It is by far the scariest, most difficult, and all-around-worst part of applying for admissions to a college or university. I know this might seem a little extreme, especially when you consider all of the time-consuming documents that you have to prepare and collect for your application for admissions (think FAFSA, the SAT, recommendation letters, etc.), but I am secure in my belief that this one part of the process is the part that makes many people avoid applying until the final deadline is upon them. What am I talking about? The personal statement or application essay, of course.

Many schools require applicants to submit a personal statement as part of their admissions application. This essay is supposed to sum up, in three pages or less, why you are an amazing person and worthy of attending their school. So, obviously, there’s a little bit of pressure to get it right. After all, you only have one chance to make a first impression on the admissions committee and this is it.

Recently, students have began using YouTube videos as substitutes for the traditional essay. Although this is a cool, new alternative that might become mainstream in the future, it currently is more of the exception than the rule. Unfortunately, that blank piece of paper is still the most common format for college admission essays. Read the rest of this entry »

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and has a population of more than 1,600,000 people. Barcelona is a leading tourist city (the fourth most visited city in Europe) and is famous for its influence in entertainment, media, fashion, and the arts. It is very well known for the vast amount of architecture by Antoni Gaudi, including what is possibly his most famous work, La Sagrada Familia church.

Barcelona is a great place to study abroad if you are interested in international relations, business, fashion, art, or architecture. However, if you want to study Spanish, you should not study abroad in Barcelona because they speak Catalan here. Instead, consider studying in Madrid, Granada, or Sevilla.

Here are EDUinReview’s tips for some cheap and interesting things you can do while studying abroad in Barcelona without breaking the bank.

1. Walk along La Rambla. This is a really lively street and is famous worldwide. Spend some time walking down this street and you will see many street performers, including dancers, artists, and human statues. You can also buy flowers from street vendors or get coffee in one of the numerous street cafés. These cafés are somewhat overpriced, but the people-watching opportunities are priceless.

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Verona, Italy, is a beautiful city in northern Italy, that is rich with historic value. It is a great place for architecture and art history majors to study abroad, and of course if you want to learn to speak Italian, this is a great place for you too. The city has a population of around 715,000 people and is a main tourist attraction in Italy. Also, if you are a Shakespeare fan, you know that Romeo and Juliet was set in this city and you can still go see Juliet’s balcony.

So what else can you do while in Verona to really get the most out of your study abroad experience in this city? Here are EDUinReview’s tips for how to study abroad in Verona, Italy.

1. Go back in time at the Museo di Castelvecchio. This ancient castle was built in the 14 century. if you visit this castle, you will get a better understanding for what Verona was like before and during the Renaissance, when the city enjoyed it’s heyday as a cultural hub. There is also a museum in the castle which features many original works of art which are absolutely wonderful. You can also enjoy fantastic views of the city from the castle. I’d plan to be here for at least half the day; it really is a great place to spend a day.

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Most recently, Cape Town received internationally recognition when it hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, this city in South Africa has a lot more going for it than just the fact that it is a major event city. Founded in 1652 as an Dutch supply station, Cape Town is now the second-most populous city in South Africa and is home to more than 3.5 million people. The city has a subtropical Mediterranean climate, which means it has mild, wet winters and hot, warm summers.

Have you decided that you want to study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa? Here are some of the things that we recommend you do in Cape Town when you are not attending classes in order to really experience the best that this city has to offer for study abroad students.

1. Take a walk up Table Mountain. The first time that you go to Table Mountain, you should probably bring a friend or tour guide with you who knows the way. It is easy to get lost here, which could be dangerous. However, it is definitely worth the expense to join a hiking club or hire a private tour guide in order to explore more of this mountain. You can get some great views of the ocean from the mountain, which is 350 meters above sea level at it’s highest point. Make sure you wear hiking shoes and bring water bottles.

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Florence has been the capital of Italy since 1865 and has a metropolitan population of 1.5 million people. Florence is famous for its historical and cultural significance in Europe since the Middle Ages. Considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is a great place to study abroad if you are interested in art history, classics, Italian, or history.

Have you decide that you want to study abroad in Florence? Here are EDUinReview’s tips for how to get the most out of your study abroad experience in Florence.

1. Go back in time at the Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio. The Piazza della Signoria has been an important political center in Florence since the Middle Ages. The Palazzo Vecchio is the medieval town hall, which is located on the piazza. This is the most famous piazza in Italy and is a great place to soak up the culture. You can visit several public rooms and private apartments in the piazza, which have been decorated to appeal to tourists. Another great thing to do here is grab a cup of coffee at a café and read a book or watch people going about their daily lives.

2. Look up in Il Duomo. This Duomo is often overlooked when people think of cathedrals to visit in Italy. However, it is absolutely beautiful and you should definitely visit it if you are studying abroad in Florence. The dome of the Duomo is what is so amazing. When you walk into Il Duomo, look up so you can really appreciate the wonder of this dome. Designed by Brunelleschi, the dome is nearly 142 feet tall, making it taller than the domes at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., St. Peters in Vatican City, and the Pantheon in Rome. I recommend taking the tour which allows you to climb to the top of the dome to get a better look at the “Last Judgement” fresco painting and to better understand how Brunelleschi built the dome itself.

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Berlin, Germany is a beautiful city with a rich history that dates back to the 13th century. Today, it is home to almost 3.5 million people and is the capital city of Germany. It is also a very green city, with approximately 33 percent of the city being made up of forests, gardens, lakes, and parks. It seems like something new is always going on in Berlin, which makes an interesting location to study abroad in. Here are our tips for the things you must do and see while you are studying abroad in Berlin.

1. Enjoy a Long Night at the Museums. The Long Night of Museums originated in Berlin in 1997, and now it is celebrated in more than 120 other cities around the world. During the Long Night of Museums, you can buy one entrance pass and then visit various museums until late into the night (usually the festivities end around 2:00am in Berlin). Tickets are not expensive (usually under 15 Euros) and will allow you to see impressive museums such as the Kulturforum and Gemaldegalerie under very unique conditions.

2. Feel like royalty at the Schoss Charlottenburg. This palace was built for Queen Sophie-Charlotte and is the last standing palace that belonged to the Hohenzollern royal family. It is also the only royal residence in Berlin. When you visit this palace, you have to see the New Wing, which is home to some fantastic examples of Rococo extravagance, and the contrasting winter chambers of Friedrich Wilhelm. The gardens surrounding the palace are also beautiful. This would be a good place to go on a date because strolling through the gardens can be quite romantic.
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Granada is a fantastic study abroad destination and has a lot to offer for students who want to study the Spanish language, history, or international relations. Granada was first founded in the fifth century BC by the Greeks, occupied by the Moors from 711 until the late fifteenth century, and then was taken over during the Catholic Reconquista in 1492. Granada still has a definitely Moorish feel to it, especially in the Alhambra and Albayzin.

Many international students call Granada home every semester, as the city is a major study abroad location in Spain. Located at the foot the Sierra Nevada mountains and only an hour away from the coast, this city has something to appeal to everyone. Here are the things that EDUinReview recommends you do while studying abroad in Granada to get the most out of your experience without breaking the bank.

1. Go on a tapas tour. Unlike restaurants in the other major cities in Spain, restaurants in Granada give free tapas with every drink you order during the night. This means that you can eat dinner for free in Granada. Each restaurant serves different tapas, so it’s best to go on a tour of different restaurants to see what their specialties are. Also, the more drinks that you order at a restaurant, the better their tapas will be, so it might be a good idea to find one restaurant you really like and then camp out there all night, ordering drinks and eating free food.

2. Get lost in the Albayzin. This little section of Granada feels like it has been preserved since the 15th century, when Granada was still a Moorish city. I love spending hours in the Albayzin, wandering through the many shops and drinking té arabé in the teterias, where you can order delicious hot teas in a very relaxed environment. My favorite tetras are Kasbah and Teteria Alfaguara.

3. Gaze at the Alhambra and enjoy live music at the Mirador de San Nicolas. Located at one of the highest points of the Albayzin, this lookout point has a fantastic view of the Alhambra. It’s best to come here in the early evening because there are often musicians playing music here for the tourists. If you are lucky, there might even be some locals dancing flamenco. When the sun starts to set, get a front row view along the wall to see the sun go down behind the Alhambra, a view unmatched anywhere else in Spain.

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Mumbai is the fourth most populous city in the world, coming in after Shanghai, China, Karachi, Pakistan, and Istanbul, Turkey. It is also the most populous and richest city in India. As an alpha city, it plays an important role in the global economic system.

So if you want to study abroad in India, why should you choose Mumbai as the city to live in? It is the commercial and entertainment city of the country, which means you will rarely be bored here. There is also a higher standard of living in Mumbai than in other parts of India. If you have decided to study abroad in Mumbai, here are some of the things that we recommend you do in order to get the most out of your study abroad experience.

1. See one of the best Jain temples in India. The Babu Amichand Panalal Adishwarji Jain Temple is dedicated to Lord Adishwar. It contains many sculptures and paintings, in addition to idols to eight Arihants. What sets this temple apart is its size; it is much larger than most Jain temples. Since this temple is so large, it might be a good idea to hire a tour guide. You can ask at any hotel who they recommend. This usually isn’t very expensive and will make your trip to the temple much more enjoyable and informative.

2. Wash your clothes at the Dhobi Ghat. The Dhobi Ghat is a large, open air laundromat where dhobis (washers) have been coming for the past 140 years to wash the various clothes they collect from private homes, hotels, and hospitals. Although you might not actually be able to wash your clothes here yourself, it is still a really interesting sight to see. You can also pay to have your clothes picked up from your home and washed here.

3. Treat your taste buds at Basilico and Cream Centre. Basilico is a fresh, innovative restaurant that is best known for its pastas (for lunch) and eggs Benedict (for a weekend brunch). I love their penne pasta that is served in a creamy tomato sauce. Their grilled fish is also really good; I recommend ordering it with the lime sauce. There are two restaurant locations in Mumbai, and both are excellent. After you finish your lunch, take a walk over to Cream Centre, a cute ice cream parlor. Of course, there are other desserts, but the one that really sticks out is the brownie sizzler dessert. The waiter will bring an ice-cream covered brownie out to you and then pour sizzling chocolate sauce over the entire thing. It is delicious!!

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Hong Kong, China, is easily one of the most interesting cities in the world and has a little bit of something for everyone. If you are studying Asian cultures, international business, or economics, this is a great place for you to study abroad. However, if you are studying Mandarin Chinese, you should not study in Hong Kong because they speak Cantonese. However, it is still a great location to study abroad. Here are our tips for some things you should do while studying abroad in Hong Kong to really get a feel for the city and take advantage of some of the things it has to offer.

1. Learn about Hong Kong’s history. The Hong Kong Museum of History is a very informative museum about the history of this city. There are short movies and displays throughout the museum, which makes it more interesting than your average museum. I think the most interesting displays are those which deal with the city’s more recent history. The museum is only 10 HKD and is free on Wednesdays, so it is a budget-friendly way to spend a day. The museum is quite large, so allow for at least half a day to really see everything. Some other museums you should check out are the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Museum of Art.

2. Escape from the city in Lamma Island. Lamma Island is about a 30 minute fast ferry ride from the Central District of Hong Kong. Lamma Island is a great place to escape the hustle-and-bustle of the city for a day in favor of fresh seafood restaurants, hikes around the island, and some time at the beach. Some of the hikes on this island will give you fantastic views, so make sure you bring your tennis shoes and comfortable clothes to explore in.

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Shanghai is the city with the largest population in China; more than 23 million people lived there in 2010. It is quickly becoming a leading global city due to its influence in various areas, such as commerce, finance, media, and technology. This being said, it is a great place for students who are studying international business, mass communications, and any of the STEM majors to study abroad.

So you have decided that you want to study abroad in Shanghai? That’s awesome! Obviously you have to do the standard tourist things, like visiting The Bund, City of God Temple, and Yuyuan Garden. However, there are a few other things that you should definitely check out while you are studying abroad in Shanghai.

1. Take the Maglev train from the airport. This train ride is sure to please even the most avid speed-demon. The train connects the Shanghai Pudong International Airport with the city, making it easy to get from the airport into the city and vice versa. However, that’s not what is special about this train ride. The Maglev train reaches a speed of 430 km/hour, or 267 mph. That is insanely fast! It only takes a little more than seven minutes to get between the two locations, which makes the 50 yuan ($0.15) trip seem like quite a cheap form of entertainment.

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