Must Do Mondays – Go Abroad Now! Make Friends with the International Programs Office

Posted by Olga at Going Global on December 7, 2009

Having dreams of studying or traveling abroad is great. Doing something about it and taking action is what separates dreamers from doers. This week while you are focused on studying for final exams, make an effort to go and visit the international programs office. Your mission this week is to become BF with the international programs office.

It is important to make sure that you know them and they know you and your dreams for an international experience. Consider them as the gatekeepers of all international programs. One of the great things about college is that it lends itself to building great relationships with your classmates, professors, career counselors and the international programs office staff. Gary Hoover, founder of Hoovers.com, a business research company that provides information on U.S. and foreign companies and industries, once said “College is not only about learning, but also about building relationships for later in life”.

Below is a day-by-day breakdown of how to build a relationship and connect with the people that can make your international dreams come true. By spending 50 minutes this week (that’s less than an hour for the week), you will start the ball rolling for an international experience.

Day 1 – Find out where the international programs office is located (Time – 10 min)
If you don’t know where the office is located, start by checking at the career service office.

Day 2 – Visit the international programs office (Time – 15 min)
Now that you know where the office is located, stop in. The focus of today is to make introductions. Introduce yourself to everyone there, even introduce yourself to one of the directors. First impressions are key when going towards your dream.

Day 3 – Set up an appointment with an advisor at the international programs office (Time – 5 min)
Visit the office again and set up an appointment to sit down with an advisor. Make sure to address everyone that you met the day before by his or her names. (By using everyone’s names, you establish a clear relationship with the people that can help you achieve your international dream. People tend to go above and beyond for those people that make an extra effort to be nice and polite.)

Day 4 – Visit the international programs office and research different study and exchange programs available (Time – 20 min)
Focus on just going to the international programs office to learn. There are dozens of programs to choose from. Pick up flyers, pamphlets or anything that peaks your interest. Ask the people working there for their opinions as well. Many times the students that work in the international programs office are from different countries. They can provide you with a deeper perspective of what it is like to live and study abroad.