PRE-DEPARTURE
- Maurice Berbano
- Feb 5, 2018
- 4 min read
Looking back, it's bittersweet to think about how, during my senior year of high school, studying abroad was a goal I knew I had to accomplish when I was in college. Entering my junior year, I am excited to say leave for Seoul in two weeks! How exciting yet frightening!
Either through the UH Manoa Study Abroad Center or Manoa International Exchange, know one thing: the study abroad application was a long process. However, because there are so many different components and deadlines throughout the semester, as long as you get these things done at these times, you'll be fine!
March 2017 (About one year prior to desired study abroad semester): Submit application form for Manoa International Exchange.
I applied through MIX and not SAC, due to universities in Seoul, South Korea only being available through MIX.
June 2017: Receive MIX Nomination & Next Steps email
It is important to remember that you will not always get your first choice. Don't let this discourage you from studying abroad, though! A study abroad experience is one that you don't want to miss out on--and as they say, your experiences are defined by you and not anyone or anything else.
August 2017: Receive email from nominated school, Seoul National University
Get ready to prepare the following documents:
1. A Statement of Purpose 2. Two letters of Recommendation 3. An original copy of Official University Transcript 4. A Certificate of Enrollment issued by the university you are currently attending.
5. A copy of valid passport
Tips:
- The Certificate of Enrollment is not your acceptance letter from UHM. It is a sealed, verified document from the registrars office that validates your current enrollment at UHM. Find more info here.
- It is best to check your passport to see if it will still be valid during the time of study abroad. Unfortunately, I thought mine was valid and a few weeks before the application was due, I had to rush and find the earliest appointment. I then had to pay an extra fee to have my passport delivered in time (before the application was due). Thank you, UH Manoa Ticketing & Information Office for helping me out!
- The application may or may not confuse you. For myself, it did not save some of my updated information. There was a typo in my last name because the application didn't save correctly, and I had to wait a few weeks after my acceptance to finally get my credentials updated. I was unable to create my student accounts, but the Office of International Affairs at SNU were very quick and helpful! (Thank you!)
Beginning of October 2017: Submit application (both online and physical) to SNU and MIX
MIX requires a physical copy of the application, including all required documents, so please be sure to have everything you need.
Mid-October 2017: Receive pre-departure checklist from MIX
Save a copy of, or star this email! This email willl include everything you need to complete (on the UH Manoa end) before you leave to study abroad.
End of November 2017: Receive acceptance letter from SNU
You will receive both an online and physical acceptance from Seoul National University. The documents included (particularly the Certificate of Business Registration and Certificate of Admission) in your physical copy are very important as they are required for your Visa application. Do not lose them.
Beginning of January 2018: Apply for Visa
The Visa only takes less than a week to process, so you can do this whenever you feel most comfortable. Mine was valid since the beginning of January until the beginning of July, which means I have to be back in the United States by/before then. Time this perfectly, because if you get it too early, it may interfere with your return date from studying abroad.
Mid-January 2018: Look for housing and book flight
My peers who have studied at Seoul National University have all told me one thing: it is hard to get a dorm in SNU. Because of this, I did not want to procrastinate and end up with no housing weeks before I leave to Seoul. Luckily, I found an inexpensive place through Airbnb. However, there are also other services such as FlyingChalks that offers services to help exchange students like ourselves find places to live.
It is important to book your flight around the day you are supposed to check-in to your dorm/studio/apartment. South Korea is a day ahead of us, so please keep that in mind!
Tip: There are typically Facebook groups for international students at exchange schools! Join them if you can find them, because they offer things such as places to rent, recommendations for restaurants, and deals around the city! I simply found mine by searching "Seoul National University 2018 Exchange." Here's what our Facebook group looks like.
End of January 2018: Register for courses
The course registration for Seoul National University is a little similar to ours here at UHM. They register students using designated registration times and the last digit of your student number (even or odd). There is a limited amount business courses that were also taught in English, so be sure to set a timer for your assigned registration day.
February 2018: Prepare, prepare, prepare!
School begins on March 1, however, I have to move in on February 20. I wanted to have a little extra time in Seoul before school started to allow myself to settle in and adjust to things such as the time difference. Little did I realize how many things I needed to complete before I left, from small things such as restocking on contact lenses to larger things such as gathering winter gear.
Again, thank you to the Freeman foundation for allowing me to accomplish this goal of being able to study abroad. I am so excited to see what the semester has in store for me and can't wait to share my experiences with you all. Stay tuned for more!
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