The application was over a dozen pages long. It asked the usual questions (name, age, address, etc); a wide array of personal questions (health problems, phobias, insurance, etc); and some essay questions (why do you want to study abroad, how will this benefit your education, etc). Before I could submit the written application, I had to undergo 2 interviews, one with the faculty director who would be leading the trip, and another with the international education director.
The leading professor was very nice. She had a bubbly personality and I felt immediately at ease, nervous as I was. She started out by telling me all about the program.
We would be living in a 200 year old row house in the heart of London, about 2 blocks from the British Museum. There would be 17 of us living in the house, plus a cook who would make us breakfast and dinner. Classes would be taken in different parts of the city and we would have plenty of time to travel, including a week in March to complete a research project anywhere of our choosing in the British Isles. I was giddy with anticipation, but did my best to stay relaxed and calm.
After asking some questions about who I am and some of my past travel experience (none of which has involved traveling alone or outside the US), she showed me a map of the London Underground.
We would be living in a 200 year old row house in the heart of London, about 2 blocks from the British Museum. There would be 17 of us living in the house, plus a cook who would make us breakfast and dinner. Classes would be taken in different parts of the city and we would have plenty of time to travel, including a week in March to complete a research project anywhere of our choosing in the British Isles. I was giddy with anticipation, but did my best to stay relaxed and calm.
After asking some questions about who I am and some of my past travel experience (none of which has involved traveling alone or outside the US), she showed me a map of the London Underground.
"And how woud you feel about navigating this?" She asked.Oh. My. God... I thought, staring at the colorfully tangled web subway routes. I didn't say that out loud though, instead opting for a cooler honesty.
"Well, I'm not going to say it won't be a challenge," I said, laughing a little, "but I bet it's one of those things that isn't as hard once you get used to it."
I glanced up at her, and she was nodding. "That's exactly it," she said. Whew, I thought. I sure hope she's right!
The second interview with the international education director was quite a bit easier. She asked me a few of the same questions, but mostly told me more about the program logistics.
I received my acceptance letter about 3 weeks later. Another couple weeks after that, I attended a mandatory pre-trip orientation where I met the other students, signed up for classes, and received a packet of information and preparation instructions.
The next step is to buy the plane ticket, get some warm clothes (being a lifelong Floridian does have its disadvantages) and finish smoothing out the smaller details, all of which will probably get done in the next few weeks here.
I glanced up at her, and she was nodding. "That's exactly it," she said. Whew, I thought. I sure hope she's right!
The second interview with the international education director was quite a bit easier. She asked me a few of the same questions, but mostly told me more about the program logistics.
I received my acceptance letter about 3 weeks later. Another couple weeks after that, I attended a mandatory pre-trip orientation where I met the other students, signed up for classes, and received a packet of information and preparation instructions.
The next step is to buy the plane ticket, get some warm clothes (being a lifelong Floridian does have its disadvantages) and finish smoothing out the smaller details, all of which will probably get done in the next few weeks here.
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