Study Abroad programs?

[Broletariat]

How exactly do they work and stuff? I live in America and am looking to move across the pond to either France or Sweden, how would I go about doing such a thing, next year I'll be a senior in highschool so it's time to start researching for colleges in my state (NC) which could help me with this sort of thing.

[¿Que?]

Most schools will have a study abroad dept. that you contact. I've never done it so I can't say if is a good or bad experience.

[Zapatas Guns]

How exactly do they work and stuff? I live in America and am looking to move across the pond to either France or Sweden, how would I go about doing such a thing, next year I'll be a senior in highschool so it's time to start researching for colleges in my state (NC) which could help me with this sort of thing.

I haven't done that in Europe but my sister has. When you research colleges ask them if they have study abroad programs. Ask them how it is done and all that. My sister was able to study in London, UK for 2 semesters. She stayed in a flat using financial aid monies and loans. She had a room mate with lots of free time to soak in British culture. She was able to travel frequently and went to Poland, Greece, Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The program I wanted to be in but was unable to because of money was the Spain one where I would live with a Spanish family and no other students.

Where you stay makes a big difference. Some places can be very expensive but Europe has good public transportation so getting around shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Paying for it will probably be your biggest issue. I doubt you will be able to work it off while you are in Europe and loans will add $10000-20000 to your total college bill depending on where you go and how long you stay.

If you are a serious hot shot and you can get special financial aid money to pay for a study abroad program the more power to you.

Everyone that I have ever known to study abroad has said that it is a fantastic, life changing experience no matter where you go. I know people in America that have studied abroad all over the world. I myself have studied in Mexico, although not as glamorous as Europe was special and unique in its own right. If you have the chance to do it you should. You will not regret it.

[Broletariat]

I haven't done that in Europe but my sister has. When you research colleges ask them if they have study abroad programs. Ask them how it is done and all that. My sister was able to study in London, UK for 2 semesters. She stayed in a flat using financial aid monies and loans. She had a room mate with lots of free time to soak in British culture. She was able to travel frequently and went to Poland, Greece, Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The program I wanted to be in but was unable to because of money was the Spain one where I would live with a Spanish family and no other students.

Where you stay makes a big difference. Some places can be very expensive but Europe has good public transportation so getting around shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Paying for it will probably be your biggest issue. I doubt you will be able to work it off while you are in Europe and loans will add $10000-20000 to your total college bill depending on where you go and how long you stay.

If you are a serious hot shot and you can get special financial aid money to pay for a study abroad program the more power to you.

Everyone that I have ever known to study abroad has said that it is a fantastic, life changing experience no matter where you go. I know people in America that have studied abroad all over the world. I myself have studied in Mexico, although not as glamorous as Europe was special and unique in its own right. If you have the chance to do it you should. You will not regret it.
Hmm alright, I get the vibe that you're under the impression I merely want to study abroad. I actually want to MOVE to the country that I'll be studying in, so it'll be a very helpful program for that alone.

[MilkmanofHumanKindness]

How exactly do they work and stuff? I live in America and am looking to move across the pond to either France or Sweden, how would I go about doing such a thing, next year I'll be a senior in highschool so it's time to start researching for colleges in my state (NC) which could help me with this sort of thing.

There's a huge difference between studying abroad, and moving abroad. Studying you'll get a temporary student visa, as opposed to a permanent legal resident.

It's really a matter of talking to the university to figure out where you can study abroad, how long, what cost, are some places limited by major... etc.

For actually immigrating you'd need to contact the consulate of the country you'd be trying to move to.

[Broletariat]

There's a huge difference between studying abroad, and moving abroad. Studying you'll get a temporary student visa, as opposed to a permanent legal resident.

It's really a matter of talking to the university to figure out where you can study abroad, how long, what cost, are some places limited by major... etc.

For actually immigrating you'd need to contact the consulate of the country you'd be trying to move to.
I assume "moving abroad" isn't exactly a college sponsored thing right? Studying abroad would give me the chance to live in the country before I decide to move there. How much of an advantage would I have by having previously studied abroad prior to actually immigrating?

[MilkmanofHumanKindness]

I assume "moving abroad" isn't exactly a college sponsored thing right? Studying abroad would give me the chance to live in the country before I decide to move there. How much of an advantage would I have by having previously studied abroad prior to actually immigrating?

Right, it would allow you to:

1. Be more familiar with their modern language, idioms etc.
2. Be more familiar with the culture and people.
3. Get used to being in a completely different place.

http://www.immi.se/migration/control.htm#permits -Provides info on Sweden's Visa/Permit/Residence and Perm. Residence programs.

Surprisingly, I couldn't find much on French immigration. Generally speaking though a Visa will help because it creates a level of documentation that you were in the country and didn't ruin everything.

Also, both Sweden and France want high salaried, highly educated (graduate school?, skilled professionals.

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

Apply at schools in the country you want to move to.

[Broletariat]

Right, it would allow you to:

1. Be more familiar with their modern language, idioms etc.
2. Be more familiar with the culture and people.
3. Get used to being in a completely different place.

http://www.immi.se/migration/control.htm#permits -Provides info on Sweden's Visa/Permit/Residence and Perm. Residence programs.

Surprisingly, I couldn't find much on French immigration. Generally speaking though a Visa will help because it creates a level of documentation that you were in the country and didn't ruin everything.

Also, both Sweden and France want high salaried, highly educated (graduate school?, skilled professionals.

This is good because I planned on being in school for a long time anyway



Apply at schools in the country you want to move to.

O_o why did this idea not strike me, how hard to accomplish would that be exactly? Getting accepted into another country's school? What sort of grades would I need to be pulling class-ranking etc.

[leftace53]

Keep in mind that getting into some schools in countries where English isn't the first language could require a language test. I looked into a few schools in Sweden, and they all needed a fairly high degree of understanding of Swedish (sadly there doesn't seem to be any demand to learn Swedish around where I live, hence no supply of Swedish classes). Generally you should look at the websites of schools in the coutnry you want to go to school in, and they will have all the grades cut offs, and international information there.

Also if you plan on being in school for a while anyways (yay more crazies like me), it might be better to go to a school in your country and try various study abroad programs (to possibly experience more than one country) depending on your school policies and finances. For my school atleast, you pay tuition to the home school, and pay living costs in the country you live in. Working will definitely help, but you may want to keep in mind that you'd likely need a visa for that.

You may also think about going to school for a bit, then take a semester "off" and go work in a foreign land. My school has co-op programs, where I can go and work abroad, while getting atleast some support from my home school. Research if yours can do something similar to this.

Good luck though :thumbup1: I plan on hitting up some exchange programs in the next year or so myself.

[Broletariat]

Keep in mind that getting into some schools in countries where English isn't the first language could require a language test. I looked into a few schools in Sweden, and they all needed a fairly high degree of understanding of Swedish (sadly there doesn't seem to be any demand to learn Swedish around where I live, hence no supply of Swedish classes). Generally you should look at the websites of schools in the coutnry you want to go to school in, and they will have all the grades cut offs, and international information there.

Also if you plan on being in school for a while anyways (yay more crazies like me), it might be better to go to a school in your country and try various study abroad programs (to possibly experience more than one country) depending on your school policies and finances. For my school atleast, you pay tuition to the home school, and pay living costs in the country you live in. Working will definitely help, but you may want to keep in mind that you'd likely need a visa for that.

You may also think about going to school for a bit, then take a semester "off" and go work in a foreign land. My school has co-op programs, where I can go and work abroad, while getting atleast some support from my home school. Research if yours can do something similar to this.

Good luck though :thumbup1: I plan on hitting up some exchange programs in the next year or so myself.
Ahh I forgot to consider the language requirement thing, perhaps simply studying abroad and then moving will be what I do to antiquate myself with the language.

[Animal Farm Pig]

You could also look for foreign campuses of US universities. For example, Florida State has a campus in the Republic of Panamá that I seriously considered attending. The classes are taught in English, and you graduate with a degree from a US university. I know that there are similar programs in other places. I remember reading about one in Bulgaria, and just the other day I heard a radio story about a "boom" in US universities in Dubai.

[9]

I get the impression that it isn't this easy to just move to another country. I would love to go somewhere where the working class has a relatively higher standard of living, rather than the US (or Israel, but for different reasons), where it is generally one lay-off or injury away from living on the streets and not enough time or money to do anything fun or adventurous (except drugs :P). But I get the impression that, unless you are trained in a trade or profession that is highly in demand in the place you want to go to, obtaining citizenship in most places right now is virtually impossible, unless you have connections or a lot of money or something. And I don't see why you seem to think you can just obtain citizenship somewhere because you've studied there.
This is all anecdotal info I've received from friends/co-workers/family, though, so it is worth taking it with a grain of salt. Still, I think you might be in for a bit of a reality check when you realize that you actually can't just leave the country and go live somewhere else simply because you want to, and I'd assume studying in a place doesn't necessarily make it any easier.

[ellipsis]

I know a good study abroad program in Chiapas in Zapatista communities with possibilities to continuing living and working in the caracoles afterwards.

[Broletariat]

I get the impression that it isn't this easy to just move to another country. I would love to go somewhere where the working class has a relatively higher standard of living, rather than the US (or Israel, but for different reasons), where it is generally one lay-off or injury away from living on the streets and not enough time or money to do anything fun or adventurous (except drugs :P). But I get the impression that, unless you are trained in a trade or profession that is highly in demand in the place you want to go to, obtaining citizenship in most places right now is virtually impossible, unless you have connections or a lot of money or something. And I don't see why you seem to think you can just obtain citizenship somewhere because you've studied there.
This is all anecdotal info I've received from friends/co-workers/family, though, so it is worth taking it with a grain of salt. Still, I think you might be in for a bit of a reality check when you realize that you actually can't just leave the country and go live somewhere else simply because you want to, and I'd assume studying in a place doesn't necessarily make it any easier.
Dimentio is telling me that it's crazy easy to get citizenship in Sweden, live there for a few months and bam. He says it'll be even easier considering I'm American.


I know a good study abroad program in Chiapas in Zapatista communities with possibilities to continuing living and working in the caracoles afterwards.

If things don't go well with Sweden for whatever reason I'll be interested to look into that.