Study Abroad Best Practices in Advising Heidi Johnson

Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising Heidi Johnson Financial Aid Senior Advisor UW-Madison

Overview • Value of study abroad • Advising students on selection and budgeting • Strategies for selecting a study abroad program • Sample budgets • Tips on saving money abroad • Financial Aid applicability • Study abroad scholarships • Benjamin A. Gilman Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

By studying abroad students develop: • an understanding of themselves culturally and the ability to use this knowledge to live and work effectively in diverse settings and with diverse individuals • the knowledge and skills associated with international, global, and intercultural content areas such as language, geography, history; • a desire and ability to seek out and use diverse sources of information to inform their decision making; and • a desire and ability to engage in communities of practice as citizens and scholars. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising students on selection and budgeting Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Selecting a Program • Consider different types of programs. • Semester v. Full Year v. Short-Term • Affiliated/Third-Party v. Exchange • Internship • Look outside of Western Europe for less expensive options. • Consider what is included in the program costs. • Excursions? • Local transportation? • Insurance? • Visa processing? • Comparison shop. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Budgets • Know your current direct costs. • Tuition and Fees/Room and Board • Understand the costs of your study abroad program. • Develop a sense of what your current personal expenses are. • Develop a sense of what cost of attendance is your “bottom line. ” Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Budgets UW –Madison Sample Undergraduate Budgets Wisconsin students/semester Undergraduate Out-of-state students/semester Undergraduate Tuition $5, 201 (12 Cr. ) $13, 326 (12 Cr. ) Room and Board $4, 590 Books and Supplies $600 Miscellaneous & Travel $1, 719 Total Budget $12, 110 $20, 235 Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

UW-Madison Sample Exchange Budget Sydney Australia, University of Sydney Exchange In State Resident Program Fee $6650. 00(fixed cost) Estimated Additional Expenses: Airfare $2200. 00 Health Insurance $200. 00 Books and Supplies $500. 00 Housing $5000. 00 Local Transportation $500. 00 Meals $1650. 00 Personal/Miscellaneous $1900. 00 Visa $580. 00 Total Cost of Attendance $19, 180. 00 Program Fee includes academic expenses, administrative costs, mandatory health insurance, orientation and internship placement. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

UW-Madison Sample Direct Enrollment Budget Sydney, Australia, Macquarie University In State Resident Program Fee $11, 700. 00 (fixed cost) Estimated Additional Expenses: Airfare $2200. 00 Health Insurance $300. 00 Books and Supplies $400. 00 Housing $4000. 00 Local Transportation $800. 00 Meals $1450. 00 Personal/Miscellaneous $1500. 00 Visa $580. 00 Total Cost of Attendance $22, 930. 00 Program Fee includes academic expenses, administrative costs, mandatory health insurance, orientation. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Budgeting Tips Before you go… • Create a personal budget • Do your research • Travel guides, websites • Look for group or student fares • STA, Student Universe • Apply for discount cards, memberships • ISIC, IYH, YHA • Check your bank • Make sure you understand what fees you’ll be charged for using your ATM or credit card abroad; research fees with other banks. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Budgeting Tips While you are there… • Travel • Plan trips ahead of time. • Explore your host city. • Eating • Eat in by cooking instead of eating meals out. • Share meals. • Eat like a local: shop local markets, get staff suggestions for cafés. • Identify inexpensive places where domestic students eat. • Avoid tourist traps Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Budgeting Tips • Communication • Use Skype and pre-paid calling cards. • Send old-fashioned letters and postcards. • Transportation • Use buses and metro rather than cabs; walk! • For trips, remember to compare train and air prices. • Think about overnight travel—save the cost of a room. • Shopping • Wait to buy! Especially for souvenirs, compare prices. • If bartering is part of the local custom, then barter. • Local Markets often less expensive than stores • Take a local friend with you to get a better deal. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Budgeting Tips • Money • Follow your budget! Keep track of what you spend. • Pay cash: it’s easy to overspend with credit cards. • Don’t carry lots of cash with you—less temptation to spend. • Use your discount cards (ISIC, IYH, university ID). Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising Commonly Asked Questions • Can I use my financial aid to pay for my study abroad program? • • Can I use work study while studying abroad? • • You will need to check with the donor of the scholarship to determine if it may be used for study abroad. How can I apply for scholarships for study abroad? • • No. What about my scholarships? • • Yes, generally students can apply their financial aid (including loans) to assist in covering the cost of studying abroad. Check with the college/department sponsoring your study abroad program as well as your home college/department. Your Study Abroad Office may also administer scholarships for study abroad. I have been awarded my maximum amounts in FAFSA aid. What are my other options beyond scholarships? • Once you have exhausted your FAFSA eligibility for the year in addition to applying for scholarships, you may also be eligible to apply for a Parent PLUS or private student loan up to your cost of attendance (i. e. study abroad financial aid budget). Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising Commonly Asked Questions • How will my charges be paid? • • Where will my refund check be mailed? • • If you are being billed through your home school’s Bursar’s Office, your financial aid will first be applied to your study abroad program fees. If a credit balance is created a refund check will be distributed to you. If your financial aid does not cover your charges in full you will be responsible for paying the difference by the due date. If you are not being billed by your home school’s Bursar’s Office your financial aid will be sent to you as a refund and you will be responsible for using the refund to pay your bill by the due date. Your refund check will be mailed to your current mailing address as listed with your home school. We encourage you to update your address to someone who can deposit the check for you as you will be traveling when the checks are mailed after disbursement takes place. Can I pick up my refund check in person? • No, refund checks must be mailed or direct deposited into your checking or savings account. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising Using Financial Aid to Fund Study Abroad What funds are applicable? Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Financial Aid and Study Abroad • Financial aid resources may be used for education abroad. • Higher Education Act: Allows students to use federal aid for education abroad if credit is approved by home institution • Consortium agreement with another institution • Federal aid follows the student, not institution Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Financial Aid and Study Abroad File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA. gov) • Financial aid for education abroad usually comes in the form of federal grants and federal or private loans. • Scholarship money is critical. • Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Financial Aid and Study Abroad • • Types of Aid Available Federal Grants • Federal Pell Grant • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grant (SEOG) Federal Loans • Federal Direct Loans • Federal Perkins Loans • Federal Parent PLUS Loans for Undergraduate Students Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Financial Aid and Study Abroad Types of Aid Available • • Private Loans • Nonfederal educational loan issued by a private lender State Aid • Wisconsin Higher Education Grant, Wisconsin Tuition Grant, State of Wisconsin Travel Grant Institutional Aid • Some institutions may allow you to apply aid you would normally receive while on-campus Study Abroad Scholarships • National, local and institutional Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Financial Aid and Study Abroad Develop special budgets for financial aid • Example: Program fee, tuition and additional costs • Advise that costs are per program, not student • Funds may be disbursed no earlier than 10 days prior to first of classes • Refunding of excess financial aid • Options for advance costs such as airfare • Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Working with the Study Abroad Office The Study Abroad Process 1. Students are registered for the study abroad placeholder credits and are assigned the Off Campus Program checklist. 2. I am sent the lists of participants with their program information and costs of attendance. UW-Madison offers study abroad programs through the following offices/departments: International Academic Programs (IAP) School of Business College of Engineering College of Agriculture and Life Sciences School of Law College of Human Ecology Political Science Department 3. I update the students’ costs of attendance to reflect the information provided and Award Reconciliation revises students’ financial aid awards as applicable. 4. I complete the Off Campus Program checklist. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Working with the Study Abroad Office Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Working with the Study Abroad Office How can we best work together? • • • Funding is a crucial piece of the study abroad decision process Is there a financial aid advisor dedicated to study abroad students? Communication and coordination are key to working with the Study Abroad Office Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising Scholarships for Study Abroad Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Scholarships for Study Abroad Office scholarships • Departmental scholarships designated for study abroad • University Wide and Departmental scholarships which may be used for study abroad • National Scholarships • Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Scholarships for Study Abroad Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship • The program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go by supporting undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints. • Funded through the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Scholarships for Study Abroad • • • Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Eligibility Criteria U. S. Citizen Undergraduate student Federal Pell Grant recipient Receiving academic credit Anywhere in the world not currently under a U. S. Department of State Travel Warning or Cuba Minimum four weeks duration in one location Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Scholarships for Study Abroad Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Tips for Writing a Competitive Essay: • • • Why you, why this program and why this location? Be specific about diversity in your essay • The reader will not know your background unless you write about it • Talk about the challenges you have overcome Make sure you proofread your essay Talk to your study abroad advisor and your campus’s writing center Follow-on project should: • Give back and inspire others to go abroad • Be realistic and attainable • Partner with established organizations Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising Questions Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising Thank you for attending! Heidi Johnson heidi. johnson@finaid. wisc. edu Heidi Johnson UW-Madison