A Little Looking Back...

It was pointed out to me yesterday that this blog could be useful to future students looking to take a year abroad, whether to Washington College or anywhere else, because there are many details and tips that you are not told and that would have been useful for myself during the extensive and complicated process of applying for a year abroad. 

Perhaps the most crucial aspect in your preparations is timing, whether meeting your own deadlines or those of others. One point that seems obvious now but I had not originally considered was the time difference between myself and my contacts in the states. Having checked my email continuously for days as I waited for a response, it dawned on me that with the college being six hours behind me, it was pointless checking for a response until late afternoon/early evening. Once I had realised this, I could timetable my application much more effectively.

One of the biggest, and what I thought was going to be most complex tasks to carry out, was obtaining a study visa. As it happened, the day itself ran smoothly. There are many forms to fill in prior to visiting London's US embassy, but once you have printed them off, then getting the visa could not have been quicker. 

Also, I was told me that I was more than welcome to go into the embassy an hour and a half earlier than my given appointment time - it turns out that appointment times do not mean much when you are inside because they ping people through continuously. Having started queuing outside at 9:00am, I was out of the embassy by 10:10am and had the rest of the day to enjoy London. 

Tip: Even though the staff outside the embassy may say that it is not necessary to take your wallet/purse in with you, you will have to pay a courier fee for your visa and passport once you are inside. I do not know what the procedure is if you cannot pay before you leave the embassy, but it was luck more than anything else that meant I could pay my fee. 

I can already feel myself dusting off the rose-tinted spectacles and looking back on the application process as a small inconvenience on my time, but my thick folder of forms, applications and payments reminds me of the reality, and I should present it before I lose sight of what it was like. Applying for a year abroad is a lot of hard work, (especially during the exam season), time consuming, and there are costs along the way. But, I have been promised that the rewards and experiences to come vastly outweigh this initial bout of hard work. For the sake of this blog, I hope that this is true. 

After Much Preparation...

"I am pleased to inform you that you have met the entrance requirements for your respective host University and can take up your International Exchange placement in 2013-14."

Yes, after filling in, emailing and posting paperwork, scheduling meetings, having injections, applying for loans and a visa, the groundwork has been laid for a great year abroad. I was relieved to receive this news from our study abroad department; it would have taken a very large bouquet of flowers and many bottles of bitter to apologise for not getting the required grades for America and having wasted a lot of time and (parents') money. But, no such conversation was necessary and I have been given the all clear for eight hopefully very exciting months. 

As many people are asking, I will be flying out on 17th August from Terminal 5. Naturally, I don't want a lot of fuss to be made over me going...actually, "I want you to let the ballyhoo boys loose, plan a celebration, and declare a holiday." - (The title of the blog is a spin off from Mr Smith Goes to Washington, so quotes from the film will be added from time to time.)