The Costs They Forgot to Tell You About

I'm super excited to study abroad in East Sussex, England but there are a lot more costs that cropped up after I decided to go officially. It comes in that 80 page book they expect you to read...okay okay I may have read most of it!

Some of them may be pretty simple and you may think"well, duh..." but here is what I found going through the process.

1) Passport

As you may have guessed, I didn't have a passport before November and I needed to go and get one (can't fly to England with an enhanced driver's license!). I had to get the works. First you pay for the passport, $140.  Then the execution fee, another $25.  The picture, $10. And finally, the money order to be able to send the money to the government, I think this was about $5. This brings the grand total to $180.00. Wow.

Renewing it alone is $140!

2) Luggage

A good set of 3 piece luggage for a new traveler is around $90 from JCPenny (which is rebranded itself! I'm loving their new logo). Be careful about your allowed size for your flight too! I have a piece of luggage that came in the set that is too large!

3) Cell Phone

Don't EVER bring your own cell phone over. I thought I would just add the international plan and be done with it. NOPE. It was about $30 per month ON TOP of my regular bill and then add 99 cents per minute. How about just getting data? THINK AGAIN! That was an additional $20 to the data plan you are currently paying for and you only have access to about a megabyte.  Go for a disposable phone when you get overseas for emergency purposes only . Much cheaper, $20 - $50.

4) How much your University will actually pay for the program / Deposit
My study abroad program is through Queens University, RIT didn't offer a program that allowed me to stay in England for the amount of time I desired or at the right time.  I thought cool, going through a Canadian University will be a bit cheaper because of the conversion. I also looked at what my University gave me in scholarships and the scholarships themselves could pay for it.  When I was going through the whole business with Financial Aid however, they told me they could only pay for a percentage of my scholarships. Even if I went on co-op during the Spring.  (The Financial Aid is different than the academic year, beginning in the summer and ending in the Spring).  I had to pay the $1000 deposit by myself and then they added another kicker to the equation... they would only pay for tuition, not room and board.  So it was an uphill battle to get the money.  I ended up taking out my government loan for the Spring so I could pay my room and board and the remainder of my tuition for England. Total cost out of pocket: $1000 and applying to as many scholarships as I possibly can.

5) ATM fees. Obviously, overseas will not have the same banks as we do, so there will be withdrawal fees. Take out large amounts of money if you are taking out of the ATM to avoid paying the fee each time. HSBC is in England but they just sold all of their banks in NY and CT off (just my luck) to First Niagara...Yes, HSBC they defiantly have the same services, thanks for screwing over your customers. Watch out for foreign transaction fees on credit cards too!

This is just to name a few. There are a ton more.

My advice?  Always plan to spend more than you do and look for little money savers.  Though it may be stressful now, get as many jobs or work as many hours as you can to help pay for the extra costs.

Remember to pack lightly!

19 more days and I am so terrified and excited!

College Bucket List

So it's been awhile. Sorry. I even promised there would be more content this time!  I guess getting back into the swing of things was a lot harder than I thought!  I feel like I always have something to get done. But no matter.

Lots of lists lately too :-)

So I'm coming up on the last part of my undergraduate college experience and I remember when I came in there were things I wanted to do, things I wanted to try (a list in my head of course).  I think I've actually completed (or will complete in the next year) most of the list. Lookin' gooddd.

1. Study Abroad
Somewhere, anywhere. Mostly, England. Definitely, England. GUESS WHAT! I'm going to England, Summer 2012. I will even get to go see other countries too!

Bader International Study Centre

2. Be in a College Play or Musical
This one was completed the first quarter being at RIT. Fall of 2009, RIT Players Presents: A Night of One Acts. I was in "Stage Directions" with my best friend Meghan (we didn't know it at the time) and Tyler Puglisese, directed by John Oliphant. And the rest my dear friends, was history.

RIT Players Logo

4. Become an Eboard Member of a Club or Organization
I have spent 2 long years as the Communications Officer and Advertising and Public Relations Manager of The RIT Players.  I'm running for President and Vice President next week! Vote for me!

5. Join a Sorority
Being at RIT, you don't get much girl time. I've always wanted to join a sorority but was too afraid (I heard horror stories).  But this quarter I am taking the plunge and joining Alpha Xi Delta.  Here goes nothing!

6. Be a Resident Advisor
It always sounds like a sweet job that came with so much responsibility and leadership experience that would benefit me in the long run.  I didn't stop until I was hired last Spring for the honors residents halls which turned into a Senior Resident Advisor position this quarter. I absolutely love the job so much, I'm thinking of a career in Student Affairs!

Gibson Staff August 2011

7. Join the Honors Program
So I was touring RIT and the Honors program was mentioned that the top 10% of the incoming class would be accepted into the Honors program.  I wasn't initially invited and of course that drove my motivation and determination to show the Honors program that I would excel in college.  By the end of my freshmen year, they offered membership as a late entry honors student.

8. Have a Double Major
I was originally going to change my major from Advertising and Public Relations to Marketing and then I thought about it and took some more communications classes (I could always make it a minor) and eventually decided that it was the right path for me. But I was so interested in so many areas and classes that are super interesting are limited. I got into honors psychology and loved almost every minute of it. After just 2 classes I signed up for a double major in Psychology.  Confusing where I want to go to grad school even more!

9. Become SG Student Government President
Yeah. This one. Never gonna happen.  I never got into Student Government any of my years here at RIT  and seeing as how the elections for next year are coming up, it's safe to say that I can keep this one in my dreams.

These are obviously been the ones at the top of my mind lately and I'm sure I've blocked out the ones I haven't come close to completing.

Countries I Hope to Visit this Summer

A 86 days until England! I CAN'T WAIT!

Here are the countries that I hope to visit this summer!

England 
duh.  It would be pretty hard to not go here seeing as how my study abroad is located in East Sussex and I'm staying with my family..

London, England

France
Mostly Paris. :-D  Another easy one to get to because it is so close to England

Paris, France

Ireland
It's so close, why not?

Spain
I have a friend who is studying abroad in Spain and we agreed that we were going to come and visit each other!

Barcelona, Spain

Italy
How can anyone go to Europe and not visit Italy? I mean come on.  The Colosseum, the Vatican, the art, the architecture?  A must see.

Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

Germany
Germany has so much history involved it would be hard to pass up a trip here.

Greece
How beautiful Greece is!! Just by looking at the pictures it is to die for! Not to mention all of the Greek temples like the Parthenon.

Parthenon, Acropolis

Egypt 
This one may be a long shot this summer but I defiantly want to go here at some point in my life. I would love to see all of the pyramids and I absolutely love Egyptian culture.

Now, I'm realistic enough to understand that I probably won't make all 8 countries in 10 weeks (it could be possible though!). But I will see where I end up and make the most of it no matter what and whatever I don't get to see will just be added to the travel wish list!