I doubt it, but...

[QueenAdrock]

has anyone here had to apply for a study permit to go to school in another country? How much of a pain in the ass is it to get?

There's a whole bunch of shit they need from me and they say even if I give it to them, there's no guarantee that I'll be approved. I know I should have nothing to really worry about, but it's still nerve-wracking. :(

[QueenAdrock]

I'm not sure how hard it is to immigrate to other countries to study/work outside of North America. Going from America to Canada and vice versa is a pain in the ass, but I have a feeling if I wanted to go study in like, Bangladesh, they wouldn't even ask for ID.

Where are you thinking of going, Joel?

[abcdefz]

I'm sure it's necessary. Probably easier for high school exchange students than for adults. But I've never done it, so I don't know.

For studentry, I imagine it's just forms and hoops to jump through -- how you're paying for education and housing and food, promises not to take employment from Canadians, promises when to vacate the country, blah blah blah. It's not like you're trying to get landed immigrant status. Should be a hassle, but not insurmountable.

[QueenAdrock]

I'm sure it's necessary. Probably easier for high school exchange students than for adults. But I've never done it, so I don't know.

For studentry, I imagine it's just forms and hoops to jump through -- how you're paying for education and housing and food, promises not to take employment from Canadians, promises when to vacate the country, blah blah blah. It's not like you're trying to get landed immigrant status. Should be a hassle, but not insurmountable.

Yeah, I already know everything I need and have it lined up. I go to the Canadian embassy on Thursday to apply for one. I'm just wondering if what I have is enough (the proof of funds is most important, and I hope I have enough evidence to prove to them I have funding...my loans haven't gone through yet, so it's harder).

I'm wondering how much of a pain in the ass is it once you're to that step of actually applying? I have no idea what they'll ask me or whether or not I'll have to convince them of this that or the other. I have the feeling I'm just going to be super-nervous and they'll ask me a few questions and it'll probably be okay. But it's like going through Customs. It's still scary in the fact that they have the FINAL SAY on whether or not you get into the country, and sometimes they'll just turn people away and say no because they get a bad vibe. Bleh. :-/

Don't come to America, Joel. Our education is ridiculously expensive compared to other countries. If I stayed here and went to University of Maryland (I'd be considered "in-state" which means it's the cheapest education I can get based on my residence) I'd pay $6,500 per semester. In Canada, that's a whole year's tuition. It's crazy. I save half by moving to a new country.

[Yeti]

There are frats but you don't have to join or go the their parties.

[trailerprincess]

I did a year abroad when I was studying but all my documentation was pretty much handled by my university - I just had to fill in the forms and they sorted it out for me which was lucky as they were in French and I probably would have inadvertantly got some verbs wrong and confessed to shagging a donkey or something.

I am sure you'll be fine though :)

[Yeti]

My brother went to the University of Tennessee. He joined a frat and really liked it. He still maintains the friends to this day.


I am the complete opposite and turned down invitations to join.

[QueenAdrock]

Yeah, some frats are pretty cool in the fact that they're chill guys who like to go out and help others and play beach volleyball and hang out and drink beer. Some other frats are douchey in the fact that they like ogling women and being total homophobes which leads one to believe that secretly they masturbate to each other via a small peephole in the frat house shower. The basic thing these two types have in common is they both want guy friends, and they both want to drink massive amounts of alcohol. Some are dicks, some are not. And since some of them graduate, they have special hookups from alumni. I've heard of under qualified guys getting good jobs because the VP of the company is alumni of the frat. Sigh. It's about who you know, not what you know, a good chunk of the time.

Oh, and they're honor fraternities but those are just organizations for smart people and they don't live together or drink really. They just put it on resumes because it sounds really smart and prestigious.

[QueenAdrock]

Somewhere in Europe, I'd suggest. England, maybe? I'm not sure about universal health care, where it is and where it isn't, but it's definitely not in America. They don't have completely free health care in Canada, but it's only $50 a month, so it's almost as good as free. Australia has free health care, right?

Either way, you can find universities that are more bang for your buck. I'd look at the overall package, how much it would cost to live there, what the health care is like, what the exchange rate is, how good the education would be, etc. Picking a country is easier if you compare them like that, if you don't have a specific university you're dying to go to.

[Drederick Tatum]

my girlfriend(German) studied here(New Zealand) and had no problems getting all the official stuff sorted. that'll probably be because Germany and NZ have a few tertiary education agreements that smooth the whole process. and since she already had the equivalent of a NZ Bachelors, she only had to pay domestic fees, instead of the full fees that international students usually had to pay. she did really well too, but science sucks.