Here are some important pre-departure steps to keep in mind...
- If you need a new or renewed passport, apply early. Same goes for a student visa. These documents can take a long time to work their way through the bureaucracy and into your hands.
- Have a comprehensive physical, get any immunizations you might need, and if necessary, arrange for any relevant medical records to be sent to your study-abroad program.
- Fill any prescriptions you’ll need before you go! Make sure anything you transport isn't considered a controlled substance by your host country. (For example, allergy medicines which contain pseudoephedrine are illegal in Japan.)
- Schedule a pre-departure meeting with your academic counselor to take care of present and potential academic matters.
- Complete necessary financial aid documents (including scholarship applications, loan applications and FAFSA renewal).
- If you'll be gone from January to April, don't overlook your taxes.
- Make copies in triplicate of any important documents (passport, credit cards, etc): One set for you, one for your parents and one for your study-abroad leaders.
- Convert enough currency to sustain you until you're settled in your new surroundings.
- Compile a list of important phone numbers and contact information. Make sure your address book is up-to-date. Research international phone cards and cell phones.
Planning ahead—as anyone who's ever spent two excruciating days camped out next to a Western Union will tell you—means less time worrying about logistical details once you're abroad and more time exploring your new surroundings.