How to Prep for Study Abroad Deadlines Like a Pro

IES Abroad: What do you enjoy most about your role on the College Relations team, specifically when it comes to student advising?  

MD: Working on the College Relations team is incredibly rewarding. We get to meet the students who mustered up the courage to approach our table at a study abroad fair and then see their personality and perspective transformed in just a few months because of their positive study abroad experience. When it comes to student advising, I love when students have an open mind and want to explore a place that fits their academic goals. You never know where that could take you and we have such enriching programs in so many ways.  

IES Abroad: You know first-hand that we’re not just passionate about the study abroad experience, but also helping make it accessible and as simple as possible for students to get there. When it comes to deadlines, what are some of the most frequently asked questions you get from students? Can you share more about the resources available to support them through this stage?  

Myle Duong (MD): The most frequently asked question is "What is IES Abroad’s deadline?" so the most helpful resource I use is our Application Deadlines page on our website. For students who have not narrowed down a program yet, but know what term they want to go abroad (especially for the students who discover us right before the term they intend to study abroad), this is a one-stop shop to see all upcoming IES Abroad deadlines for all our programs.  

IES Abroad: Life can get busy, and sometimes applying early doesn’t happen. If a student is falling behind and didn't apply early, what advice would you give to a student trying to catch up? Is there anything that can be done at the same time and/or any resources they should be aware of? 

MD: We get it, juggling so many things as a college student can mean that applying early slips your mind. If you realize you'd like to go abroad and the IES Abroad program is still accepting applications, my advice would be to first notify your school to make sure you can apply for the program. They might have an internal application as well. At the same time, you can create your profile with IES Abroad and apply for a passport. After receiving the green light from your school, log into your MyIESabroad account and submit the required supplemental materials as soon as possible. My advice is to make sure to pay attention to all emails you receive from IES Abroad and to reach out to us if you have any questions. 

IES Abroad: What's one piece of information you wish every student knew about deadlines?  

MD: Applying to IES Abroad is free! If you've identified a program you're interested in, start your application so you can receive deadline reminders and reduce a lot of last-minute stress. Many of our programs admit students on a rolling basis, which means you’ll get access to helpful logistical information in your predeparture guide even sooner than if you waited until the deadline. There's nothing fun about starting your application the night before a deadline, having a question about the process, and stressing about whether or not you did it correctly.  

That being said, College Relations Managers are humans too! Our team will reach out if there are any concerns with your application, or will follow-up if you call and leave us a voicemail.  

Is there anything we haven't covered that you'd like to share?  

MD: The support IES Abroad provides is out of this world. There are so many things happening behind-the-scenes to make sure students on our programs have the best experience abroad: whether that be reducing stress of the visa process with our ACCeSS program, to check-ins from our on-site staff, or coordinating fun activities for students to further get to know the city they're in—and that's just tip of the iceberg!