Only at Arcadia: Preview 2012 Offers 12 Countries to First-Year Students
Application Deadline Extended: Applications are now due Sunday, Oct. 23. Find the application under the Preview tab on MyArcadia.
Preview 2012 kicks off with an expanded menu of opportunities for first-year students, including 14 2-credit courses headed to 12 exciting countries. Travel locations over spring break include China, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Mexico and New Zealand.
“Preview has been an Arcadia tradition since 1994, and it’s a defining part of your First-Year Experience,” says Jan Finn, Associate Dean of International Affairs.
First-year students will be able to register online for Preview until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16. Finn sent an e-mail to freshmen at their Arcadia e-mail addresses with instructions. Transfer student e-mails about Preview will within a week.
Questions can be directed to the Office of International Affairs, 215-572-2867, Easton 244, or preview@arcadia.edu.
This year’s Global Learning Opportunities Course Options:
- Art and Literature of Paris from the 19th to Early 20th Century
- China at a Time of Changing Values: Shanghai
- The City of Paris: From Medieval to Modern Art and Culture
- Classic Children’s Literature in Scotland: Edinburgh
- Cuba: Myths and Realities
- Cultural Crossover and Change: Bucharest, Romania (Honors students)
- The Goodwill Ambassadors Program: London, U.K.
- Major Religions: Jerusalem, Israel
- Metropole: Berlin, Germany
- Race, Culture and Contemporary New Zealand
- Service Learning in the Real Mexico: Puebla (two-credits; or non-credit, but with a grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory)
- Spain and the Mediterranean World: Granada, Spain
- Theatrical London: Players, Rogues and Rebels
- Two Irelands, One Island: Dublin/Belfast
How to Apply
1. Go to MyArcadia.
2. Click Preview tab.
3. Complete the application, hit submit and print a copy of the waiver and student agreement. This will be your proof of registration.
- The application is easy and includes a brief personal statement—250 words max—on “what interests you about your top program choice” and “what do you want to gain from the experience.” “Compose your brief personal statement before starting the online application,” notes Finn. “Once you start the application, it’s not possible to save and return at a later date.”
- Before you apply for Preview, note the class meeting times. Classes will begin in late January and continue to the Global Expo on Friday, April 13.
- Please note that we cannot guarantee your first choice, so we encourage students to select up to three courses and understand that each represents a terrific learning opportunity.
Cost and Scholarships
The 2012 fee is $495. This includes round-trip transportation, accommodation and programmed activities.
Scholarships are available for students with demonstrated financial need. You can apply for a Preview scholarship during the application process. The Preview fee for Honors students is waived. All students will be responsible for their passport application fee, personal spending money, most lunches and dinners. (U.S. citizens who visit China will be responsible for visa cost.)
Payment deadline is Dec. 2. Go to www.arcadia.edu/paynow to make an online payment or stop by the One-Stop Shop in Taylor Hall. Checks are payable to Arcadia University/First-Year Preview and should note First-Year Preview.
Passports
Arcadia needs a passport copy from each applicant so that tickets can be purchased. Therefore, all students must present a copy of their passport OR proof of the passport application.
- Need a passport? All students must apply for their passport NOW and present a copy of the passport to the Office of International Affairs NO LATER than December 2. Apply NOW at www.travel.state.gov. Processing time is one to two months. Non-U.S. citizens may also need visas and should confirm this before payment is made.
- Have a passport? Make sure your passport is valid for six months after your return date. All students must scan in a copy of your passport’s photo page (jpg or pdf) when applying for Preview online. Be sure to sign your passport. There are high power scanners in the basement of the library. Take your flash drive when you scan so that you can also keep a copy yourself OR save the scanned copy to the “My Documents” folder on the library computer. Once the computer is restarted, the scanner is wiped clean.
Who Is Eligible
A matriculated student who entered Arcadia University in 2011 with 32 or fewer credits is eligible. All freshmen participants must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 1.75 after completion of the fall semester and must be in good disciplinary standing at the time of departure in March. Students will be permitted to register for more than 18 credits in the spring semester, if their GPA is 3.0 or better in the fall of 2011. Students must meet course requirements and maintain a passing grade in order to remain eligible for the off-campus component. These class meetings are required for participation in the off-campus experience.
When Will I Get Confirmation of My Preview
Students will be notified in early November, prior to registration for Spring 2012 classes.
When Will I Depart for the Experiential Learning Over Spring Break
Please refer to www.arcadia.edu/preview for travel dates.
