Timeline and Checklist
Here's a helpful timeline & checklist before you go abroad!
Four Months Prior to Departure:
- Get a passport
- Get extra passport photos
- Get a Visa (if applicable)
- Understand your health insurance policy for international coverage including repatriation, medical evacuation (both insurance that's included with your program and your private insurance you're enrolled in)
- Complete SMC online application, supplemental application (when necessary) and all related forms
- Make sure you have met with your academic advisors and/or Department Chairs to approve your courses (see Academic Planning Worksheet)
- Review Health, Safety & Security information
- Determine if you need to visit a doctor and/or receive inoculations
Two Months Prior to Departure:
- Check to with the Center for International Programs to ensure you are receiving proper communication from the host university/abroad partners
- Read all communications provided by the CIP office and host instituitons as they list important deadlines pertaining but not limited to course registration, housing, orientation dates ect.
- Begin researching flight tickets through various companies
- Look for a Holiday/Summer job to have a spare budget for souvenirs
- Schedule your Visa appointment (if applicable) and bring all required documents
One Month Prior to Departure:
- Review Packing & Traveling information
- Purchase your airline ticket and send the itinerary to the Center for International Programs through your Online Application
- Talk to your bank and credit card companies about managing your finances abroad/Set Travel Alerts
- Review Study Abroad Handbook and host-country culture specific information
- Purchase a travel guide book related to your destination/Do research on credible sites (TripAdvisor ect.)
- Visit SMC post office to forward your mail while you are abroad
- Think about how you are going to document / record your memories and experience while abroad (Blog? Photo journals? Diary?)
Two Weeks Prior to Departure:
- Make two sets of copies of important documents (ie. passport, visas, insurance card). Leave one set of copies with a trusted person in the US and bring one set abroad with you
- Check US Department of State travel advisories to check for destination status changes
- Fill any necessary prescriptions
- Remember to pack your study abroad journal, the study abroad handbook, and emergency contact information
- Check with Center for International Programs to make sure you have submitted all the necessary forms
- Reconfirm flight with airline at least 48 hours in advance and check baggage weight limits
- Agree upon communication schedule with family, especially for arrival
While Abroad:
- Email your local address and phone number to studyabroad@stmarys-ca.edu
- Tag @smccip or #gaelsgoglobal on Social Media to share your adventures with us
- Review Health, Safety, and Security information again
- Travel safely
- Review What to do in an Emergency information and learn local emergency plans
- Review Culture Shock information
Upon Returning to the US:
- Complete your Program Evaluations
- Review Reverse Culture Shock information
- Participate in the study abroad Welcome Back Dinner
- Get involved with the Center for International Programs by serving as a study abroad ambassador, joining the International Club, living in the Global Living & Learning Community, encouraging your friends to study abroad as well!