1. Obtain your visa, if required. Apply early, and keep in mind that international students may have to follow procedures that differ from those of their US-citizen counterparts!
2. Get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) for discounts abroad.
3. If you’re an international student, be sure to consult with an advisor in OIS before leaving USC.
4. Purchase the electrical current & plug adapters required in your host country. Laptops: Make sure yours is insured and vital files are backed up.
5. Before packing your bags, find out about local standards of dress, weather, etc. Pack lightly and appropriately.
6. Research rail passes, hostel cards, and purchase before leaving the U.S. if appropriate
7. Check with your airline on baggage limits and fees.
8. Stay informed about developments in the country/countries where you will travel. Check the U.S. State Department’s Web page for the most current information and travel warnings before you depart (and while abroad). Visit the State Department’s study abroad guide: http://studentsabroad.state.gov
9. Read up on diversity in your host country, (including racial & ethnics groups, women, heritage students, LGBTQ students, religious diversity, etc).
10. Get a good student-oriented travel guide such as Lonely Planet (paperback, e-book, pdf, etc) for your host country.
11. Research the educational system in which you will be studying.
12. Read online newspapers & listen to radio stations online from your host country to familiarize yourself with issues and current events there.
13. Brush up on your foreign language skills & familiarize yourself with different varieties of English via the USC Language Center, newspapers, radio, films, Netflix, etc.
14. Get to know international students from your host country here at USC. Contact the Office of International Services (OIS) to arrange a language exchange, participate in OIS activities, etc.
15. Register in STEP (https://step.state.gov/step/) & download the International SOS app for safety alerts.