Pre-Departure 🧳👋

Step 1: Filling out the Application

Applying for MIX is pretty straightforward but, it's important to make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to fill out the application itself and to do your research about the country and university beforehand! To apply, go to the MIX website, and under "UH Manoa Students" select, "How to apply". There you will find a more detailed explanation explaining the due dates for each selected term/year you want to apply for. The google form is quite long but easy, and there are some short answer questions that you should draft out beforehand about why you want to study abroad + more. (This form will most likely take you a few days to fill out because of the short answer questions, so don't procrastinate until the deadline!)

Now you might be wondering how to choose what university is best for you in a certain country but luckily, MIX is on top of it and provides you with detailed explanations on each school available to study abroad through the MIX program. I found Korea University to be the best fit for me by also doing additional research through the country university's website which is where I found out they have a business school similar to Shidler! I also am very thankful Shidler has a course equivalency list for each university that allows you to see what credits can transfer back to UH. (This was a huge stress-reliever for me as I was most worried about this) You should also be prepared to submit a list of 3-5 universities to attend and explain in depth why you're interested in each one.

After submitting the application, you'll receive an email from MIX within a few months (depending on what term you applied for) For example, my MIX application deadline was May 1, 2021. (I applied for the Spring semester of 2022) I then received an email from MIX stating I got into the program and what country I'll be going to in early September of 2021.

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Step 2: Receiving your nomination from MIX

After submitting your application, you will receive an email from MIX confirming your nomination into the program! This is exciting news, however, there are still a lot more steps to come over the next few months to prepare you. About a week after the nomination I got another email stating which University I was nominated to study abroad for. The email will also state to either accept or decline your nomination by a certain deadline. (Again, very crucial to follow all deadlines as it may lead you to forfeit your spot on the waitlist or lose the opportunity to go abroad) 

 

Step 3: Next Steps + Checklist

Now onto the next steps! This part includes completing an orientation. For me, it was online due to Covid-19 still and I completed it in about 2-3 days. You have to read through each section which covers very important information such as other pre-departure knowledge that will help you tremendously and further expand your knowledge on the experience that you're about to encounter. As you finish your orientation, you'll then be emailed a detailed checklist on the tasks you need to prepare and complete before you leave. Everything has a deadline and it's even better to try and complete each task as soon as possible! In this checklist, you can expect to apply to your partner university by filling out their official application (it will be directly emailed to you by your school), attending three MIX orientations, applying for your visa and passport, applying for MIX health insurance, register for your MIX course holder in STAR, fill out MIX Confidential Health History Form and Health Clearance Form, and you'll be on your way shortly! (Don't worry this is not to be done all at once, the process to complete everything took about 3-4 months!) This may seem like A LOT but, the MIX program does a great job of setting and spreading out the deadlines so you have enough time to complete each one before heading off! :)

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Step 4: Final Stretch

After completing your checklist, it's already almost time to leave! The next thing I immediately did was book my flight (after receiving my acceptance letter from the partner university), book housing (I highly recommend doing more research about the most affordable and efficient housing option for you), make a packing list, and get ready to go! Below, I'll explain more tips I did to prepare to leave.

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HELPFUL TIPS!!!

- How to Find Housing:

Most universities provide dorms which is usually more affordable than off-campus housing (depends on what country and location you're staying at) But, for me my university said there was a low chance of actually getting a dorm if you're not a full-time student at the school. I decided to opt-in for a "goshiwon" which was the next most affordable option for me! A goshiwon is an off-campus dormitory and provides you with pretty much everything you need! I'm currently staying at "Coco Livingtel" and my room comes with the basic necessities such as a bed, private shower/toilet (depending on what room you book, there is a communal option), desk, TV, mini-fridge, closet, and lots of shelves perfect for storage! I was lucky enough to find this place that is located right across from my university, offers affordable monthly rent, and has a big kitchen, rooftop, and laundry room I share with all the other students staying here. 

Note: If you still have to quarantine in your country by the time you're reading this, I would highly recommend researching for a long-term place you could also stay in during your quarantine period as it took a huge amount of stress off my shoulders! I was also fortunate I could quarantine in here rather than paying $2,000 and staying at a hotel. It saved me a lot of money and also allowed me to settle in. 

***An important tip is to find housing ASAP!! Many accommodations like these fill up quickly due to many other international students studying abroad as well. I would also research to make sure your area is safe to live in and that there are places within walking distance for you to go to!

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- How to Pack for 5 Months Abroad:

I've only been to Korea once for a few days back in the Summer of 2019 but this time I'll be experiencing three different seasons. (Winter, Spring, and Summer) I will say I did bring up two suitcases with me because Winter clothes take up a lot of space! I also didn't pack a lot of clothes since I wanted to buy some up here. I left a good amount of space in my suitcase for all the stuff I have to bring home but I packed a big puffer jacket, thermal clothes (to wear and layer under), long pants, long sleeve shirts, and I also brought some shorts for the Summer when it'll become hot. Other clothing like shirts and tank tops I just plan on buying up here. It's also important to find out what kind of chargers work in your country as I had to buy an adaptor from Amazon that would fit the plugs the United States use. Other than that, packing basic necessities is a must (especially if you need to quarantine, make sure you have enough that will last through your quarantine period since you can't leave your room!) However, if you're worried about the weight and space in your luggage you can always buy soap and other necessities up there! I run to Daiso a lot since everything is $1 and they have exactly what I need. I bought soap, tissue, paper towel, plates, and disposable utensils for my room.

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- Phone plan & Sim Card:

In Korea, it's a necessity to have a Korean Sim card. Especially with the Covid restrictions getting stricter, it was required for a lot of things such as government tracking during quarantine, calling and messaging domestically, registration for your ARC, and much more that will help you out a lot while going about in your everyday life. There are a variety of sim cards to choose from but I ordered a physical sim card and signed up for a premium lite plan on Trazy. Trazy is a common site that especially foreigners to obtain information about Korea. They're also known for having excellent transportation services. (I explained how I booked a taxi through them as well in my first blog post!) With the premium lite plan, I got my sim card which provided me with a local Korean number, and fast roaming data that works in South Korea. You pay monthly for this plan and can use it for 3 months but, if you have an ARC you can extend your usage for another few months which would last you throughout your stay here. The physical sim card also got to me within 1-2 weeks and it was fast and efficient! I definitely recommend you order your sim card early as shipping is unpredictable nowadays and it's easier to order it online rather than buying an overpriced one at the airport. 

Since I have this sim card, I decided to cancel my T-mobile plan in Hawaii. Kakaotalk is a popular messaging app that Koreans use to communicate with. It's a free app and all you need is wifi or data. I use Kakaotalk to easily communicate with my family back at home since I can't text internationally with the Korean number. However, depending on your carrier, there are international plans you can switch to while abroad so your phone can still function.