2.12.09
Visa
Major props go to the French Consulate for efficiency, at least in the visa-issuing process. I got my visa today, only 2 weeks after applying for it, after I was told to expect around 6 weeks for it. I think I spent more time filling out the CampusFrance form, getting the paperwork ready, and with the actual appointment than it took them to go through my paperwork and mail it to me haha but it's great to have my Passport and visa in my possession, and now I don't have to worry about any part of it until I'm in France (at which point I'll have another, probably more unnerving, interview).
22.11.09
Rendez-Vous au Consulat General de France
Before I get to the actual appointment at the French Consulate in Atlanta, I need to backtrack and mention the last little bit of chaos in "Stephanie's study abroad application process." About par for the course with the confusing CampusFrance form was the ambiguous visa checklist; I knew I needed "proof of enrollment" but since the website didn't state any specifics, assumed that my unofficial transcript would suffice. Wrong. My mom heard back from the API liason in Grenoble Wednesday morning that I needed a specific letter from USC to fulfill that requirement. Surprise! After my morning class and between studying for my microbiology test, I frantically went to the study abroad office to get said form but was told to go to the Bursar's office for it. Thinking that this would be another overly-complicated step in the process, I was getting stressed, but finally caught a break when they were able to print me out the appropriate letter in literally 5 minutes. Crisis averted! Since the hours of the Consulate are during the week when I'm in classes, I skipped my Thursday class (luckily only music appreciation) to drive down to the Consulate in Atlanta, which is obviously more convenient than the Embassy itself in Washington, D.C. We got down there pretty late Wednesday night and checked into the hotel after fog, rain, and confusing directions. Thursday was an early morning, since my appointment was at 9:20, so we got ready, ate breakfast, and went over the checklist for the millionth time. We had strategically placed our hotel close to the Consulate so we didn't have to contend with driving and parking and risk being late. 
We got to the Consulate, which ended up being just a ticket window in a waiting room of one room of one floor of a giant building. The man sitting outside, the hall monitor, if you will, immediately asked for my application and OFII forms. Well that threw me off because I didn't think I had to give him anything other than my appointment confirmation ticket and ID, but I started digging through my giant stack of papers and copies. He seemed pretty impatient and unfriendly at first, but eventually warmed up, at least enough to tell us that he has no desire to travel to France or a lot of the places he could fly for free because he "can't go fishing there." That, to me, is just unfathomable, but to each is own I suppose. I then had to wait my turn, which did allow me to talk to the other college-aged girls waiting for their appointments as well. There seemed to be a common excitement for the experience we all have to look forward to being immersed in French language and culture, and I was glad that they seem to appreciate the opportunity that they're getting as much as I do. The actual application process consisted of digging through the same giant stack of papers for all of the necessary forms, which made me wish I had organized them a little differently, and sticking them through a slot in the window. Then I was given back what they didn't need (some of which I know was written on the checklist, but whatever). 
Luckily, I seemed to have everything, including the $75 fee (thanks to my mom who frantically withdrew cash from an ATM in the building when I realized I had left my credit card in the hotel room), and, even though the actual application process was very formal and unfriendly, I was done in like 5 minutes and was sent away with a "we'll mail it when it's ready." Now, all there is to do is sit and wait. The whole experience was just odd and somewhat nerve-wracking (after all, I'm no Jason Bourne), but at least that should be all of the mandatory steps for the whole study abroad application process! :) I have to say, the whole process of applying with USC and API and the Consulate has been so crazy and stressful, but I have no doubt in my mind that it will be more than worth it. I'm starting to get nervous as it's getting more and more real, but now begins the "fun stuff" like packing and excursion-planning. Almost exactly 2 months until my flight lands in Paris!!!
We got to the Consulate, which ended up being just a ticket window in a waiting room of one room of one floor of a giant building. The man sitting outside, the hall monitor, if you will, immediately asked for my application and OFII forms. Well that threw me off because I didn't think I had to give him anything other than my appointment confirmation ticket and ID, but I started digging through my giant stack of papers and copies. He seemed pretty impatient and unfriendly at first, but eventually warmed up, at least enough to tell us that he has no desire to travel to France or a lot of the places he could fly for free because he "can't go fishing there." That, to me, is just unfathomable, but to each is own I suppose. I then had to wait my turn, which did allow me to talk to the other college-aged girls waiting for their appointments as well. There seemed to be a common excitement for the experience we all have to look forward to being immersed in French language and culture, and I was glad that they seem to appreciate the opportunity that they're getting as much as I do. The actual application process consisted of digging through the same giant stack of papers for all of the necessary forms, which made me wish I had organized them a little differently, and sticking them through a slot in the window. Then I was given back what they didn't need (some of which I know was written on the checklist, but whatever). 
Luckily, I seemed to have everything, including the $75 fee (thanks to my mom who frantically withdrew cash from an ATM in the building when I realized I had left my credit card in the hotel room), and, even though the actual application process was very formal and unfriendly, I was done in like 5 minutes and was sent away with a "we'll mail it when it's ready." Now, all there is to do is sit and wait. The whole experience was just odd and somewhat nerve-wracking (after all, I'm no Jason Bourne), but at least that should be all of the mandatory steps for the whole study abroad application process! :) I have to say, the whole process of applying with USC and API and the Consulate has been so crazy and stressful, but I have no doubt in my mind that it will be more than worth it. I'm starting to get nervous as it's getting more and more real, but now begins the "fun stuff" like packing and excursion-planning. Almost exactly 2 months until my flight lands in Paris!!!
19.10.09
Accepted!
This is actually a few days overdue, but I have officially been accepted into the API Grenoble program for the Spring!!! I missed the actual call because I was in class, but when I listened to the voicemail, I'm not going to lie, I cried a little haha Just the first of many happy tears to come, I'm sure (I just know I'm going to cry when I first get to Grenoble and see the Alps). Even though I now have a ton more paperwork to do (and get my student Visa, which seems to be the most intricate process), it's nice to have a big part of this be official! :)
13.10.09
P.S
Sorry about the length of the previous post. That one required some background info that would have been required eventually, so they won't all be like that, though I will warn you to get used to it. I tend to get pretty verbose, obviously even when apologizing for my logorrhea (yes that is a word, and yes it is also my new favorite).
Not a Moment Too Soon...
After much frustration and about $35 in priority and overnight shipping fees, I have finally mailed in all of the parts to my API application. But I want to take a moment to say that, even though I was quick to blame various other parties initially, I now take full responsibility for all of the frustrations that have occurred with each step of this process. And there have been a lot haha okay, from the beginning:
I’ve known that I wanted to study abroad pretty much since I heard about it from when my cousin was abroad in England (think 2002), but of course couldn’t do anything about it until college. By some careful planning and honestly some sheer dumb luck, I’ve gotten 4 semesters of Lower Division for nursing done in 3 semesters (and 1 summer session). This leaves me with a free semester, during which I've always planned to study abroad. There were so many different things that could have easily derailed my semester abroad: one less AP class in high school, one more lower division course, lower scores on language and math placement tests, a lower score on that fateful PSAT that made me a National Merit Finalist, not taking the nursing classes in just the right order, even a different university…it sounds ridiculous, but I’m really chalking lot of the things that fell into place up to Destiny. All that was left to do was to decide where to go and what courses to take; since I wasn’t trying to take classes in any specific discipline and have so many places that I want to go, narrowing it down was pretty difficult. I looked at program after program in country after country but, again with the questionable logic, the program in Grenoble just “felt” right. So after a year of looking at different options, I had finally found it; the next step was to apply. Well since I’m a perfectionist, I didn’t want to commit to this program until I was sure that I wouldn’t find an even better one later; I still don’t know that that won’t happen, but I had to go with the one that made the most since academically (being fluent in French has always been a goal of mine), financially (this program is only $10,000 compared to others that were $14,000 -$16,000), personally (a city, large student population, “perfect for learning French”), and geographically (being in that location in Europe will allow me to travel around pretty easily and, oh yeah, the freaking Alps). Once I had really thought it over and bounced the idea off of different friends and my BFF/mom, I was confident with my decision. So began the application process…Since this is a USC Affiliate Program instead of a direct USC program, I have paperwork for USC and for API (Academic Programs International). The USC study abroad application was due October 1 and the API application is due October 15. The USC application just required some general info, a grade report, a copy of my Carolina Card, and a copy of the program application. That stuff was no problem at all, and I even got it in a day early; as soon as I turned that in, however, I got a list of about a dozen more things that I have to get together for them within the next couple of months, which I began to work on that day. Next up was the API application; it required that the application form be filled out, which I did almost immediately once I got it, a professor recommendation, an official transcript, and an advisor form from the study abroad office. It shouldn’t have been a problem but what happened was that I didn’t leave any room for error or take into consideration that my study abroad experience isn’t the first priority of other people like it is for me; it seems obvious of course but I just didn’t leave any room for error. My professor couldn’t meet with me until the week after I emailed him; then a miscommunication on both of our parts caused us to miss said meeting; and once he had time to fill out the form and get it to me, it was a mere 3 days before the deadline. My advisor form, which I didn’t realize was a requirement until about 5 days ago, took longer to be filled out than I expected; I assumed since it was a simple form that it could be filled out in a matter of minutes, forgetting that the study abroad office is currently flooded with kids trying to get paperwork for their own study abroad experiences. And then a million little frustrations; for example, my credit card not working when I tried to apply online and then suddenly being charged with the application fee twice (for a total of $300 out of my monthly $500 limit). BUT, all kinks have been worked out, and lessons have been learned. It hasn’t been pretty or kind to my perfectionism (my application was sent in 3 different pieces) or my poor mother’s blood pressure (having my near-constant stress relayed onto her), but I think I can relax for at least a moment or two until the USC paperwork is due or until I get the inevitable laundry list of requirements from API.
The silver lining of all this is that I am now a firm believer in Murphy’s Law and, in the future, will try to take into account those “what ifs” and am more prepared for how to deal with little crises on this (and not just immediately calling my mom). Karmically speaking though, I’m hoping that all of these frustrations are just getting out of the way so that my time abroad will run more smoothly. But I’ll be as prepared as I can, just in case :)
I’ve known that I wanted to study abroad pretty much since I heard about it from when my cousin was abroad in England (think 2002), but of course couldn’t do anything about it until college. By some careful planning and honestly some sheer dumb luck, I’ve gotten 4 semesters of Lower Division for nursing done in 3 semesters (and 1 summer session). This leaves me with a free semester, during which I've always planned to study abroad. There were so many different things that could have easily derailed my semester abroad: one less AP class in high school, one more lower division course, lower scores on language and math placement tests, a lower score on that fateful PSAT that made me a National Merit Finalist, not taking the nursing classes in just the right order, even a different university…it sounds ridiculous, but I’m really chalking lot of the things that fell into place up to Destiny. All that was left to do was to decide where to go and what courses to take; since I wasn’t trying to take classes in any specific discipline and have so many places that I want to go, narrowing it down was pretty difficult. I looked at program after program in country after country but, again with the questionable logic, the program in Grenoble just “felt” right. So after a year of looking at different options, I had finally found it; the next step was to apply. Well since I’m a perfectionist, I didn’t want to commit to this program until I was sure that I wouldn’t find an even better one later; I still don’t know that that won’t happen, but I had to go with the one that made the most since academically (being fluent in French has always been a goal of mine), financially (this program is only $10,000 compared to others that were $14,000 -$16,000), personally (a city, large student population, “perfect for learning French”), and geographically (being in that location in Europe will allow me to travel around pretty easily and, oh yeah, the freaking Alps). Once I had really thought it over and bounced the idea off of different friends and my BFF/mom, I was confident with my decision. So began the application process…Since this is a USC Affiliate Program instead of a direct USC program, I have paperwork for USC and for API (Academic Programs International). The USC study abroad application was due October 1 and the API application is due October 15. The USC application just required some general info, a grade report, a copy of my Carolina Card, and a copy of the program application. That stuff was no problem at all, and I even got it in a day early; as soon as I turned that in, however, I got a list of about a dozen more things that I have to get together for them within the next couple of months, which I began to work on that day. Next up was the API application; it required that the application form be filled out, which I did almost immediately once I got it, a professor recommendation, an official transcript, and an advisor form from the study abroad office. It shouldn’t have been a problem but what happened was that I didn’t leave any room for error or take into consideration that my study abroad experience isn’t the first priority of other people like it is for me; it seems obvious of course but I just didn’t leave any room for error. My professor couldn’t meet with me until the week after I emailed him; then a miscommunication on both of our parts caused us to miss said meeting; and once he had time to fill out the form and get it to me, it was a mere 3 days before the deadline. My advisor form, which I didn’t realize was a requirement until about 5 days ago, took longer to be filled out than I expected; I assumed since it was a simple form that it could be filled out in a matter of minutes, forgetting that the study abroad office is currently flooded with kids trying to get paperwork for their own study abroad experiences. And then a million little frustrations; for example, my credit card not working when I tried to apply online and then suddenly being charged with the application fee twice (for a total of $300 out of my monthly $500 limit). BUT, all kinks have been worked out, and lessons have been learned. It hasn’t been pretty or kind to my perfectionism (my application was sent in 3 different pieces) or my poor mother’s blood pressure (having my near-constant stress relayed onto her), but I think I can relax for at least a moment or two until the USC paperwork is due or until I get the inevitable laundry list of requirements from API.
The silver lining of all this is that I am now a firm believer in Murphy’s Law and, in the future, will try to take into account those “what ifs” and am more prepared for how to deal with little crises on this (and not just immediately calling my mom). Karmically speaking though, I’m hoping that all of these frustrations are just getting out of the way so that my time abroad will run more smoothly. But I’ll be as prepared as I can, just in case :)
4.10.09
Bonjour!
Bienvenue sur mon blog! I've decided that blogging will be the most convenient way to keep everyone back home informed while I'm studying abroad in Grenoble next semester. I can't make any promises as of yet about how often I'll update, add pictures, etc. but I'm planning to use this for both my own "scrapbooking" purposes as well as for the benefit of anyone else who's interested. That's all for now, but I'll keep everyone updated about my application process and about my preparation for January!
Bises,
Stephanie
Bises,
Stephanie
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