When thinking about where you should go your junior year, you should ask yourself and reflect upon the following questions:

1. Why do I want to go abroad?

2. What are my goals? Are these goals reasonable? Are they achievable?

3. What do I hope to get out of this experience–personally, academically, spiritually?

4. What are my expectations?

5. What is the culture going to be like? The country? The people? What is this whole experience going to be like? What are some of the challenges I’m going to face? How will I manage those challenges?

6. What do I really know about this country I am going to–the language, culture, history, religion, traditions, philosophy, ways of thinking, social conventions, class structures, food, political realities, role of women, everyday life?

7. What are my support structures in the United States? What are the things that make life much more pleasant for me at home? What will I miss most when I leave? Who are the people I rely on at home? What are some ways I can keep in touch with them? What are my rituals (such as exercising, studying, relaxing, etc) and how will I react to the sudden changes in my rituals when I leave? What are some ways in which I can build new support structures while I study abroad?

(Information received from Loyola Universty's Website)