University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Avenue,
Tampa, FL 33620, USA
813-974-2011

Congratulations! If you are on this page, you probably have a USF student! Read on to find out the inside scoop!

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Moving to college is a huge adjustment for every student. Many students don’t know where to start when they are on their own and free to make their own decisions when it comes to eating habits, health, and wellness care. Luckily, USF has many programs that can help students with that transition as well as other aspects of health and wellness. Through USF Health and Wellness, students are not only connected to various resources around campus but also receive numerous resources directly in their office. USF Health and Wellness specifically focuses on physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and environmental well-being. The university has identified these care topics as the most important in the success of college students.

Some of the care programs offered include psychological services, wellness coaching, time-management courses, outdoor recreation, nutrition coaching, and personal training. To find out more about all of the programs Wellness USF offers, you can visit their office in the Marshall Student Center on the first floor or visit their website. If your student is new to USF, they are encouraged to connect with other students through USF’s New Student Connections program. New Student Connections puts on programs to connect new students with other new students as well as get them acclimated to the university.

USF takes campus safety and security very seriously. From underage drinking and the use of drugs to sexual misconduct and hazing, there are written policies as well as a Center for Victim Advocacy. The center provides free and confidential services to USF students who have experienced crime, violence or abuse on or off-campus. You can also find a guide to campus resources here. The bottom line, USF is a large institution and campus programs offer a safety net should students and/or any other caring person choose to get involved.

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Summer is by far the best part of the year, especially as a new Bull. Freshman year Summer B is filled with so many firsts. First college lecture, first college party, the first college friend and so on. Even though going off to college for the first time is certainly a bit daunting, USF does an amazing job of keeping summers fun despite the fact that you may be in class.

If you plan on spending your time at USF in Summer B classes, this part of the year can be made even better. Some people may be turned off of the idea of taking classes in the summer, however, taking summer classes is one of the best things you can do for your college career. USF does require students to have taken a minimum of 9 credit hours in order to graduate, but summer classes can also be the key to early graduation as well. Whether you’re starting college early as a freshman or later in your career, these classes provide a less stressful learning atmosphere than Fall/Spring classes and are a great way to get acclimated to the campus.

Summer classes are only six weeks, which means they are on a faster track than regular semester classes. In my experience, though, I found that I actually stayed more interested in the class when it moved at a faster rate and it made it easier for me to juggle class material in the regular semester. However, the faster pace means that you have to process the information more quickly (which means having to spend a little extra time in the library). Take this time to get a little more familiar with the library’s resources. You can also take this time to figure out the best places to study at USF.

In my experience, I found that taking summer classes that were high in difficult material may not be the best idea, especially if that class is a part of your major. Before registering for summer classes, I would suggest speaking with an advisor to figure out what classes they suggest and would be best for your specific track.

Good luck, and as always, GO BULLS!

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Jordan Philyor, USF, HaveUHeard Intern

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Staying in close contact with your academic advisor is the key to graduating in 4 years or less. Unfortunately, sometimes it may be hard to actually make an appointment to see them. Luckily, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure you get face-time with an advisor on a semesterly basis.

The first being is to make an appointment via the USF scheduling portal. This portal can be found by visiting your college’s page on the USF website. When scheduling an appointment, it is important to schedule an appointment at least 2 weeks before you would like to have it. Also, it’s important to be aware of peak times. Peak office times are usually closer to the end of the semester when registration opens since students are trying to schedule their classes for the next semester. You should be aware of your college’s “walk-in only” days as well. On these days, advisors don’t take appointments and only see students on a first-come, first-served basis.

Emailing is often times the best way to get in contact with an advisor and may save you a trip to the office. After you meet with your advisor face to face, I would advise you to take their business card and send a follow-up email thanking them for their time. This sets up a relationship between you and your advisor, so in the future, it will be easier to ask questions, get advice, and make office appointments.

Another tip I would suggest is to make sure to stick with the same advisor for the entire time at school (granted you stay with the same major). This advisor will be familiar with you and your goals during and after college and be able to come up with a plan that is customized to you.

If you’re still having trouble getting in to see an advisor, I would suggest emailing and calling the front desk. Although you might feel as though you’re being too persistent, a lot of times emails fall through the cracks, so there’s no harm in following up. At the end of the day, advisors are in place to help students have the smoothest time possible.

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Jordan Philyor, Intern, HaveUHeard

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It’s the season for campus tours. Many of you have already visited a multitude of schools, but now that the verdicts are in, decisions have to be made. Therefore, this tour should look different as it should point out the pertinent things that will help your students make their final decision as to which school to attend. Of course, my daughter loves being a Bull, but your student may have specific things that will help them way out the pros and cons of each college.

Campus tours at the University of South Florida are run by both student guides and admissions professionals. Typically, the tour will start with a brief information session with the admissions professionals and then the student guides will show you around campus. The campus visit lasts about 2.5 hours, so wear comfortable shoes! With this in mind, go with a list of questions, but not the kind of questions that you can just google an answer to. Don’t be shy about asking your student guide, admissions professional, financial advisor, a specific department, or even students hanging out at Castor beach. They can be your greatest resources.

Some of the more common questions our interns found important to the prospective students are:

• What is the size of the overall campus?
• What is the size of the dorm rooms and how many people live in each room?
• What food options are available to a freshman? What does the meal plan cover and will it fit your diet?
• What are the locations of your major classes?
• What type of technology is used or available in the classrooms/libraries?
• How many printing locations are available? Is it free to print or does it cost money?
• How clean is the campus/restrooms?
• How many gyms are on campus and where are they located?
• How safe are the campus and surrounding neighborhoods?
• What is the transportation system like? Are there frequent bus stops? Available parking spaces?
• What safety precautions are on campus?

Moreover, perhaps Greek life is important to your students. I always recommend students try to get a tour of a sorority or fraternity house if they envision rushing when they get to college. In order to do so, they will have to find someone who knows someone that can get in. Perhaps you have a friend whose daughter or son is a member of a sorority or fraternity. Reach out to them before going. If you don’t know anyone in greek life since there aren’t tours, you can certainly take a quick drive through Greek Village. However, on a side note, do not let the condition of some of the frat houses scare you should you get into one. The boys tend to be much happier than their living conditions may reflect.

Another thing to keep in mind is if having specific health center capabilities nearby is of great importance to your student; go check it out. Call in advance to tour the facility. PS. There is a pharmacy on campus as well in the Marshall Student Center. Additionally, USF has specially designated dorms to accommodate students with special needs. Learn more about their Student Accessibility Services.

During your tour at USF, the guides will take you to the places they feel will impact your decision. These include academic facilities like the library, dining halls, Resident Halls, and overall places that are part of campus life like the Marshall Student Center (MSC). However, if your student has an interest in a specific field of study, we definitely recommend taking a tour of that college/program as well. If your tour guide has time, they could show you around. Otherwise, I know when my student toured we asked the guide where things were located so that we could do our own self-tour.

If you decide to go on the self-tour route there are some things to keep in mind. For starters, where do you plan on living? During the on-campus offered tours, they will typically take you to one option of dorms. However, if you’re planning on living somewhere else like the Village, go check that out on your own. More places you can check out on your own include the Marshall Student Center, Castor Beach, MLK plaza, and wherever your majors’ buildings are. For instance, if you’re a business major, you can go visit the Zimmerman building and the Muma building to get a feel for where you will spend the majority of your time.

Another thing to keep in mind is what will you be doing off-campus? A good way to better understand how your life as a bull would be is by visiting places around campus as well. However, if you can’t make it on campus don’t worry. Another way to see all of what USF offers is its virtual tour. Every student is different and there are many aspects of a school that could be important to different students. If you’re religious and that is important to your student, be sure to check out the student organizations around campus. We have information on the on and off-campus religious organizations.

Moreover, if your student is more worried about academics, another place you may want to visit during your tour is the registrar’s office to be sure that your credits would transfer from any AP, AICE, or dual enrollment classes too. Perhaps the Judy Genshaft honors college is more your student’s interest, definitely be sure to make this one of your stops at USF. The program is slightly more rigorous so be sure it will be a good fit.

The USF Athletics department is another big part of campus life. From football to basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, gymnastics, lacrosse, golf, tennis, track, volleyball, and more, USF has it all.  And, if your student is interested in competing but at the club level, there are over 40 to compete in.

Overall, there really is no better way to get a sense of how you truly feel about a college until you step foot on campus. Finally, while I loved USF as did my daughter, it is important that you love USF.  Make the most out of your campus tours by asking the necessary questions, visiting places you’re going to be, and getting a feel for your life as a future bull!

USF Mom Blogger and Lindsay Fine, USF Intern

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If you weren’t already aware, USF is designated as a Preeminent State Research University. This means that USF meets a higher standard of benchmarks in areas like graduation rates, student retention rates, research expenditures, and the number of patents awarded, to name a few. USF’s Preeminence, national rankings in many competitive areas, and the types of majors offered, make USF a top college choice for many applicants. Thus, the competition for acceptance to USF grows with each year.

Before I get into our Majors topic, let’s look at some of the points that make USF the great university that it is:

• #1 in Florida for Nursing for National Institutes of Health Research Funding
• #1 in Florida and 7th in the nation for U.S. patents granted to Public universities
• #1 in the nation for top producer of Fulbright scholars, with 12 faculty scholars
• #4 in student success among 1,100 public research universities
• 31st among U.S. Public Institutions (7th consecutive year in top 50)
• #19 Best Universities for Technology Transfer

…and so many more. See all of USF’s Points of Pride.

USF Tampa graduate-level programs continue to be ranked among the best according to the 2020 U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) Graduate School Rankings. USF graduate programs in the top 50 include Rehabilitation Counseling, Public Health, Library and Information Studies Programs, Health Care Management, Criminology, Clinical Psychology, Audiology, Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice.

• Public Health (#16)
• Audiology (#17)
• Criminology (#22)
• Rehabilitation Counseling (#27)
• Library and Information Studies (#28)
• Nursing: Doctor of Nursing Practice (#41)
• Nursing: Master’s (#41)
• Health Care Management (#43)
• Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (#48)
• Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering (#48)
• Clinical Psychology (#50)

USF offers over 180 undergraduate majors throughout 14 colleges, including everything from Accounting to World Languages and Cultures. Some of the most popular majors offered at USF are Health Professions and Related Programs including Biomedical Sciences and Nursing, Management, Marketing, Accounting, Engineering, and Political Science.

Nursing – Being one of the most popular majors at USF, it has become extremely competitive to get into but has amazing resources and connections. The Nursing program’s university-community engagement, locally and globally, is extensive. Here in Tampa, USF currently partners with Hillsborough County Schools, the Tampa Police Department, the Port of Tampa Bay, and Wholesome Community Ministries.  This fall there are 1423 undergraduate students and 951 graduate students.

Biomedical Sciences Degree– This serves as the gateway for health-profession programs such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Physician Assistant. Students should declare a major in Biology, Chemistry, or Microbiology. There are additional requirements for this major including GPA and foreign language. USF offers an accelerated track that provides undergraduate and graduates degrees upon completion. These degree programs lead to the Morsani College of Medicine, which is moving to its new state of the art location in downtown Tampa in late 2019. This will include the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation where physicians and other health professionals can use the latest robotic and medical devices in state-of-the-art environments.

Accounting – Through the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy, students receive top-level coursework and are prepared for careers in areas such as auditing, tax, forensics, business consulting, and corporate compliance.  The Accounting Major is under the umbrella of the MUMA College of Business, one of the best in the state. It is nationally ranked as one of the top business colleges in the U.S.

Political Science – Having a major in Political Science means that you are entering the study of philosophy and institutions of government, as well as the behavioral elements of politics. In the College of Arts and Sciences, you will be enrolled in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. Here, you can obtain B.A.s in Africana Studies, International Studies, Political Science, or enter the Pre-Law Track. Also, USF ranks #24 of 524 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in America.

Engineering – USF is ranked #89 for Best Engineering Schools in the country.  USF’s Engineering Majors are Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Cybersecurity, Electrical, Industrial, Information Technology, and Mechanical. The unique thing about USF’s Engineering department is that it has the Bulls L.E.A.D Program that is a people-focused technical leadership initiative for Engineering students. Upon applying and acceptance, this program prepares students for real-world experiences with industry mentors, leadership events, and Leadership Certificates.

Want to intern with the Tampa Bay Rays, or the Tampa Bay Lightning? USF now offers the Sports & Entertainment Management major through the MUMA College of Business. This is a dual degree program ending with an MBA concentration in Sports Business and an MS in Sports & Entertainment Management. It is the only one in Florida and is provided by the Viniks, who are the owners of the Tampa Bay Lightning. This major exposes students to owners, managers, and leaders in the sports industries in Florida and around the country.

Minors

Let’s not forget about minors. Today’s students are needing a more well-rounded profile and most are now adding minors to their portfolios. USF offers dozens of minors and most students choose ones that pair well with their major. But some are choosing more eclectic minors to reflect their diversity. It is not uncommon to have an Art minor with a Business degree, or a German Studies minor with an International Business major.  For a list of minors offered at USF.

Of course, choosing a major, and possibly a minor, is important but you will then be spending most of your academic time tied to one of USF’s 14 Colleges. USF has a lot of the common colleges that other universities have, like the College of the Arts, College of Business, College of Education, and the College of Medicine.

But there are a few things about USF’s colleges that make USF stand out above the rest. One example is the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences.  This college is home to one of the nation’s largest behavioral health research and training institutes. The Muma College of Business has a graduate entrepreneurship program that is ranked amongst the top 25 in the country.  And the College of Marine Science is unique in Florida. It is recognized as one of the nation’s top oceanographic institutions, with its own 11-acre waterfront campus and research vessels. For a full list of USF’s colleges.

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Technology has changed the way students take tests. My daughter was able to extend one of her holiday breaks by scheduling her exam at home. This latest test-taking at USF is known as Proctorio.

Students don’t have to reserve a space or anything like that since Proctorio is built into the class platform on Canvas. The use of proctoring is determined by the professor of the class, as not all online classes use it. The student must have a working camera and microphone either built-in or hooked up to their computer in order to use Proctorio, all of the directions are pretty straight forward after that.

Students will know if their class is using online proctoring by reading through their syllabus. They will also be provided with instructions and a confirmation that the online exam will be proctored prior to the exam.

The possibility of technical problems arising can happen. Students should make certain they are using the Chrome browser and have the proper extension installed. When students have a problem, they are instructed to inform the professor. The professor will then will re-open the test and add more time and/or curve the exam accordingly. A screen recording, as well as a recording of the student taking the exam, is sent to the professor upon completion and submission of the exam.

They can also contact Proctorio support; should they still have problems, they can also contact the USF help desk at Help@usf.edu or call 813-974-1222. In my experience, when I’ve had a problem with the software, I just continue taking the exam and then email my professor after, so they know how to address the problem.

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When you decide to have kids, your first thought is not how am I going to pay for college, but it might be your second. I made a decision when they were about 5 to buy a Prepaid Florida Tuition Plan which is one type of plan, locking in a Florida college. The 529 Savings Plans, or what is also known as a Qualified Tuition Plan (QTP), is a saving was fairly new and I chose not to invest in a 529 savings plan.

I wish I had not overlooked this type of tuition plan or had asked their grandparents to invest in a 529 Savings plan, as opposed to gifting them money for birthdays and holidays. Since 1996, 529 plans are a way of saving for college for your student. If you had such a qualified tuition plan or a relative set one up for you, then you and your student are now eligible to access the funds. Lucky you. The funds from your 529 plan can be used not only to pay for higher education (starting in 2018 for elementary or secondary school tuition up to $10,000) but for room and board as well.

The SECURE Act signed into law on December 20,2019 expanded the benefits of 529 plan including adding student loan repayments and the costs of apprenticeship programs as qualified expenses for distributions made after December 31, 2018.

If you received refunds from your students education institution, you should contact your plans administrator as failure to re contribute the refunds may result in taxable income if not returned within 60 days of receiving the refund.

Tuition and Equipment

Tuition and fees, books, supplies, and equipment. Expenses for special needs services needed by a special needs beneficiary must be incurred in connection with enrollment or attendance at an eligible postsecondary school.

The purchase of a computer or peripheral equipment, computer software, or Internet access and related services if it’s to be used primarily by the beneficiary during any of the years the beneficiary is enrolled at an eligible postsecondary school. (this doesn’t include expenses for computer software for sports, games, or hobbies unless the software is predominantly educational in nature).

Room and Board

There are special rules that apply to room and board. Expenses for room and board must be incurred by students who are enrolled at least half-time.

The allowance for room and board, as determined by the school, was included in the cost of attendance (for federal financial aid purposes) during a particular academic period and living arrangement of the student. The actual amount charged if the student is residing in housing owned or operated by the school.

You may need to contact the eligible educational institution for qualified room and board costs. A student who lives off-campus can include in qualified higher education expenses the reasonable room and board costs as determined by the QTP, up to the federal financial aid allowance (as per above).

If your student is living at home, then your student should make actual room and board payments to their parents. Receipts should be well documented and you need to spend the money in the same calendar year as the withdrawal, not the school academic calendar year but the actual 12 month calendar year.

In addition, you should check with your financial advisor as there should be coordination with college tax credits. If you pay for tuition and required books with the 529 plan funds, they will disqualify those expenses from the tax credit. Read our Tax Time blog here.

Any change in the designated beneficiary of an interest in a QTP isn’t treated as a distribution if the new beneficiary is a member of the family of the old beneficiary. The change in beneficiary rule gives parents, or other donor’s, flexibility to use the funds for any family member who needs them most. For example, if a designated beneficiary decides not to attend college, or receives a full scholarship, another child can be named as long as the new child is a member of the family. Or if funds remain in the QTP after a child has finished school, a younger family member can be named to use the balance. For more information, you should contact the custodian of your 529 plan.

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One of the best ways to learn about a prospective career is to do an internship. Most colleges will require at least one, paid, or unpaid. Regardless, it looks great on a resume. I had multiple internships being an education major, and they were essential to my maturing skills as a teacher. My internships also led the way to my first job teaching. Internships allow a student to decide if that is the actual career for them, as well as to make connections that are beyond valuable. So, how do you get an internship?

I’m not going to lie. If you know someone, now might be the time to put a word out, that your student is looking for. We tell our girls over and over: “It’s who you know.” My daughter is currently waiting on a confirmation for a position with a major sports team because a friend works there. It’s an unpaid internship but being able to use that team and position on her resume will be priceless.

Don’t know anyone on the inside that can help? Don’t worry, because USF has great resources. Career and Internship Fair Week is held in both Fall and Spring. The next Career & Internship Fair is Wednesday, February 5, 2020, from 10 am to 3 pm in the Yuengling Center (formally the Sun Dome). The Career Services office has a wealth of information offered. You must register through Handshake, which is basically Indeed for students. Remember to dress for business to all events and bring your resumes. More information on internships.

A LinkedIn Jobseeker account allows you to view profiles and send InMail messages starting from $29.95 per month. HaveUHeard that LinkedIn has a version specifically designed for students looking for their first jobs? The LinkedIn Students app is free, and lets you research jobs, view companies where alumni from your schoolwork, and connect with more people. You can create an account and get started right away without spending a dime.

We’ve got some great information on what to wear if you are attending one of the job fairs. Students may also sign up for an internship/practicum class offered in their major. These classes give you credits towards your degree while also connecting you with companies in the field.

There are also many websites that list potential internships. Internships.com, as most of the sites do, allows students to put in their city and field of choice and even whether or not they are looking for paid or unpaid internships. From there, a proper cover letter and resume would be the next step. Occasionally a Skype interview may be requested. Using sites like Indeed or SimplyHired may be worth a try, but spending a lot of time on these to simply hit the “apply” button and having their resume sent into a black hole generally doesn’t prove too successful as most of these positions get filled by students with a more personal connection.

Some websites, like Internmatch.com, allow students to sign up to get daily notifications for new postings about jobs that may be of interest to them. Glassdoor.com and YouTern.com are also useful websites to find an internship. FindSpark.com is better known for its more creative internships and entry-level jobs in NYC. LinkedIn can be an excellent resource. Perhaps your student saw a position at a company they are interested in on one of the above sites and then, by scouring LinkedIn, they can make a connection. To search for internship listings, be sure to have a detailed and updated LinkedIn page ready to go, then go to the jobs tab at the top of the page and put “internship” in the search box. Refine your search by filling in the boxes on the left side of the page.

HaveUHeard which companies were selected as the 100 best internship programs in the U.S.? WayUp presents its Top 100. Vault also has its list of the Top 20 Most Prestigious Internship Programs for 2020.

Some students are creating their own videos or websites to show off all they have done and are capable of. It can be better than a long portfolio that may exceed the amount of space for uploaded information. These are generally used for more majors like graphic design or advertising, and not finance. Should your internship take you out of state, learn about housing options.

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Study Abroad

**Due to unprecedented events in the spring of 2020, many education abroad programs were canceled. Please check with UNF in regard to any programs you may be interested in attending.**

The world is your classroom. I am a big believer in this adage. Apparently, many students agree as Study Abroad programs have become increasingly popular. When researching this topic, I was amused to read not only a plethora of information about the various things to look for in a program but also some amusing blogs written by students about how to convince one’s parents to allow them to study abroad. Well, this parent is sold.

I never studied abroad but had friends that did, or who did a semester at sea program.  Their stories and pictures always fascinated me. My daughter has yet to study abroad but is in the process of researching trips that work with her major.  It is a daunting thought of having your child halfway across the world, but the programs offered today are hard to pass up.

USF makes it pretty easy to find just the right program for your students.  By inputting some of the following criteria, city, country, region and/or term, an index of possible programs will come up.  Your student should also decide on what sort of things they are looking for in a program:

– Language immersion?
– Exploring the world; gaining a new perspective?
– Internships?
– Volunteering?
– Teaching opportunities?
– Budget?
– Country or city of interest?
– Coursework needed/accepted? (Remember to stay on the path towards graduation.)
– How long to be away? (Some students would never consider doing a semester abroad during football season, so spring or summer sessions are better options.)

The Study Abroad office also offers mini-sessions of one week or a couple of weeks.  As students begin to look at the various programs offered, they will notice that some include internships.  Internships are an excellent way to accrue credits and gain experience. It is possible to participate in international programs as a transient student, outside those affiliated with USF, but it is important to get approval beforehand to be sure credits will transfer.

Financing can get complicated based on Florida Prepaid, Bright Futures and any other scholarships one might have, but it is possible to apply some of these monies toward studying abroad. There are many scholarships and fellowships available for studying abroad too. I am sorry to say that some require the dreaded FAFSA form first, but you should be an old pro at that by the time your student begins to consider an international program. Have your student make an appointment with Student Financial Assistance and they can walk them through the process.

In addition, while considering financing it is important to take note of things like housing, airfare, and tuition, but don’t forget other things, like food (some meals may be provided, but others may require students preparing their own or eating out) and additional travel. The internet keeps track of all of your searches so you may want to open an incognito window so you can avoid increasing prices (the travel site is then unaware that you already searched for a low price on their website). The best time to book an international flight is typically 2-4 months before your travel date. Another tip is to check one-way tickets each way as sometimes you may actually get a better fare than the round trip price.

For housing, while USF does offer housing through their international program, other options include Airbnb’s and hostels. If someone wants to immerse themselves even more so in the local culture, consider staying with a host family.

Make certain their passport (and yours) are current. They cannot travel internationally if a passport will expire within 3 months. Applying for a passport takes up to 8 weeks if you do not have one. Visit the link at travel.state.gov for information on how to apply for a passport. In the event that you need to expedite a passport or visa renewal, try Fastport Passport. They are registered with the U.S. Department of State.

You may want to consider having your student get Global Entry which runs approximately $100 for five years but makes getting through security so much easier. Or, have them download the Mobile Passport app which is free and helps to speed you through U.S. Customs. (officially authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection). They will still need their passport but it saves them time.

Consider purchasing student travel insurance for emergencies, which we pray they don’t need. HaveUHeard recommends Allianz Travel Insurance.

If they will be traveling around and staying at hotels, which my daughter and her friends did on occasion, HaveUHeard that students can find access to special rates through StudentUniverse?  Click here for more information. Or, they can consider staying at a hostel. Hostels are not all so shabby anymore. Check out HostelWorld to see how nice (and inexpensive) some of them are.

Consider purchasing an unlocked phone that works on international networks. By purchasing in advance, your students can add their contacts and download their apps ahead of time.

Finally, when prepping and packing be sure to find out if they will need an adapter and/or converter. There can be varying prong set-ups from one country to the next and if they intend to travel (which they will) they should be prepared. Encourage them to keep a journal as well. It will be priceless in years to come.

Study Abroad can be very pricey. In addition to the cost of the program which included room and board, a prepaid metro card (may not last their entire abroad program), health insurance and some excursions, it does not include airfare, meals, additional travel (many use this opportunity to visit other countries). And, of course, any purchases they make for themselves. For suggestions on what they should bring with them, read our Study Abroad Gift Guide.

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