You and your son or daughter may have many of the same
questions. For that reason, we encourage you to also visit
the General
Frequently Asked Questions page. We provide answers to
additional questions below, but also welcome you to contact our
office at any time.
What are the benefits to my child studying
abroad?
Studying abroad is a huge benefit for students in many ways;
it gives them independence studying away from home, introduces them
to new cultures, and broadens their knowledge of the world.
Studying abroad is like the A, B, Cs -
A. Academics – enhance your
child’s intellectual and personal journey to expand their mind,
broaden their horizons and gain new perspectives. Learn to think
and act globally.
B. Build a better world – To
change the world you have to see it. The unique aspect of St.
John’s Global Studies programs is our commitment to service
learning, in the tradition to our Vincentian heritage and mission.
Each semester-long program has service learning components. Your
child will be reaching out to the poor and fighting for social
change. Students will have the opportunity to work in soup kitchens
in Rome or in hospitals in Paris
C. Competitive advantage –
Studying abroad is an investment in your child’s future to help
distinguish them from the crowd. Employers look for well-rounded
candidates who show drive and independent thinking; by studying
abroad students can demonstrate their leadership skills by going
abroad. .
Why would I want to send my child away
from home? What can my child get abroad that they can’t get in New
York City?
By studying abroad, students have the opportunity to
experience what they have learned in class. After reading about
Monet’s paintings, students have the chance to see the beauty of
the Giverny gardens in person or walk down the streets of Dublin
where Joyce, Shaw and Wilde once lived. Your child will be able to
bring to life what they’ve previously only read about in books,
gaining valuable experiences that they’ll bring to bear on their
future personal—and professional—lives.
What support is available overseas?
We provide full support through on-site faculty, advisers,
and coordinators who can provide assistance and guidance to
students as they live and study abroad.
What resources do you provide for parents
through the application process?
Though federal laws prevent us from sharing the specifics of
your student’s application and educational goals, we send parents
of admitted students materials that discuss various aspects of the
St. John’s study abroad experience. For example, our mailing
discusses preparing for life abroad, working with students once
abroad and making the most of the study abroad experience upon
return from the program. We encourage you to keep in close
contact with your child throughout the application process,
so please talk with your child about applying for Global Studies
Programs— make it a joint project. If you have questions about the
programs, or anything else, you are always welcome to contact the
Office of Global Studies at 718 990 6105 or globalstudies@stjohns.edu.
When will I know if my son/daughter has
been admitted?
We accept students on a rolling admissions process until
classes are filled. Students are generally notified if they have
been accepted within two weeks of submitting their application to
the program.
Is this something my son/daughter should
put on his/her resume?
Definitely! The world continues to become more “globalized”
with each passing year. Through an employer's eyes, students
who have studied abroad are self-motivated, independent, willing to
embrace challenges, and able to cope with diverse situations.
Experience living and studying in a foreign country, will give your
son/daughter a competitive advantage over other
applicants.
May I visit my child while he/she is
studying abroad?
Absolutely! We encourage you to visit during a break, long
weekend, or at the end of term so you can take a family vacation
together when your student does not have academic
commitments. Though we are unable to offer you accommodations
in our student housing, all of our cities have a full hotel
infrastructure that meets a wide range of budgets.
What are the requirements for studying
abroad?
Applicants are requited to have completed one full-year of
undergraduate study, and must also have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.75 or
higher. Applicants must also submit a statement of goals and
objectives they seek to achieve through studying abroad.
Will my child be safe? What happens if a
location becomes unsafe, does St. John’s University have a
contingency plan in place?
Yes, we are committed to operating safe study abroad
programs and therefore security is our priority. The Office of
Global Studies and our on-site resident directors and liaisons make
every reasonable effort to monitor the safety of the programs and
their students. One of the resources used is the U.S. State
Department's website (http://travel.state.gov), which
we would encourage you to visit. If a situation arises, our
Emergency Response Team would decide what action should be
taken.
What is expected from my son/daughter
while in traveling with St. John’s?
Students are held to the same standards abroad as on the New
York Campus. Students must follow the same guidelines regarding
behavior, academic standing and good student citizenship. Though
these incidents are very rare, if students fail to live up to the
program expectations, they may be asked to leave the program and
return to the US at their own expense and without refund for the
semester.
Will my son/daughter still be able to stay
on track towards graduation?
Yes! Students will earn credits towards their undergraduate
degree requirements. Most times students can cover their general
core requirements and, depending on the program chosen, can even
take classes to count towards their major or minor.
St. John’s offers a wide variety of options to make a study abroad
experience academically feasible for all students. Our courses are
selected from the most popular classes we offer in New York and we
offer language and culture classes to ensure that your time abroad
is focused on the places where you’ll be studying.
A full semester abroad may not fit into everyone’s schedule, so
we also offer shorter summer and winter intersession programs to
provide maximum flexibility. We’re constantly expanding the number
— and academic breadth — of our programs, making it increasingly
likely that study abroad will fit somewhere into your
schedule. However, advanced planning is key. We
encourage students to sit down with their academic advisors to
chart out the remainder of your academic career as soon as possible
and find out where a study abroad semester, summer or intersession
fits best.