Adventuring into CSU International Programs

Hiya, friends!

Two weeks from today, I will be boarding a plane towards Tokyo. Coincidentally, today I will be discussing the application and selection process for the California State University International Programs, aka study abroad programs. Now, mind you, CSU has two study abroad programs. One is the Bilateral Exchange program. This one, I have found out, is a university-to-university partnership programs, meaning that the CSU students seem to be sent from their respective university to foreign university rather than from the CSU system. Obviously, since I know very little about this program, I am not studying abroad through this program. What I do know about it, though, is that 1) it is easier to get into and 2) CSU Fullerton students studying abroad in Japan through this program are sent to Nanzan University in Nagoya.

Now, the second CSU program that I am aware of is the system-wide International Program (IP), which is the program I am studying abroad through. The only university in Japan that is in partnership with the IP program is Waseda University. Historically, this is the harder of the two CSU programs to get into. My study abroad team, however, lucked out because there were fewer applicants for this year than normal who were trying to get into the Japan program (yes, it is known as the "Japan program").

Needless to say, but I will be discussing the application process of the CSU International Program specifically. Here's the IP Program website for those who are considering studying abroad or are just curious to read more about it.

Applications for the IP program are due by December 15th every year, except for the Australia and South Africa programs whose applications are due by May 1st. For those who like getting things done early, rejoice! for the applications can be sent in anytime during the semester in which they are due. So, if you decide in August that you are dead set on going to Japan, then start you application and turn it in ASAP!

The IP application includes at least one essay explaining why you want to study abroad in the country of your choice. The application will give you a prompt for the written portion, though while writing the essay, I would suggest thinking about what makes you an appealing candidate for study abroad. But do not lie to make yourself more interesting! In in regards to possible questions, I think the most important question to consider  is: How will this experience to *insert desired country* prepare you for your future career? This question will also be a prominent question in the next step of the application and selection process.

One more thing: do not worry about turning in your application "too close" to the due date. The CSU IP program is fair about considering the content of the application over the date it was sent. I should know! I didn't send my application in until a few days before the due date. In fact, I didn't send my application in until December 12th!

Give yourself several days to finish the application. The written portion alone should take you a few days to write and proofread.

I almost forgot! You will need to request a copy of your college transcript! Surprisingly, the CSU system does not keep your transcript on record. It is kept by a third-party company, so it will take about a month for your transcript to come in. You can have your transcript sent to your house or sent to your university's International Offices, since the university's international office overlooks your initial application.

And don't let your mom get a hold of the transcript! *Love you, Mom!* My mom, bless her heart, forgot that I was expecting my transcript in the mail and opened it thinking it was my parking pass for the next semester (we both are nerdy and are excited each semester to see the design of the parking pass). This, of course, nullified the "Official" status of my transcript, rendering it useless, and forcing me to scramble to order another copy. I ended up ordering two more copies, rather than just one more . One copy was sent to the CSU Fullerton International Office and the other one was sent to me. I would suggest ordering the two copies, like I did the second time around. That way, if the university's copy never arrives, you will have your copy to give to the school instead. Also, if you are planning  to apply for any scholarship, you will already have a copy of your transcript to attach  to the application if necessary.

Moving on. After the application is sent in, you will have to wait. Around early/mid-January, you will receive an e-mail in regards to an interview for the IP program. The e-mail will include a preset date and time for your interview. Expect the interview to be in the early part of February.

I assume that this interview comes after the first round of selection. I do not know if you are notified when your application was not selected. What I do know is that the interview is unnerving!

You will be greeted by several people; some of them will be from the CSU International Program and some probably be from your school's international office. Regardless, expect to be asked the same questions again and again, but worded differently each time. This allows the interviewers to better assess the legitimacy of your answers. If your answers are injected with lies to make yourself sound more interesting, you will have a harder time answering the same question multiple times, assuming you notice it has been asked before.

Some of the questions I was asked during the interview were in regards to what I believed would be difficult for me when I was abroad.. When you are asked questions of this nature, I guarantee you will be inclined to deny that something will be difficult for you while you are abroad. But, fight that inclination and be truthful. Everyone will get homesick while abroad. Some people will have difficulties with adjusting to the new culture or are scared about traveling around in a foreign land. So think ahead about how you respond to new environments and start brainstorming ways you can ease any difficulties you will experience while abroad. Then, truthfully explain to the interviewers your concerns about going abroad and any plans you have to avoid or to ease these concerns while you are away. This will show that you are level-headed and prepared to go study abroad.

Also, as I have explained above, consider the importance that studying abroad will have on your future career and life plans. Again, be truthful. For me, I explained that I am working towards a future in Japanese-style comics, so I want to have a better understanding of Japanese art history, literary history and the symbolism in Japanese literature. Plus, I would like to teach Japanese culture and/or language sometime in the future. This explanation might sound impressive, but all of it is the truth! Nothing is fabricated to make myself sound better. Students who are reading this! If you truly want to go study abroad somewhere in the world, that desire originates from the very depth of your being! So don't be ashamed by your reasons for study abroad. If you don't make it into the study abroad program you applied for, don't blame it on yourself nor on the strength of your desires. It maybe that the program is impacted, so try applying again if you don't make it.

Moving on now.

After the interview, you will have to experience some more waiting. The CSU IP office will send out an acceptance letter during March, so if you have gotten into the program, the letter will come around mid-March. You will also need to apply for the international university you will be attending while abroad and for a visa from the country you will be living in. Some of the IP programs will have you apply for both the foreign university and for the visa AFTER you receive the CSU IP acceptance letter. HOWEVER, for those interested in the Japan Program, you will need to fill out those two applications right after your interview and way before you get your IP acceptance letter! So the two weeks after your interview will be chaotic!

After you have received your IP acceptance letter, you will have one more additional packet to finish. This packet will be used by the CSU International Program to arrange housing and any special preparations you will need. It also includes a program withdrawal form if you decide you can't go for any reason. Most of this packet is due in the beginning of May, though some parts such as the flight information form can be turned in at a later date. If you want to see this packet I am talking about, be-bop over to this link and select the country of your choice. It also contains the financial information for the 2012-2013 school year, so you can look over that to see if you can afford the trip. For those who are concerned about the pricing, financial aid can be used to pay for the study abroad program. If your alloted financial aids covers more than the program expenses, then you will get the rest of the financial aid sent to you.

Yelp, this covers what you need to know about the application and selection process for CSU International Programs. I hope this post is useful for you CSU students who want to study abroad and is interesting for you who are just curious about the whole study abroad business.

This concludes my massive blog for the week. I hope you enjoyed this post and will come back to read more of my intricate posts.

Until then, later peeps!