Howdy!
Amidst the chaos of high school and teenage angst, I still have to deal with the entire application process in order to study abroad next year. All I’m saying is that Spain better be worth it.
To apply to a program, you not only have to write countless essays (okay I checked…only 7…), but you also have to go to the doctor on multiple occasions to get paperwork filled out. At this point, I’m pretty sure that I’ve used most of their scanner’s ink, and I definitely am on a first name basis with the secretary (hi Ms. Laurie).
In addition to all of this, teacher recs are mandatory and often lengthy processes because they all want to know your entire life story leading up to you deciding to study abroad and then complain about the length of time it will take for them to fill out the rec (even though they could have already finished by this point). But I digress. They wrote great things and really helped me get accepted into my program (I really do love y’all).
Finally, on the actual application, you have to get a million and five transcripts notarized and sent to Spain. This takes FOREVER. Seriously, if you are studying abroad, you are going to want at least ten copies of your notarized transcript. Get this done as quickly as possible.
My advice for the actual application is to suck it up, print out everything at once, and map out how much time is necessary for you to finish it all.
Also there’s the fact that I applied to two different companies sequentially, so what would have been a lengthy and tedious process for one was then doubled. NOT. FUN. (though I will admit that some of the application part was enjoyable 😉 )
Going more in depth to the different organizations that I applied for, here are some hard facts about the difference between AFS (American Field Service) and CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange):
Application Initial Deposit Fee:
AFS: $750
CIEE: $500
Country Options:
AFS: 50+ counties
CIEE: 41
Placement in Spain:
AFS: ANYWHERE (especially small towns)
CIEE: Madrid and Sevilla area (concentrated exchange program)
How It’s Run:
AFS: a string of volunteers leading to the main headquarters in the USA
CIEE: paid employees in area around placement
Actual Cost:
AFS: $15,000
CIEE: $14,000 + optional private school tuition
In my personal experience, CIEE is a much better run organization, even though AFS is more renowned. I suppose in the end, it depends on one’s personal preference.
Finally, let me tell you about the visa process.
It seems as though Spain is adamantly against letting Americans into their country because the visa process is literally the root of every organized, sane person’s fears. It consumes your every free moment and is never ending. I’ll try to break it down as easily as possible.
1) fill out the “Application for a National Visa”
2) make sure your passport will be valid 6 months after you return from your year abroad
3) send your host family’s letter and your host school’s letter to your program
4) make/have an inext account
5) fill out insurance
6) 4 passport photos must be glued to your application with your name on the back
7) get a notarized school transcripts (make sure to get 10 extra copies. you will use them for some part of your application)
8) get at least 4 copies of your notarized birth certificate (you will not get this back)
9) get a notarized letter of a bank statement that says that you can fully support this trip abroad
10) pay $160 for handling fees…
11) go to the doctor (again) and get a health certificate
12) get an FBI background check
13) a photocopy of your driver’s license
14) flight info
15) return envelope
16) you must also meet with your embassy for a 10 minute interview.
17) there are also a million other minute but essential forms that I will soon have to deal with.
This is in no way a complete list of the things needed for a visa, but as clearly seen here, it is not a painless process. As a girl going through all of this right now, I’m sorry. But we Will get through this. Good luck.
Thanks for reading another rant!
Cheers,
~Parker Grove