Hey! My name is Savanna Sluyter and I am an
Apparel Studies student at the University of Arkansas. I’ve always had a
passion for fashion as well as Italy, so when I had the opportunity to
study abroad in one of the greatest countries, my own personal opinion; I
had no choice but to take it. I stumbled upon SAI’s fashion program
through the U of A, and truthfully the hardest part is actually deciding
to go.
Everyone wants to study abroad but when you
actually get the chance, most will freeze up and decide that it will be
safer, or don’t want to dedicate the time or the money to something so
fleeting. But I was told by many friends that it would be the perfect
way to break out of my shell, further my education, and experience
something that I would unlikely be able to do later in life.
Ok. I have chosen to go to Milan, Italy,
what now? I have three pieces of advice for anyone who is planning on
taking the leap.
Do Not Procrastinate
You cannot possibly spend months of your
life in a foreign country if you aren’t able to figure out the
application process. If it’s difficult, don’t be afraid to ask, that’s
what the study abroad office is there for. I emailed my advisor at least
twice a week for six months straight, and hey she hasn’t blocked me
yet. And I promise that you will feel so amazing when application
deadlines are coming up, all your friends are freaking out because they
haven’t done it yet, and your just straight chillin.
Save Money and Scholarships:
I’m not gonna lie, studying abroad is a huge
tug on your wallet but anything is possible whenever you put your mind
to it. Apply for everything, even if you don’t think you perfectly match
the scholarship. But you never know.
Research, Research, Research:
Don’t show up knowing absolutely nothing
about the culture, food, or location. Being prepared is the best thing
you could possibly do for yourself.
It should also be noted that I decided to
study abroad with SAI in Milan, Italy at the fine arts school Nuova
Accademia di Bella Arti where I studied fashion management and trend
scouting for 4 weeks in the summer of 2014.
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Use our search to look for programs like this one, as well as other opportunities in more
than 40 countries, at: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
