Applying

I've had the traveler's itch since I got off the plane when I returned from Austria almost two years ago. There have been, of course, the random road trips around the States, but felt like I needed to get back on a plane and once again be bored out of my mind for at least nine hours. I had been considering traveling abroad, but thought I had missed the application deadlines at my school. I also thought I might not be able to graduate on time if I decided to study abroad. Apparently, I am an overachiever and could graduate early if I chose to do so. So, instead of terminating my "undergraduate student" status prematurely, I decided to find a study abroad program which fit my needs.

I didn't want to be too picky, but I definitely wanted to study somewhere in the Middle East. I already tried to wiggle my way into going to Israel/Palestine, but that did not work since it has a high travel advisory. I also needed to find a program or university which offered a class (in English) which could fulfill my senior capstone for my major (Communication). Luckily, my adviser was also the Department Chair and she allowed me to make my dream a reality. (Now, I just need to ensure a spot in one of the two or three courses we determined could fulfill the requirement). Needless to say, it was a headache to find a university in the Middle East which taught this particular class in English. I finally found such a class on my own after I had asked for help from the study abroad office more than once. My dreams seemed they might become a reality when I discovered American University in Cairo.

Most students who study abroad will apply to a program of some sort which will help you transition into life at a university or is its own "university" of sorts. However, I applied directly to AUC which has definitely been a greater headache than if I had found a program. Ah, me! But I believe it will be VERY worth the trouble.

I filled out all the necessary paperwork and applications for my school which were required just to apply to even be considered for the opportunity to study abroad. I had, again, thought the deadline might have passed so I had forgotten about such dreams until the last minute. I scrambled together everything I needed and made a screeching slide to the deadline. I waited with anticipation for a week or two and received an email congratulating me on my acceptance to study abroad. While I had been waiting I wasted no time applying to AUC, but their answer took a little longer. Luckily, with a little tweaking, a lot of the essays I wrote for my essays in the application to study abroad also could be used for the essays I needed to apply to AUC.

One of my professors (Pre-Modern Middle Eastern History) asked if I would like him to write a recommendation for me since he had studied Arabic at AUC after he had received his masters in the States. He will be leading a summer course in Egypt this year so he had offered a hidden course to help prepare those attending the trip. The class had already met for a month before I learned about the course, but my professor invited me to join anyway. The class would learn survival Arabic as well as Egyptian history and customs. Unfortunately, I had a conflicting schedule and was only able to attend two or three of the sessions.

So, I waited with bated breath in anticipation of the acceptance letter from AUC. One morning my professor had asked if I had received an answer from Cairo yet. I told him no, but was expecting one soon. I went to the library, opened my laptop, and loaded my email. The very first thing which caught my eye out of the long list of morning emails said "study abroad acceptance." I was elated and knew even before I opened the email. I read part of the first line, "Congratulations! We are delighted to admit you as a full-time..." I didn't finish the email and immediately emailed my history professor, "I've been accepted! Thank you for your help!"

I'm not sure if I ever finished reading that letter...