Letter from Abroad
Jaricka Bell
Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: Ed-Op
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Are you interested in studying abroad in London? Are you racking your brain about how you can possibly afford it? Well, stop worrying. Once you make up your mind and set your heart on going, everything else will fall into place. Now, don't get me wrong; there is a lot of preparation that goes into a three-month-long trip. But don't let money stop you from this wonderful experience. London is such a beautiful city, full of fun, nightlife, culture and history. Let's not forget shopping! There will never be a dull moment. Once you're in Europe, it can be relatively inexpensive to travel to other countries. The learning environment, the people you'll meet, and the experiences you'll have cannot be obtained on Drexel's campus. If you open your mind, you will experience more in 11 weeks than most people will experience in a lifetime.
How can you have such a rewarding experience, you ask? As soon as you decide that you want to participate and have applied to the Study Abroad Program, speak to someone in Financial Aid to see what your options are. If you normally get a refund for the term, you can use your refund to sustain yourself while abroad. Also, you can go to Financial Aid and apply for a budget increase to cover your expenses. This will allow you to apply for additional loans to go abroad. Do this ASAP, as it can be a lengthy process.
For those of you who do not want to take out loans or will be financing the trip on your own, consider getting a part-time job while abroad. You are eligible to work up to 20 hours per week. Once you are accepted into the program, ask for contact numbers in London from the Study Abroad office. It will be less of a headache if you set up a job or internship before you leave the United States. Otherwise, you can get a job at a local pub or retail store.
All in all, don't worry if you can't shop on this trip as much as some others. Don't be afraid to take out a loan for this trip. Trust me, you won't look back and say, "I wish I didn't go to London." Studying abroad is such a rewarding experience that no one can express it to you well enough; you just have to experience it for yourself!
Jaricka Bell is a business administration major. She can be reached through ed-op@thetriangle.org.
How can you have such a rewarding experience, you ask? As soon as you decide that you want to participate and have applied to the Study Abroad Program, speak to someone in Financial Aid to see what your options are. If you normally get a refund for the term, you can use your refund to sustain yourself while abroad. Also, you can go to Financial Aid and apply for a budget increase to cover your expenses. This will allow you to apply for additional loans to go abroad. Do this ASAP, as it can be a lengthy process.
For those of you who do not want to take out loans or will be financing the trip on your own, consider getting a part-time job while abroad. You are eligible to work up to 20 hours per week. Once you are accepted into the program, ask for contact numbers in London from the Study Abroad office. It will be less of a headache if you set up a job or internship before you leave the United States. Otherwise, you can get a job at a local pub or retail store.
All in all, don't worry if you can't shop on this trip as much as some others. Don't be afraid to take out a loan for this trip. Trust me, you won't look back and say, "I wish I didn't go to London." Studying abroad is such a rewarding experience that no one can express it to you well enough; you just have to experience it for yourself!
Jaricka Bell is a business administration major. She can be reached through ed-op@thetriangle.org.
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