The Maryland International Education Association (MIEA) Scholarship deadline is October 18, 2013 for Spring 2014 study abroad programs. In recognition that Maryland graduates need experience in the global arena to be competitive in the job market, this scholarship opportunity is made possible by The Baltimore Community Foundation and the MIEA.

Applicants must be US citizens, residents of the state of Maryland, enrolled in a degree-seeking program at a Maryland institution of higher education and have at least a 3.2 GPA.  Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits while abroad in the Spring.   

Awards vary and are dependent on funding available each cycle.  

You can start your application by clicking APPLY NOW here: 

http://smcm.studioabroad.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=45684

Nanjing University is offering 30 grants (up to $1,000 per award) are now available to participants in CIEE’s Intensive Chinese Language + Culture Spring 2014 program from the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC). These awards can be combined with any of the other generous scholarship programs offered by CIEE. Deadline for application is October 10, 2013, UMBC's Study Abroad application deadline. 

IES Office OPT and CPT Workshop Schedule, Fall 2013

All workshops take place in Admin 218

You did it. You’ve passed the qualifying exams and got admitted to that university abroad. You have your paper work all sorted out. You know how it works.

Now you’re in a strange land. You’re conversational with the country’s language but you’re not yet that fluent.  With all the adjustments you’ll have to make, what are the things you can do to ensure success? Here are some of the secrets of successful international students.

Make the Most out of Lectures

When attending lectures, it’s tempting to try to take note of everything the lecturer is saying. Listen carefully to the lecturer and take note only of the most important points. Don’t try to write down everything.

Find a study partner. We’re only human after all and we tend to forget a good part of a lecture. You can review the lecture with a partner or two and compare your notes over coffee. You can schedule this regularly after lectures to help your retention.

Use shorthand. Ideas are better understood when they are visualized. You can use mind maps or flow charts to better understand the lecture. This also facilitates better recall. Rewriting the lecture using your own words or summarizing it will also help you remember the important points of the lecture.

Listen for cues. Lecturers will use signpost words such as “we’ll begin with”, “next . . .”, “to summarize”, and others. Those are cues that an important point is coming up. That’s your cue to take note.

Talk with your instructors. It’s okay to ask the instructor to slow down a bit if you can’t keep up. Just remember to always be polite. Alternatively, you can record the lecture and review later with your study partner or group.

Don’t hesitate to talk to your instructors after class if there are some points that you don’t understand. Obviously, they are there to help you. They will also be extra helpful to international students like you.

Keep Your Goals in Mind

You went through all the trouble of getting admitted in a university or college in another country because you have goals. Perhaps you want a more rewarding career. Or maybe you want to learn skills that you can take back with you to your home country. Whatever your goals are, always keep them in mind.

It is particularly challenging if you have to juggle study and work. Stephen Covey has an excellent guideline on time management that everyone could benefit from. Basically, it tells you to make a list of all the things that must be done, rank them, and prioritize them according to your goals. Particularly useful is the The Quadrant Four model that categorizes tasks. A task can be 1) urgent and important, 2) not urgent but important, 3) urgent but not important, and 4) not urgent and not important. Covey advised to concentrate on the second quadrant and ignore quadrants 3 and 4.

Reward Your Self

Studying abroad is hard work. To keep on going, you need to recharge form time to time. Reward yourself and celebrate your small successes. They don’t have to be expensive rewards. Set clear study goals and reward yourself once you accomplish those goals.

By following these tips, you greatly increase your chances of success as an international student.

Author Bio

Stephanie Casidy is the managing director at Chambers Institute, an ESL school in Sydney, Australia. She studied Juris Doctor at Monash University and holds an MA degree in Biblical Studies.

Do you want to study abroad this summer?  Here is a list of summer study abroad programs that might be of some interest to you.  If you plan to apply, you  must apply through the UMBC Study Abroad Office and also submit a UMBC Affiliate Application.  We will have walk in hours from 1-4 each day this week to help you with any questions you have.

Summer 2013 Study Abroad Programs

Austria: Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change

JOUR434/734 and 435/735 (6 credits), 21 July-10 August 2013, http://ter.ps/sumaustria

Brazil: Brazilian Amazon: Environmental Conservation and Indigenous Peoples

ANTH498C/698C (6 credits), 20 July-10 August 2013, http://ter.ps/sumbrazil

Brazil: Ecology and Natural Resources Management (ENST)

ENST499P/689P (3 credits), 29 July-16 August 2013, http://ter.ps/subrasilenst

China: Exploring Confucius' China

CHIN269A (3 credits), 26 July-18 August 2013, http://ter.ps/sumchinaconf

Europe: Landscapes of Influence: Conservation, Resilience and Innovation in Northern Europe

LARC489F (3 credits), 21 May-9 June 2013, http://ter.ps/sueuropelarc

France: French Language and Culture on the Mediterranean

FREN399X (3 credits), 25 May-15 June 2013, http://ter.ps/sumfrancelan

Greece: The Living Legacy

CLAS308L (3 credits), 3-22 June 2013, http://ter.ps/sumgreece

India: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Health

FMSC498I (3 credits), 23 May-21 June 2013, http://ter.ps/sumindia

Ireland: International Approaches to Drama in Education

TLPL688L (4 credits), 14-27 July 2013, http://ter.ps/suirdramaedu

Italy: Methods and Issues in Film Preservation

FILM369 (3 credits), 19 June-11 July 2013, http://ter.ps/suitalyfilm

Italy: The Business of Italian Design and Culture (BMGT)

BMGT458G (3 credits), 22 May-4 June 2013, http://ter.ps/suitdesign

Norway: Adventure Leadership

EDCP318X (3 credits), 17 July-3 August 2013, http://ter.ps/sumnorway

Spain: Salamanca and Barcelona

SPAN333 and 304 or 408X (6 credits), 30 May-17 July 2013, http://ter.ps/sumspainsala

United Kingdom: Documentary Experience in Britain

COMM369B and 369D (6 credits), 30 May-25 June 2013, http://ter.ps/sudocbritain

United Kingdom: Follow the Fringe: Documentation and Preservation of Cultural Movements in Media

INST729 (3 credits), 26 July-16 August 2013, http://ter.ps/sufringeinst

United Kingdom: Literature, Art and Architecture in London

ENGL369M (3 credits), 1-22 June 2013, http://ter.ps/99

United Kingdom: Sport, Commerce and Culture in the Global Marketplace

KNES357/689J (3 credits), 6-20 July 2013, http://ter.ps/sumuksport

Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan

The Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University (IFSA-Butler) has scholarships available for the fall semester First Generation Scholars Program. This achievement-based program offers first generation college students significant financial, academic and pre-professional assistance for enrollment in an IFSA-Butler semester or year program. The application deadline for fall semester 2013 is Friday, March 1.

The scholarship is worth up to $2,500 and covers $500 in housing and meals, flight costs (approximately $,1500 value), student visa fees where applicable, and passport fees. Recipients also participate in a blogging program and a resume building workshop, and they receive specialized first generation college student information.

The scholarship requires a minimum GPA of 2.7. The scholarship is not based on financial need, but applicants do need to complete a Financial Footprint. Applicants must submit a CV or resume and a 500-word essay related to the first generation college student experience.

For more information on this great opportunity, please visit the website:http://www.ifsa-butler.org/first-generation-scholar-program.html