.
- As it is now ASSE "have" about 40 colleges in U.S.A. to choose from
- which is good in one way, but they don't have any clue of how
- every college is. EF "has" 9 colleges in U.S.A. which is the best
- company to use. They KNOW what they are doing.
-
- - Keep your hands OFF any kind of drugs! If you living on-campus
- alcohol is often forbidden or at least not allowed in school.
- Too many students uses drugs at parties and at other occasions.
- Don't be one of them because they suck!
-
- - Speaking of alcohol. In U.S.A. they sell all beverages in any stores.
- They don't have any "SYSTEMET" as we have in sweden. Kinda strange
- sight, but I think it is a big temptation for many also. In most
- states you have to be 20 years or older to buy any liquor.
- Then again, if you're going to live On-Campus alcoholic beverages
- is often forbidden.
-
- - One way to make a lots of friends is to get a girlfriend/boyfriend
- (depends of what sex you are). Then you'll meet all his/her friends
- besides all the one you will get from class and the dorm.
-
- - Boys: If you get a girlfriend I've been recommended to get a car
- because you are expected to pick them up and drive them to
- where ever you are going.
-
- - Girls: I actually don't have anything here to write. Sorry, but
- hey, I'm a boy so...
-
- - If you are planning to get a car you'll have to get a driving
- licence. Even if you already have one in you home-country. Your
- "home-country" driving-licence is only valid in 90 days or so.
- So it's a must to take one at the country you will live/study in.
-
- - Respect the police/cops in U.S.A. They are TOUGH!!!
- If you make any criminal acting and get "busted" you'll almost for
- sure be expelled and sent home again.
- And that's not what you want, huh?
-
- - You'll have to get a I-20 Visa (for U.S.A.) at the embassy. All
- the papers you'll need to get that Visa will usually be sent to
- you some weeks before you are supposed to go. Kinda hurry, but
- it usually won't be any problems.
-
- - Don't have to high demands on your college-year. Everything can't
- be like you have dreamed about.
-
- - You will get into contact with many strange things during your
- year abroad. So be careful. I know I will...
-
-
- ---=( ENDPART )=---
-
- Now, if you manage to make it to college (you get accepted) it will be
- one of the biggest events in your life. Some of the things you have dreamed
- about will come true and some not!
- But it's going to fun as h*ll if you take care of that time.
-
- //McCoy - take care!
-
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