The application deadline for the first session (May 16 - June 23) of the summer study abroad program in Montepulciano, Italy has been extended from February 1st to February 10th!
There are just a handful of spaces left, however—as of this writing, something like five. After that, it's the waiting list.
So if you are still interested, get that application in NOW. Or tell your friends that they can still apply. But hurry.
For those new to this site, please scroll down to the first entry below and then read the information in the right hand column. If you have questions, please contact one of the study abroad coordinators listed on the right.
First, if you are new to all this and looking for
information about the Montepulciano summer study abroad program, scroll down to
the first entry at the bottom of this page and look over the first entry; read
the information on the right hand side; click on the links on the right hand
side to go to the online application site for either the first or second
session of the program; and be sure the visit our facebook page, where a click
on 'about' will lead you again to information about the program and links to
the online application.
Second, if you have applied to the program (or think you
have applied) but have not either paid the deposit of $300 or chosen your
courses, you must do both in order to complete your application. This is really pretty urgent because,
despite the deadline dates in the spring, applications are taken on a first
come, first served basis (with some modifications to allow all participating
schools to have places in the program).
That means that someone who has applied, chosen courses, and paid the deposit
has an assured spot—quite possibly your spot if you have not finished your
application. No special
consideration is given to students who have filled out an online application
but have not paid the deposit or chosen courses.
Finally, postings here will be infrequent for the next month or two,
since the main purpose of this space is to provide a easy place to find
for those interested in the program. Once 2013 begins, however, posting
will become more frequent as we get closer to the start of the program.
So keep checking back!
Applications for the program continue to come in (newcomers to this site should scroll down to the first entry) and our facebook page will soon have 100 likes! However, it can be hard thinking of Italy without actually experiencing
it for the next several months. So
. . .
Eventually you will want to get yourself a guide book, and I
will have something to say about that in the future (although for the curious,
here's what I wrote two years ago). In the meantime, one of the best places to get a feel for Italy for the uninitiated
as well as to bring back fond memories and get current with the changes in
Italy for the seasoned traveler is online. It is the New York Times travel section.
The Times has its own online travel guide for Italy (and a
whole lot of other places) with links to articles and slide shows (highly
recommended) that are well worth looking over. If you want to explore Italy through the Times yourself, you
can just go here.
But if you want to cut to the chase, so to speak, here are a
few recent items that you may find of interest:
On finding cheap (or even free) things to do,
see, and eat in Rome, go here. The
slide show is here.
For a view and an update on Florence, go here. The slide show is here.
For a similar approach to Siena, go here. The slide show is here.
And for a spot you probably haven't considered but may well
want to pay a visit (it's a favorite of mine), try Ostia Antica. The article is hereand the slide show
is here. (The slides misidentify the theater as an amphitheater, but what can you do?) Enjoy!
Well, I have good news, not-so-good-news, and good news again.
The good news is, applications are coming in fast for this summer's program. It is always good to see students eager to get to Italy! In fact, so many are coming in that the program may fill soon and we will begin to put applicants on the waiting list!
The not-so-good news is . . . some of you have filled out the online application but have not paid your deposit of $300.
Allow me to explain a few things.
First, the deposit is not an optional add on. It's purpose is to ensure that the you are serious about going on the program and not merely trying to secure a place in line while you make up your mind. Once upon a time, lo those many moons ago, the deposit was a mere $50. The result was dozens of students willing to sacrifice fifty bucks just to hold a spot while they considered their options. That seriously messed up the application system, which is why we ask for $300 now and make it non-refundable. You must really want this thing. Remember, that $300 comes off of the $5400 you pay the program. Once you pay the depost, you only have $5100 to go.
Second, that means that if you have not paid the deposit, as far as the program is concerned you have not applied. Someone who does pay the deposit along with filling out the online application is not just ahead of you in line—you aren't even in line. That means that any student who applies and pays the $300 is taking the space you hope to get, and you may not go at all. You get no special consideration for merely having filled out the online application.
Third, the program tries to keep spaces open for students from all three schools in the consortium that runs the program: Kennesaw, Georgia Southern, and Georgia College and State University. To do that, each school is allotted a certain number of spaces until a certain date; this year it is January 5th. So, for example, Georgia Southern has only 24 definite spaces for now. After January 5th, it becomes first come, first served off the waiting list, no matter what school, and if the past is any guide several students on the waiting list will be accepted into the program after January 5.
So if you think you applied for the program and have a space reserved for you even though you did not pay the $300 deposit, you are mistaken. You have no such reservation. Period. Pay now or someone else will take your place. I guarantee it.
Finally, if you do apply, pay the $300 deposit and still end up on the waiting list, that does not mean you will not go. Many students on the waiting list go on the program every year. Not only that, but in the event that you are on the waiting list and still do not get into the program, that $300 IS refundable—but that's only if you have paid and are still on the waiting list. So it is still very, very much in your interest to apply and pay the deposit as soon as possible, even if it means spending some some time on the waiting list. Trust me.
Now for more good news: scholarships. Georgia Southern, Kennesaw and GCSU have scholarships and scholarship information on their websites.
The Georgia Southern study abroad scholarship webpage is here.
The Kennesaw study abroad scholarship webpage is here.
In addition, there is a website dedicated to helping students find scholarship funds for study abroad. This is a really useful site both for now and for future reference. Do yourself a favor and take a moment to look this over. Click here. Hey, you never know!
Also, all of you should start consulting with your financial aid advisors now. Don't wait until the spring.
So for now, in the immortal words of Pink Floyd . . .
Hello! This a new blog, established just for the purpose of helping students apply for summer study abroad program for 2013 in Montepulciano, Italy. Right now it is very much under construction, but it will grow and change in the coming weeks and months and will work in coordination with our newly created facebook page, providing links to the application website and more. Slowly but surely we will be modifying the page to provide more information for those who want to apply to the program, so bookmark this page for further announcements and links.
This blog will be closely modeled on an earlier blog for the program, Montepulciano 2011. For those of you who want to know more about the program in a hurry, you can find that earlier blog here. Be sure to scroll back to the earliest posts!
The program is a joint project of Kennesaw State University, Georgia Southern University, and Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville but is open to all Georgia students and even beyond. It is offered in two sessions, from May 16 to June 23 and from June 27 to August 4. Just click here and here for specific information and to apply to each session. The site will begin accepting applications on October 2nd.
We look forward to seeing you in Italy this summer!
UPDATE: You can now visit our facebook page! If you click on "About" you will get more information about the program as well as links for signing up and contact information.
In the meantime, here's a video that will tell you more about the program. Enoy!
In 2009, the parents of two of our students were so happy with the program, they wrote the following unsolicited testimonial:
October 5, 2009
Dear Parents of Prospective Study Abroad Participants,
It’s hard to explain the excitement in your daughter’s voice as she
describes the sunrise over the Grand Canal in Venice. Imagine the
enhanced learning experience when you study the great artists one day
and then stand in front of their works, like Michelangelo’s David, the
very next day.
In 2007 our daughter, Sara, participated in the Montepulciano, Italy
program. When she originally presented us with the idea of traveling
and learning abroad, a number of concerns naturally emerged. After all,
six weeks away from home and family traveling in an unfamiliar country
is a scary proposition for parents to accept. Finances were of course a
concern, but were secondary to the issue as to her safety and
well-being.
Sara had an incredible learning experience in Italy, not just from
classes but from traveling and living within the culture. Although she
didn’t know any of the other participants in advance, the students
quickly bonded and worked together to take full advantage of the
opportunities.
In the two summers following her Italy experience, Sara enjoyed
internships at both KPMG and with the United States Department of
Justice. She recently graduated from the University of Georgia and has
secured employment with KPMG at a time when many recent college
graduates are having a difficult time finding work. Sara included her
study abroad experience on her resume and, during interviews for all of
these positions, recruiters took notice and asked many questions about
it. I honestly believe her study abroad experience helped her to stand
out from other candidates while employers viewed her as someone who is
responsible, takes initiative, exhibits independence, and a well-rounded
individual as a result of her experiences.
Our younger daughter, Nicole, participated in the same program in 2009.
Needless to say, the decision making process was extremely easy this
time around. Nicole enjoyed the same opportunity her sister had several
years earlier. She made many new friends and came back with
experiences and knowledge that can never be taken away.
My wife and I couldn’t be more appreciative of the program and the
life-long learning it provided to each of our daughters. The professors
were incredible and the balance between classroom, field trips and free
time to explore were ideal. To us, the value of this program well
exceeds the monetary cost to participate.
So if you are still interested, get that application in NOW. Or tell your friends that they can still apply. But hurry.
First, if you are new to all this and looking for
information about the Montepulciano summer study abroad program, scroll down to
the first entry at the bottom of this page and look over the first entry; read
the information on the right hand side; click on the links on the right hand
side to go to the online application site for either the first or second
session of the program; and be sure the visit our facebook page, where a click
on 'about' will lead you again to information about the program and links to
the online application.
Applications for the program continue to come in (newcomers to this site should scroll down to the first entry) and our facebook page will soon have 100 likes! However, it can be hard thinking of Italy without actually experiencing
it for the next several months. So
. . .
Second, that means that if you have not paid the deposit, as far as the program is concerned you have not applied. Someone who does pay the deposit along with filling out the online application is not just ahead of you in line—you aren't even in line. That means that any student who applies and pays the $300 is taking the space you hope to get, and you may not go at all. You get no special consideration for merely having filled out the online application.
Third, the program tries to keep spaces open for students from all three schools in the consortium that runs the program: Kennesaw, Georgia Southern, and Georgia College and State University. To do that, each school is allotted a certain number of spaces until a certain date; this year it is January 5th. So, for example, Georgia Southern has only 24 definite spaces for now. After January 5th, it becomes first come, first served off the waiting list, no matter what school, and if the past is any guide several students on the waiting list will be accepted into the program after January 5.
So if you think you applied for the program and have a space reserved for you even though you did not pay the $300 deposit, you are mistaken. You have no such reservation. Period. Pay now or someone else will take your place. I guarantee it.
Now for more good news: scholarships. Georgia Southern, Kennesaw and GCSU have scholarships and scholarship information on their websites.
In addition, there is a website dedicated to helping students find scholarship funds for study abroad. This is a really useful site both for now and for future reference. Do yourself a favor and take a moment to look this over. Click here. Hey, you never know!