Peer Advisor Pizza Party!

We will miss you!!

Join the Trotter Multicultural Center for the 72 Hour Study Break!

Join the Trotter Multicultural Center for the 72 Hour Study Break starting TOMOROW!! 

They have the perfect spot to settle in and ‪#‎studyhard‬

Center for the Education of Women Focus Group!

Do you consider yourself to be a nontraditional student at the University of Michigan?  What experiences or social identities make you "nontraditional?"

We would love for you to tell us about it!

Please join us for a focus group about your identity(ies) and how the campus climate and culture impact your life differently from students with a more "traditional" educational experience.   

Food will be served, and a $15 gift card will be offered. 

Your participation will be confidential. Findings will help the Center for the Education of Women (CEW) improve its support services for underserved and nontraditional students.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Co-sponsors: 

Black Student Union (BSU)

Blavin Scholars Program

Jean and Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies

Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)

Spectrum Center

Veterans and Military Services Program

Vice Provost for Equity, Inclusion, and Academic Affairs 

Here's a little bit more about our study...

Historically, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has defined "nontraditional students" as older scholars who do not receive bachelor's degrees prior to the age of 25. That age gap is enough to substantially separate their experiences in school from fellow students of a "traditional" age, by adding new academic and social challenges.

Presently, we know that age is just one of many characteristics that can significantly separate a student's experiences from those of their peers. These characteristics can impact a student at either the undergraduate or the graduate level.  We recognize that being an underrepresented ethnic or racial minority, LGBT, a veteran, a parent or caregiver, a first-generation student, a community-college transfer or a student with physical or emotional health conditions are some of the characteristics that greatly shape student experiences in a nontraditional way.  However, we also recognize that there may be other factors that affect the student experience. 

Therefore, we want to hear from you: your experiences, your frustrations,what you need to better succeed as a nontraditional student.  Please come and share your insight with us!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Work at the Education Abroad Office!

It's Sarah's last day!

We are so sad to see our wonderful Peer Advisor, Sarah Cunningham, graduate! But we are so excited for her and her exciting future!

We are now looking for new Peer Advisors! If you are a UM student with work study and are interested in international education, consider joining the Education Abroad Team and apply here: bit.ly/1HB1I14

Student Sexual Misconduct Policy Revisions - Join the Discussion and Be Heard!

Let your voice be heard and join the discussions around 

U-M's student sexual misconduct policy revisions! 

RSVP to sapacdesk@umich.edu

Session 1:
Date: Monday, April 13
Location: North Campus, Boulevard Rm, Pierpont 
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM

Session 2:
Date: Tuesday, April 14
Location:Michigan League, 2nd Floor
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM

Food will be provided!!

10 Study Abroad "Rookie Mistakes"!

Traveling abroad this summer? 

Be sure not to make these "rookie mistakes"! 

huff.to/1ycTzOA 

By Jenna Rice, University of Central Florida.

Not Staying In Youth Hostels.

If you've never traveled abroad, the idea of staying in a hostel might seem a little scary (thank you, horror movies). But in all seriousness, it's just the opposite. Not only will staying in hostels save you some major cash, but you'll also meet really interesting people from other countries. During my first youth hostel stay in Paris, my friend and I were the only two girls in this six-bed room with four guys. And to be honest, it was a blast! We ended up hanging out with our German and Australian roommates the entire weekend, and in turn we learned a lot about their cultures.

Overdoing The Partying.

If your mission is to party until dawn at the hottest nightclubs, then by all means, rage on. However, I'm pretty sure most of us sign up to study abroad to see beautiful sights and immerse ourselves in different cultures. I'm not saying you shouldn't drink, but just use your best judgement and pace yourself or risk wasting a precious day in Europe lying in bed with a hangover instead of gallivanting alongside the Ponte Vecchio or Eiffel Tower.

No Indulging.

This might be a given, but trying to diet while spending a semester abroad is probably the worst form of self-torture one can endure. During my time in Italy I ate all of the pizza, pasta and gelato my heart desired. And trust me, I don't regret a single bite. Plus, the amount of miles I walked each day helped to burn off some of the extra calories. Despite stuffing my face, I actually lost a couple pounds when I returned to the states. Imagine that!

Missing Your Flight.

This may sound like a no-brainer, but it's easier than you think. After a long night of partying in Barcelona (reference #2), my friend and I pressed our snooze button a few too many times and had to rush to the airport. Upon entering, we realized we were at the wrong terminal and had to hop on a shuttle to the correct one. With less than an hour until our departure time, the airport personnel wouldn't let us even go through security. So, we had to pay for a new flight (ouch!) and waste four hours in the airport. Make sure to leave plenty of time to ensure you catch your plane, train or bus to avoid a major headache while abroad.

Showing Up With No Idea Where You're Going Or How To Use A Map.

Before you take off for a weekend trip, make sure you do your research. Plan out a few things you want to see and look up where they're located on a map. My friend and I learned this the hard way when we showed up to Amsterdam with no idea how their public transportation worked or how to interpret, let alone read Dutch for the life of us. Unless you want to be that frustrated foreigner staring blindly at a map, I'd suggest you do some much-needed googling before you leave.

Bonus tip: If you're ever seriously lost, duck in a free wifi spot, map out walking directions to your desired destination and take screenshots.

Not Flying RyanAir.

I'm going to be honest. RyanAir is basically the Spirit Airlines of Europe. And if you've ever flown Spirit, you know that's not a compliment. With that being said, RyanAir costs about half as much as other European airlines. Yes, you can always take a train or bus to and from your weekend destination, but that's going to add hours onto your travel time that you could spend sightseeing. For both efficiency and cost-effectiveness, choose RyanAir.

Not Splurging (At Least Once)

Whether it be taking that trip to Paris, trying the expensive restaurant you've heard raving reviews about, or buying the 100 percent Italian leather jacket you've been eyeing, everyone deserves to splurge on at least one thing during their study abroad experience. And trust me, you won't regret it. My leather jacket is probably one of my favorite pieces of clothing!

Fearing The Locals.

When studying abroad, most people avoid asking the locals questions because they're afraid they'll annoy them. In my experience, this definitely isn't the case... Unless you run up to them shouting, "English?!?" Even if you aren't fluent in their native language, a simple "scusi" or "ciao" to catch their attention goes a long way. Most locals are happy to point you in the right direction, help you find the correct train route, or recommended a good place to eat. Think about it this way; when someone visits your native state and asks for help, you're almost always willing to give it, right? The same concept applies abroad.

Getting Too Comfortable.

No matter how much your study abroad destination begins to feel like home, never forget that you're still in a foreign country and need to be aware of your surroundings. The moment you let your guard down is the moment you become vulnerable to pickpocketing and other dangerous situations. Aside from making sure your valuables aren't within easy reach, never separate yourself from the group. In other words, don't be the drunk wanderer.

Avoiding All "Touristy" Things.

I know wearing those audio players and walking around with a huge group looks awful, but I promise you'll miss out if you don't go on a guided tour in each new place you visit. Your study abroad program will most likely include a handful of scheduled tours. Take advantage of them! Weekend trips with companies include many tours as well. Yes, sometimes they seem to drag on. However, I probably would've missed half of the things my tour guides pointed out had I visited places like the Vatican and Coliseum myself and I definitely wouldn't have appreciated cities like Pompeii and Barcelona as much if didn't know about their history.

Regardless of whether or not you end up making these same mistakes, you're going to have the time of your life. Studying abroad is a huge learning experience and the blunders are part of what makes it so memorable. And while missing a flight or getting lost might seem like a big deal at the time, once you get home you'll probably forget it ever happened.

#studyabroad #MGoAbroad

      Fulbright Information Session

TODAY!

5240 Weill Hall (School of Public Policy)

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

This information session will be conducted by Lora Seery, Program Manager at the Institute for International Education in New York, headquarters of the Fulbright program. She will give a special presentation on the Fulbright-Clinton Fellowship, which provides opportunities for U.S. citizens to serve in professional placements in a foreign government ministry or institution in partner governments.