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Exchange Pre-Departure Session October 23, 2010

Exchange Pre-Departure Session October 23, 2010. Additional Contacts/Information Home institution (SFU) SFUi: Administrative, central contact Health & Counselling Services Financial Aid & Awards Other departments, advisors Your host institution Accommodation Arrival assistance

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Exchange Pre-Departure Session October 23, 2010

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  1. Exchange Pre-Departure SessionOctober 23, 2010

  2. Additional Contacts/Information • Home institution (SFU) • SFUi: Administrative, central contact • Health & Counselling Services • Financial Aid & Awards • Other departments, advisors • Your host institution • Accommodation • Arrival assistance • Orientation • Course enrollment Exchange Pre-Departure

  3. Additional Contacts/Information, continued • External bodies • Consulate/Embassy of your host country (visa) • Canadian Embassy/Consulate • Family doctor, travel health clinic • Insurance provider(s) • Bank(s) • Lawyer, Notary Public • …? Exchange Pre-Departure

  4. When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money. -Susan Heller You will hear it from [SFU International] over and over and over again, but the more prepared you are, the easier it will be transitioning into your new life. In short, attend the workshops, read the manual, fill out all the forms, and basically do whatever they recommend. - SFU exchange student Exchange: Before you go…

  5. SFU/Academic preparation: • Acceptance letter from host institution • Course registration • SFU: Registered in FEP – 12 units (varies for part-time Summer exchanges) • Host university: They will inform you of procedure • Tuition and fees • PAY THEM ALL: 2% monthly penalty • SFU official transcript • SFU designate (and/or Power of Attorney) • ISIC Card Exchange: Before you go…

  6. Student loans and interest-free status • Full-time Summer and Fall exchanges: Registered as full-time at SFU • Must also be considered “full-time at host institution (12 weeks of classes, no more than 2 weeks of non-study breaks in term; taking academic course work) • Apply one term at a time Financial Preparation: Financial Aid and Awards • Start early • Power of Attorney vs. designate • Financial Aid info session (and/or individual advising) Exchange: Before you go…

  7. Financial Preparation: Financial Aid and Awards • Bursaries • Financial Aid Info Session (and/or individual advising) • Scholarships, awards • International Mobility Awards • External Funding Exchange: Before you go…

  8. Financial Preparation: Personal Finances • Creating a budget • Taking money with you • Sending money (prior to arrival or once you arrive) • Credit cards • Debit cards • Employment Exchange: Before you go…

  9. Travel-related preparation: • Passport/visa • Family doctor, travel health doctor • Travel arrangements • Insurance • TravelHealth/Medical (handout) • Cancellation/interruption (with plane ticket) • Personal contents/liability • Power of Attorney and/or designate • Copy/back-up important documents • Canadian Customs Certificates Exchange: Before you go…

  10. Research, research, research… • Canadian Consular Services (www.voyage.gc.ca) • Embassy, High Commission, Consulate • Travel Reports • Travel Warnings • Registration • E-Publications (“Dual Citizenship”, “Her Own Way”, “Bon Voyage But…”, etc) • Emergency contact (in Canada and abroad) • www.intercultures.gc.ca • Travel books (Lonely Planet, etc) • Voltage, adaptors, cell phones, etc • Other students Exchange: Before you go…

  11. The saying “Getting there is half the fun” became obsolete with the advent of commercial airlines. - Henry J. Tillman Exchange: While you’re away…

  12. Academic and admin-related issues • Update contact info with SFU • Monthly emails from SFU International • Changing courses • Procedures vary by university • Bring the SFU official transcript that you ordered • Changing length of stay abroad • Leaving earlier than planned, extending your stay • Exchange credit (start applying while away) • Save everything! (especially syllabus for each course) • Request a transcript from host university (if necessary) Exchange: While you’re away…

  13. Living abroad (safety, culture, etc.) • Personal safety • Money belt, valuables • Night clubs, date rape drugs • Sun/heat • Wear shoes • Piercings, tattoos • Stray animals • Getting around safely • Seatbelt, know where you’re going, avoid motorcycles • Gender issues, LGBTQ, Special Needs • Communication • Stay in touch, but not too in touch Exchange: While you’re away…

  14. Studying Abroad • Differences in: • Support from “student services” • Procedures for course registration, changes, etc • Course structure and scheduling (eg: lectures, tutorials, labs, etc) • Workload and approach to learning • Grading Exchange: While you’re away…

  15. The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land. - G.K. Chesterton Exchange: Coming home…

  16. Preparing to come home… • Academic/admin prep • Register for SFU courses (if applicable) • Order official transcript(s) from host university • Read our “Returning Students” webpage • Personal prep • Remind yourself you’re coming home • Research re-entry shock Exchange: While you’re away…

  17. Administrative / paperwork • SFU Parking • Write your exchange report and questionnaire • Photo contest (deadline in Oct) Exchange: Coming home…

  18. Exchange credit • Submit to SFU International: • 1) exchange credit application for each course (online) • 2) syllabus for each course (uploaded to application online) • 3) official transcript from host university (should be mailed to SFUi directly) • Max of 30 exchange credits • GPA not affected • Scholarship students must maintain GPA • Grad school apps will require all post-sec transcript • WQB • Right to appeal (keep list of contacts at host university) • Questions about exchange credit: excredit@sfu.ca Exchange: Coming home

  19. Life post-exchange • Re-entry and reverse culture shock • SFU International’s “Welcome Back” • Health and Counselling Services • Get involved! • Global Partnering System (GPS) • Share your experience (come out to events, write an article, etc) • NEW in 2010 SFU-GONE – alumni group • Go away again Exchange: Coming home

  20. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor.Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain Wrap-up

  21. The more research and preparation you do here, the less you have to do there… We will send you a link for the pre-departure resources on-line Bon voyage! GPS Facebook group – connect with other students studyabroad@sfu.ca (advising) goexchange@sfu.ca (host applications, registration and info) excredit@sfu.ca (exchange credit) Wrap-up

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