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.
1. 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. The coursework abroad allows students to take what
they learn in the classroom and see how it applies in the real
world.
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; 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, as they study
religions of the world, they can see for themselves what makes Rome
one of the most important religious centers in the world. 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 encourage parents of admitted students to fully
research our programs and be part of the entire process. As a
starting point, please read our
Parent Letter for additional ideas on how best to stay
involved. The letter discusses preparing students for
life abroad, working with them once they are abroad, and
making the most of the study abroad experience upon return from the
program. You'll also find that all our materials—from visa
guidelines to required forms—are available exclusively online under
the Accepted
Students section of this site, so you have full access to
the same materials as your student. Finally, we encourage you to
keep in close contact with your student throughout the
experience, so please talk about applying for and
attending Global Studies programs—make it a joint project. If
you have questions about the programs, or anything else, you are
always welcome to contact us at (718)990-6105 or via email.
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 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.
New Work Study Opportunities
available in Rome and Paris!
St. John's students can take advantage of an incredible
opportunity to receive Federal Work Study experience while
attending a Global Studies program! For more information, visit our
Work Opportunities Abroad page.