ANNENBERG AMSTERDAM STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

ANNENBERG AMSTERDAM STUDY

ABROAD PROGRAM APPLICATION

INSTRUCTIONS

Please read the following directions thoroughly

and refer back to them as this is a multi-step

ANNENBERG APPLICATION STEP 1 PART A ZIP FILE: Complete/Gather the following documents and send them in a zip file to Annenberg International Programs.

i) Save a copy of your most current resume: Please save in the format

of: LastName_FirstName_Resume

ii) Save 1 photo of yourself: Please save a professional looking head shot of

yourself as a .jpeg file. You should upload a photo that shows your head, neck and a bit of shoulders. An official 2x2”passport picture of you is acceptable, but not required.

Please save in the format of: LastName_FirstName_Pic

iii) Save one 750-word essay, double spaced with 1-inch margins that answers all of the following questions:

Please include your name on all pages.

1) Please discuss the relevance of the CIEE Amsterdam program to your academic major . 2) This program is known for its academic rigor and difference in classroom instruction. For example, the majority of European style courses are known for required independent reading and study on part of the student. Many classes will have less discussion and more lecture than what you are accustomed to at USC. Please discuss how you will meet these challenges and differences while studying abroad. 3) Why do you think students fail courses when they study overseas? Even though grades earned overseas do not affect your USC GPA, what could be the potential

ramifications of failing courses during your semester abroad?

Please upload the document in the format of: LastName_FirstName_Essay

ANNENBERG APPLICATION STEP 1 PART B: After we receive the zip file from step 1, we will send you a personalized link to the online portion of the application. Here you will fill in your personal data. Please have your passport information ready as well as emergency contact information for this brief two-page application. You will need to sign up for a required Amsterdam interview within this online application. Both your zip file and this brief online application will need to be received by 4:30 pm on

Wednesday, September 9th_{. (If you submit}

your zip file on September 9th_{, you will not} have ample time to complete this step.)

Obtain a reference letter from a professor or TA:

The recommendation must be completed and sent by a professor or TA and sent by email;

unfortunately, a work or internship reference will not be accepted. The recommendation must be sent

via email by the chosen professor/TA to [email protected] in the body of the text within the email

message or attached as a PDF with the student's name and “Amsterdam" in the subject line. The reference’s contact information and job title are required in the letter; if any of this information is missing, we will contact the reference for verification. Your reference must answer the following FIVE questions:

a) How long and in what capacity have you known the student?

b) Do you think the student will appropriately represent USC and Annenberg abroad?

c) How would you judge this student's ability to adjust easily to new and changing situations?

d) Please comment on how the student relates to other people, such as faculty members, colleagues or peers.

e) Please make any additional comments pertaining to the student's qualification for study abroad.

STEP 2: The recommendation letter is also due September 9, 2015 by

4:30pm

STEP 3: CIEE Application must be complete by

September 9, 2015 at 4:30pm regardless of CIEE’s

deadline.

i. Create an online account at www.ciee.org. This account will play a crucial role in enabling you to add/save

the information that will be sent electronically to CIEE. Select the program (AMSTERDAM SOCIAL SCIENCES),

term and year you wish to study abroad.

ii. Submit ALL of the following information online to CIEE:

• Personal Data Form

• Academic Information Form

• Home Nomination Form. (Select Brittany Hart Scholten as your advisor.)

• Upload of your passport photo

• Upload of your passport data page (the page that has your photo/personal information

• $30 non-refundable application fee

• One unofficial USC electronic transcript. Start the process here.

iii. Apply for CIEE scholarships at time of application.

CIEE offers several need and/or merit based scholarships for this program. You are strongly encouraged to

apply for scholarships at time of application as scholarship applications are on a rolling basis. Please follow the instructions in the application portal.

You will receive our decision within 3-4 weeks of the application

deadline to your USC email. If you are conditionally accepted by

Annenberg International Programs, we will send our decision to CIEE.

CIEE has agreed to accept the students that we accept.

STEP 3: Conditional Acceptance to arrive via USC email 3-4

weeks after application submission

CIEE will review your documents and send you an acceptance email

sometime in October if there are no issues with your application.

Then, they will send directions for the student visa process.