Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Financial Analysis of Sesa Goa free essay sample
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SAKET LOHIA 10BSPHH010671 1/11/2011 Table of Contents Objective:3 Introduction:3 Leverage:4 Financial Statement analysis:5 Working Capital Analysis:8 Dividend policy:9 Conclusion:9 Objective: To study the financial performance of Sesa Goa Pvt. Ltd over a period of five years. Introduction: Sesa Goa Limited was incorporated in the year 1965 as a private limited company. Basically the companys business division is alienated into two broad categories, such as the Iron ore division and Metcoke division. Apart from the two main divisions, the shipping also added to the business. The company exports approximately 5 million tons of iron ore, fines and lumps to customers in Japan, China and Europe from ports on both the east and west coasts of India. Besides the mining activities in Goa, mining operations in Karnataka and Orissa. During the year 2004, compact charging system for coke plant was commissioned and Sesa Kembla Coke Company Limited, a 100% subsidiary of the company was merged with Sesa Goa Limited with effect from 1 April 2004. During the period of 2006, Forbes Asia ranks Sesa Goa as one of Asias 200 companies with sales greater than 1 billion US $ in its Best Under A Billion study and also the Dun Bradstreet ranks Sesa Goa as the 4th best in the Indian Mining Sector among Indias top 500 companies. In 2007, the Vedanta Resources plc, a diversified metals and mining group, listed on the London Stock Exchange acquires 51% controlling stake in Sesa Goa Limited from Mitsui Co. Ltd. The Company Will invest Rs3, 000 crore to double ore capacity to 20-25 million tones a year and increase pig iron, coke capacity in the year 2008. Leverage: Operating Leverage affects a firms operating profit; DOL indicates the fluctuation in EBIT with a unit percentage change in sales. For Mar-10, if sales increase by 1%, the EBIT will change by 0. 60 times. OPERATING LEVERAGE| Mar-07| 0. 80| Mar-08| 1. 90| Mar-09| 0. 43| Mar-10| 0. 60| Financial leverage affects earning per share of the company. DFL is measured as percentage change in EPS for every unit change in EBIT. The firm leverages upon the debt. The variability of EPS may be caused by change in EBIT and is called financial risk. FINANCIAL LEVERAGE| Mar-07| 1. 10| Mar-08| 1. 02| Mar-09| -5. 19| Mar-10| 0. 89| Combined leverage measures the change in EPS with a unit change in Sales. High value of combined leverage indicates high return and at the same time high financial and operating risk. TOTAL LEVERAGE| Mar-07| 0. 87| Mar-08| 1. 94| Mar-09| -2. 23| Mar-10| 0. 54| Financial Statement analysis: Year| 2005-06| 2006-07| 2007-08| 2008-09| 2009-10| Liquidity Ratios| | | | | | Current Ratio| 2. 136429831| 2. 229822565| 2. 265734883| 2. 891278807| 3. 902479446| Quick Ratio| 1. 06545566| 1. 155055422| 1. 490333971| 2. 472480795| 3. 524118584| Turnover Ratios| | | | | | Accounts receivables turnover ratio| 9. 739281003| 9. 10978574| 10. 74934722| 14. 525493| 19. 9227564| Average Collection period| 36. 96371426| 39. 5179437| 33. 49040576| 24. 7840125| 18. 06978877| Inventory Turnover | 3. 617161867| 3. 41624413| 5. 305768229| 9. 713703001| 8. 774283216| Profitability Ratios| | | | | | Gross Profit Margin Ratio| 0. 471280132| 0. 461170158| 0. 633239501| 0. 526944576| 0. 519422347| Net Profit Margin Ratio| 0. 304379237| 0. 3005539| 0. 414112644| 0. 377810395| 0. 38604037| Asset Turnover| 1. 492098515| 1. 2655186| 1. 446589602| 1. 22322517| 0. 692400804| Return on Equity| 0. 96437676| 0. 46961953| 0. 694219184| 0. 525443602| 0. 35101211| Ownership Ratios| | | | | | EPS | 131. 4299961| 147. 7199899| 371. 4200061| 24. 28999999| 24. 94000001| Price-Earning Ratio| 0. 007608613| 0. 006769565| 0. 00269237| 0. 041169205| 0. 040096231| DPS| 38. 37203153| 38. 23715194| 44. 10379144| 2. 24063394| 3. 272627463| Dividend payout ratio| 0. 291957924| 0. 258848866| 0. 118743715| 0. 092245119| 0. 131220027| Capital Structure Ratios| | | | | | Debt-Equity Ratio| 0. 009067262| 0| 0| 0. 000422774| 0. 267149046| Debt Ratio| 0. 008985785| 0| 0| 0. 000422595| 0. 210826853| Liquidity Ratios: Current ratio of Sesa Goa seems to be impressive as its always above 2 and also have gone to 3 in the recent years implying good overall liquidity * Quick ratio of Sesa Goa also suggests that it is quite liquid and inventories as a part of current assets is not more, moreover it has been almost same as that of the current ratio from the past two years Turnover Ratios: * Accounts receivables turnover ratio of Sesa Goa suggests that on an average the receivables are generated and collected between 9 and 19 times in a year over a period of time it is good that it can generate the receivables as high as 19 times during the year. As we can see from the above table that Average Collection period has been reduced considerably over the years and has come down to around 18 f rom 37 which suggests that it takes 18 days to collect the receivables amount now from 37 days in 2006. * Inventory turnover ratio of the company suggests that how fast the inventory is moving through the firm and generating sales it has been increasing over the years for Sesa Goa suggesting that inventory is being converted to sales quite often. Profitability Ratios: Profitability ratios measure the efficiency of the firmââ¬â¢s activities and its ability to generate profits * Gross profit margin ratio which gives gross profit as a percentage of net sales has been fluctuating in case of Sesa Goa in mid years it has even reached to 63% indicating high production and operational efficiency and good correlation between production costs and selling price * Net profit margin ratio shows the earnings left for shareholders as a percentage of sales and gives a picture of the overall efficiency of the firm which also gives the profit margins a firm sets over its sales it also indicates efficiency of production, administration, selling, financing, pricing and tax management * Asset turnover ratio highlights the amount of assets that a firm uses to generate its total sales for e. g. in 2006 Asset turnover was 1. 492 which indicates that Sesa Goa with 1 unit of asset base can produce 1. 492 units of sales but it has come down in the recent years and is not quite stable over the period * Return on Equity measures the profitability of equity funds invested in the firm; in short it reflects the productivity of capital employed in the firm it has been fluctuating over the period for Sesa Goa Ownership Ratios: Ownership ratios help the stockholders to analyze their present and future performance of investment in their firm. It helps the analysts to assess the future value of the market * EPS is very important ratio to all the investors as well as the organization as it can decide as to how much dividends it can give to its shareholders and how much portion can it retain for its future business endeavors on this very important indicator to them i. e. how much it has earned per share. It has been come down drastically in case of Sesa Goa from some 131 to around 24 which can be compared to industry figures to give a better and clear understanding of the situation. * Price-Earnings ratio gives the relationship between the market price of the stock and its earnings by revealing how earnings affect the market price of the firmââ¬â¢s stock. Capital Structure Ratios: * Debt-Equity ratio gives the firm capital structure as to what percentage of firms capital is debt and what percentage of it is equity, it gives the relative contributions of creditors and owners of the firm Sesa Goaââ¬â¢s analysis shows that in initial years it has take minimum debt not leveraging the financial risk of the company and has relied heavily on equity capital Dividend Ratios: As the common stockholder is very much concerned about the firmââ¬â¢s policy of payment of cash dividends, dividend ratios become very important to both the individual as well as the company as it attracts the prospects to buy more shares of the company * DPS gives the dividend paid per share to the shareholders it has been decreasing gradually which says that the firm plough backs its retained earnings rather than distributing it as dividends as it is a relatively cheap source of finance for the company * Dividend payout ratio is the ratio of DPS to EPS which gives the percentage of dividends distributed by a firm of its EPS Working Capital Analysis: Year| 2005-06| 2006-07| 2007-08| 2008-09| 2009-10| A. Raw material storage period| 124. 64777| 136. 86052| 107. 03211| 56. 7033| 47. 526284| B. Average conversion period| 0. 4636364| 0. 492126| 0. 3298429| 0. 2095808| 0. 2160256| C. Finished goods storage period| 22. 161533| 22. 214291| 21. 47094| 15. 460208| 23. 167539| D. Average collection period| 36. 963717| 39. 517944| 33. 490406| 24. 784016| 18. 069789| E. Average payment period| 88. 484539| 90. 192557| 93. 340486| 154. 11257| 257. 6458| Gross operating cycle = A+B+C+D| 184. 23665| 199. 08488| 162. 3233| 97. 157106| 88. 979638| Net operating cycle = (Gross operating cycle E)| 95. 752114| 108. 89232| 68. 982809| -56. 95546| -168. 6662| Sesa Goa has tremendously improved its operating cycle efficiency over the years as we can clearly see from the above table The Raw material storage period has been continuously decreased showing excellent inventory management as also the average payment period is increased tremendously showing the confidence of creditors on the companyââ¬â¢s operations post its takeover by the Vedanta group This also implies that the firm is recovering the money before it is required to pay its suppliers and it has also implied that the firm has minimized on its external borrowings, it shows that the firm has adopted some strict credit control policies as well to reduce its operating cycle Dividend policy: Company Name| Rs. per share| Yield| Dividend Rate| Ex-date| Div-date| | | | | | | Sesa Goa Ltd. | 20| 1. 98| 200| 11-Jul-05| 31-May-05| | 15| 1. 89| 150| 13-Mar-06| 27-Feb-06| | 25| 1. 24| 250| 4-Dec-06| 28-Oct-06| | 15| 2. 2| 150| 19-Feb-07| 12-Feb-07| | 25| 2. 15| 250| 21-Sep-07| 23-Jul-07| | 15| 1. 33| 150| 6-Feb-08| 23-Jan-08| | 30| 0. 96| 300| 11-Jul-08| 29-Apr-08| | 22. 5| 2. 58| 225| 31-Jul-09| 20-Apr-09| | 32. 5| 0. 49| 325| 2-Jul-10| 20-Apr-10| As we can see from the above table the company has regularly announced dividends to lure the investors to buy their shares as they have always considered relevance of the dividend theories according to the psyche of the Indian investors Walters model| Year| Price per share| | 2006| 1406. 48963| | 2007| 1315. 546763| | 2008| 5227. 067654| | 2009| 266. 473683| | 2010| 183. 3969079| As per the Walters model of dividend policy we see that the value of the firm depends on payment of the dividends which is evident from the above table Conclusion: Thus we have studied and implemented the key statistical financial data for Sesa Goa Pvt. Ltd. over a period of 5 years to gain insight into the industry and see its practices and performance over the same period.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
How to Choose Help Me with My Research Paper
How to Choose Help Me with My Research Paper Today, the web is full of services providing cheap research paper writing assistance, but just a little part of them may be regarded as reliable and dependable businesses. Many people nowadays are shifting to companies presenting the most recent designs of automobiles. You're able to find information online about ways to apply for jobs. If you take advantage of a search engine like google, you're going to probably find thousands and thousands of results. The business may also get ideas from staff members about how to produce its services and products better. Using advanced technology will make sure that the business makes better products hence placing it upon the frontline of automobile businesses. The item is edgy as it is work and time-intensive. There are respective services and products offering academic support and all them have supplies. The exact same story happened to me and I've experienced all of the awesome advantages along with devastating downsides of caffeine. You are able to also show through words that you understand what you're speaking about and you may answer questions to clarify matters. You ought to start to find a change in your mindset and additionally the way you're feeling about yourself. Living with intentions is a means to guarantee consistency, even in the middle of change and adversity. Stop by our website, put a purchase and you're likely to be persuaded. Services like MyfitnessPal encourage p eople to eat healthier, and a range of apps including Pacifica encourage people to meditate and concentrate on their mental wellbeing. The researched information should be shown in a way that there's an evidence or proof of the way the conclusion was arrived at. A growing number of info about you is being generated every single day. Just before you begin writing take notes on the essential things which are following. During the work interview it's important to check at all of the interview partners to an equal extent. There are more material need to cover and there's a last project for those students. It's true, you answered all of the questions. You ought to be taking notes and understand the significance or importance of information you're noting, in order to don't have to manage bulk of useless and unimportant details. As a result, in the event you wish to write essay critique where to get started with what to write around, you're in the area. All the info is going to be discovered by you there. For example, you may not be certain whether the research topic you're going to choose will offer sufficient research info or if at all it is worthy of researching on. You will get your paper in a couple of days (or even hours if you want it very soon). It ought to be clear what the paper will and won't achieve. The entire paper is going to be based on it. Every academic paper should have a thesis statement. You may now begin structuring your work to sentences and in paragraph form. Topic sentences are an excellent way to ensure every paragraph is pertinent to the paper's thesis. Every one of the papers cited must be from a peer-reviewed journal in order to create the arguments valid and dependable. It's possible for you to purchase research paper when you need and wherever you're. Then, the paper ought to have a section which states the limitations of the analysis. Though the research paper is written dependent on the chosen research topic, the practice of deciding on a particular concept to research on is a difficult endeavor. Developing a research paper is a skill you should really learn. An excellent research paper always starts with a strong introduction. Keep in mind this in the event you require professional research paper writing help, you could always rely on our experts! As a result, if you're anticipating writing an outstanding research paper you should master the art of creating the very best research topic. It is vital to underline that writing an outstanding research paper is guaranteed to presume sticking to a particular outline.
Research Paper Topics For English Class
Research Paper Topics For English ClassWhen you decide to write a research paper for your English class, one of the first things you need to do is decide what type of paper you are going to create. When you have an idea in mind, it can be easier to write the paper once you have the topic and structure figured out. Research papers in English classes have a lot of different elements that go into the creation of each paper, so when you have your topic and the structure of the paper, you can focus on the finer details.The first thing you should know about research paper topics for English class is that you should start writing about something that you really want to write about. You should write about something that interests you and something that would interest the person reading your paper. By doing this, you will know that you are following a plan when it comes to creating your paper.You should also try to get a topic that has a thesis statement or a beginning and ending. When you ar e able to get a topic that has a thesis statement, it is much easier to write the paper because it is clear what the paper is about. If the topic has a beginning and ending, it will make it much easier to edit later on.Once you are sure that you have a topic, it is time to start thinking about research paper topics for English class. Since these papers are very similar to essays, it would help if you read a bit of research papers before you begin writing yours. However, you can also pick up a few tips on researching for a research paper by asking someone who is already an English professor. You might also be able to talk to a professor who teaches a course on research papers and ask him or her for some tips for writing a research paper.When you are sure that you have a topic and the structure is all set, it is time to start researching the paper. Keep in mind that research papers have two parts. First you have the research, which consists of reading materials and looking up informat ion. Second, you have the actual writing and editing of the paper.The best way to research paper topics for English class is to find an English professor or a person who knows how to research. They will be able to point you in the right direction if you do not know how to do the research yourself. Using resources like Google, libraries, online schools, and research groups that offer tips for researching for research papers is a great way to learn about research papers.When you do find a good resource for research paper topics for English class, you should consider using their material as a guide. However, if you are just getting started, you should not use the entire material since some sections are very detailed and only experience with researching will be able to understand them. You should read and copy the whole thing, but look at it again and rewrite it as you go. This is the most important part of your research paper and it should not be missed.The most important thing to reme mber when you are planning your research paper topics for English class is that you should not let the topic to define your research paper. In other words, you should not create a research paper for English class that is going to be similar to something that has already been created. You should always be original when you are doing research paper topics for English class and you should always be able to incorporate new ideas.
How to Write About the Period of the Baroque Period
How to Write About the Period of the Baroque PeriodThere are several Baroque essay topics that you can choose from to help you learn more about the subject. Whether it is a world tour or a period piece, writing about a period or a historical event can help you find your voice. The easiest way to do this is to take an essay writing class. However, if you are busy or simply have not found the time to take such a class, then you can simply try researching different essays and looking for information on Baroque topics.Because it is such a broad subject, there are a number of topics that can be written about Baroque essay topics. You can use the Internet to find articles about the subject and read through the articles to find out what some of the problems were. The topics that people often chose are those that deal with famous people, events, or countries.Some of the essay topics are ones that you can find in books and others that can be researched at the library. By doing this, you will get a deeper understanding of what the subject is all about. Although it is a difficult subject to write about, by writing about the events that happened during the Baroque period, you will gain an insight into what was going on at the time.You will find that the essay topics that are written about during the Renaissance are probably the most interesting. This period was considered to be the height of the Baroque period. Many of the great artists of the time, like Raphael, Giotto, Michelangelo, and Titian, painted scenes from this period.Some of the art scenes that were created during this period include frescoes which are portraits of people that were painted on walls. In some of the frescoes, you will find figures that have very colorful clothing and are wearing extravagant hats. If you want to learn more about this period, then you will have to read up on the topic.When you research about the subject, you will need to search the library and visit the library, especially the Rare Book and Special Collections section. There are always books that are well-worth reading and some that will help you learn more about the subject. It is also a good idea to watch a few movies that portray the period.The most important thing to remember when you are taking an essay writing class is that you must not let your ego get in the way. When you write, think about how you are going to present the information you learn. If you can accomplish this goal, then you will be able to help yourself to be better at the subject.
How to Write a Sample Essay
How to Write a Sample EssayThe goal of a writing sample is to give the prospective employer of your resume that impression that you are the best candidate for the job. You will be submitting your sample essay in place of a resume in most cases, and your boss is going to see how prepared you are for the job.As with any other form of writing, there are a few guidelines you should follow when writing the essay. First, make sure you do not go overboard. Writing too much can make your reader feel that you are writing from too much experience or knowledge.The first part of the essay should begin with an introductory paragraph that gives the reader a little background on the topic at hand. That paragraph should focus on what it is that you hope to share with the reader, what you hope to offer them. Include your contact information in the introduction.Now that you have provided a little background information to the reader, the next step in the process of writing a sample essay is to list yo ur credentials. Do not over-complicate this part of the document, as it is your job to provide only the facts. Keep it simple and to the point.In order to save time, avoid using long, complicated sentences that lack focus and that use lots of short sentences. Stick to the facts, and do not leave out facts that will be discussed later on in the document. Remember, your goal is to impress your readers.The next section of the sample essay should include the section that contains your information about why you are the best candidate for the job. The best way to do this is to simply present the facts of your background. If you think that the employer needs more background information about you, you can add that information in a second, third, or fourth paragraph. Don't overload them. Once you have answered the first three questions of the employer that is hiring you, you can move on to the next two sections of the sample essay. Here you can address the areas that they want you to talk ab out. Try to fit in your experience in this section, as well.Don't forget that you should be as brief as possible when writing the sample essay. Tell them exactly what you want them to know, without becoming too much of a teacher. It is your job to tell them what you are best at and to convince them that it is you who is the best candidate for the job.
Monday, April 20, 2020
Is Global Warming a Threat to Polar and Glacier Ice Essay Example
Is Global Warming a Threat to Polar and Glacier Ice? Paper Is global warming a threat to polar and glacier ice? Global warming is a phenomenon whereby the earths average temperature increases. Global warming has a devastating effect on the Earths climate. Scientists are still studying global warming effects, and have not reached a consensus about what will happen in the future. The melting of the polar ice caps and global warming are getting more and more attention lately. If melting glaciers caused by global warming, or it is a natural process at this moment opinion of scientists and experts is diverge. There are many causes of the melting of the polar ice caps and global warming, some of which are natural. However, the activities of man are responsible for much of the rapid change that scientists are seeing. Andrew S. Revving in his article Global Warming is Eroding Glacial Ice raises the Issue of global warming its causes and effects. According to Revving the most serious consequence of global warming is melting glaciers. He argues that global warming is largely a result of human activity. He states that the melting of glaciers up North could cause n increase in flash floods, endangering the lives of many people and damaging the homes. He writes that according to studies an icecap atop Mount Kilimanjaro, which is more than a thousand years old, will be gone in 15 years or less due to the side effects of global warming. Revving reports that Kilimanjaro is one of the clearest signs that global warming trend in the last 50 year may have exceeded typical climate shifts (414). Other icecaps such as Mount Everest and Swiss Alps are slowly melting as well. He quotes research done by Dry. We will write a custom essay sample on Is Global Warming a Threat to Polar and Glacier Ice? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Is Global Warming a Threat to Polar and Glacier Ice? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Is Global Warming a Threat to Polar and Glacier Ice? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Lonnie G. Thompson who proved glacier erosion and showed some of the effects it was causing to the North Pole. Dry. Thomson said that other changes could also be contributing to the glacial shrinkage, but the rising warm zone is probably the biggest influence (415). Revving in his article provides statistics, which show that in recent decades global warming has increased and to continuing in the years to come. Kilimanjaro has pulled back five-hundred feet a year from 1998 to 2000, which is 33 times faster than the rate from 1963 to 1 978 (416). Philipp Sotto in his article Gold Comfort for Global warming considers that the temperature change as a perfectly natural event. He argues that climate change is part of Earths cycle, and that it right on schedule. He believes that people do not have much control over nature. He talks about the collapse of Larsen B ice shelf in Antarctica, the largest single event in a series of retreats by ice shelves in the Antarctica over the last 30 years. He considers this crash perfect natural disaster for journalists who are of the view that global warming is a result of greenhouse gas emissions and human activity in the modern world. According to P. Sotto, the collapse Of ice is a natural process Of nature, and icebreakers are falling after a hot summer and high winds. He finds it impossible the North Pole is disappearing and neither is the South Pole. He writes about studies, which have shown that West Antarctic Ice Sheet may be getting thicker, not thinner. He describes the Antarctica as unusual continent with many climates, and many geomorphology and glaciological regimes. Researchers of University of Illinois have reported that the temperature in Antarctica have been falling in the last decade. And it is not surprising, according to him, when parts of the continent are cooling to see some of the ice melts such as Larsen 8. And at the time as people concerned about global warming, he said, the planet may be moving in the opposite direction. Moron Monte in her article Science file argues that climate change, such as global warming leads to natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. Due to increased temperature on the earth, ice begins to melt. She describes that Arctic ice are crucial to Earths climate system. Ice cap reflects the suns rays, and thus does not heat up the planet. Global warming reduces the amount of ice in the Arctic, which is dangerous for humanity. The melting of glaciers, can lead to global disasters on the planet, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and floods, adds Moron. Global warming is indeed a serious issue in the world and is not just a myth. The planet is warming and this has a catastrophic effect on the ice caps of the Earth; with an increase in temperature glaciers worldwide, are melting faster than the time taken for new ice layers to form. The clearest example of the effect of global warming on glaciers is rapid erosion of the ice cover on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Melting glaciers are so fast that they cant be explained only typical climatic shifts. The Mount Kilimanjaro, which has existed for thousands years, is now at risk of disappearing by 2020 if present rates of melting occur (416). It is critical that people take action to stem the tide of the melting of the polar ice caps and global warming. According to some scientists, the human race has a limited time to turn the tide and avoid engine the most catastrophic effects of polar ice caps melting.
Sunday, March 15, 2020
The eNotes Blog How to Make the Most of your Study AbroadExperience
How to Make the Most of your Study AbroadExperience Part 2 of à Another Kind of Green:à 15 helpful tipsà from our editorial intern on howà to prepare for and make the most of your time studying abroad. Once in a while when its good, itll feel like it should. à In John Mayers Song Stop this Train, Mayer compares life to a train thats moving too fast, wanting it to stop. à He acknowledges that every now and again there comes a time when everythings grooving. à If you tuned into my previous post, part 1 of Another Kind of Green, then you already know that while studying abroad everything feels like it should. à The experience is extremely amazing and provides great value to college students. à It is the most rewarding, gratifying, adventurous, and beneficial educational step Ive ever taken in my life. à Studying abroad requires careful planning before and during the trip. à Taking the right steps to prepare for studying abroad will ease your transition à and reduce the culture shock of integrating into a new environment and culture. à It can also ensure a good fit between yourself and the educational institution, and even more importantly the country. à By keeping in mind the following tips for theà beforeà andà during parts of your journey, you will be able to maximize your experience and keep on riding that train. Before 1. Research.à The fun kind. à Where do you want to go? à Talk to your friends, family, and school counselors. à Read peoples reviews of their past trips and experiences. à Think about your goals. à Are you comfortable with change and desire a completely new experience (think Moscow, Prague, Thailand)? à Or would you rather stay in a somewhat familiar environment with people speaking a language you understand (think Dublin, London, or Australia). à Picture yourself in that country as best you can and try to imagine if you have a smile on your face or not. à Go with your gut. à I chose to study in Rome because of its blend of history and modernity and because I am 50% Italian. 2. Research.à Still fun. Consider a study abroad program that will simplify the entire process for you. à They can provide access to housing, application to schools, the sending of transcripts, reviewing of the necessary documents before you go. à They have a wealth of knowledge and resources that you can tap into, and is also beneficial from an emergency and safety standpoint. à Being a part of a study abroad program also means you will instantly be a part of a solid base of other students who are just like you. à They are a little more expensive than going on your own, however. à I ended up choosing the SAI program because of the convenient services they provided. 3. Research. Aà little less fun. If you are not going to be a part of a study abroad program, find a university that fulfills your needs. à Do you need course credit? à Will your grades transfer to your home university GPA? à These things matter. à Check with your school to see if they have a study abroad program or connection with schools abroad. à I ended up electing to NOT study abroad through the UC program offered by my school, and went to a school my study abroad program recommended. à I took fun elective classes such as web design and entrepreneurship because I didnt need to fulfill any requirements. 4. Budget.à This will affect your entire trip. à First of all, you need to save a considerable amount of money to pay for your airfare, education, housing, food, activities, trips, etc. à Ive witnessed people who didnt save enough and couldnt go on any trips, go out at night, or eat more than one meal a day because they ran out of money. à Second, find a way that you will obtainà the local currency when you are abroad. à Flexible debit cards that allow you to withdraw from a number of ATMs with little or no withdrawal fees are perfect for taking with you. à Keep in mind also that many credit cards have a surcharge fee for all purchases outside of the US. à I brought over a considerable amount of Euros with me, and only had to make a couple of ATM withdrawals once in Italy. à I also used an American Express to avoid any surcharges when paying with card (which is accepted less in Europe). 5. Get the paperwork over with. à Fill out any and all forms required for your trip. à Do this way in advance so you are not stressed near your departure. à Passports can take a long time to come in the mail, and the same with receiving your student VISA. 6. Pack appropriately.à And smartly. à Dont bring bathing suits and tank tops if youre going to a cold place. à You dont want your attire to scream HEY, IM AMERICAN! either. à That can be a good way to attract à pickpocketers and other troublemakers. à Pack items that are flexible and match well with several other items. à I recommend packing extra towels and DONT recommend packing items you think you will only wear once or twice. à Make sure to stock up on any prescriptions or favorite grooming products, as you will likely not find these wherever youre going. à I made several trips to the mall to purchase nicer clothes to try to match the fashionable Italians. 7. Reach out to roommates. à Its nice to have someones contact and already be familiar with a face when you arrive. à Everything will be so new, and going through that with someone can make everything easier. I Facebook messaged two of my roommates to introduce myself (both of whom didnt respondbut I became close with them once I was there). 8. Stay linked to home.à Set up a way to keep in contact with friends and family from home. à Facebook and iMessage are the most convenient ways of doing this. à Bringing an iPhone or other wi-fi capable device will provide you access to any wireless network even if you dont have cell or data service. à A simple international phone that has calling and texting is useful for emergencies and calling people when you really need to. à You can save on expensive rates by using apps such as Viber, WhatsApp, and Tango for free calls and texts. 9. Learn the language.à This obviously only applies to those going to a non-English speaking country. à Having a little knowledge of the language and learning a few key words can really help you out and lower your stress level once you arrive, and its also a cool trait to have that your friends will value. à Rosetta Stone is a great option for tackling the basics of a language before you depart. à I bought the first level of Italian and pretty much completed it, and found it really gave me a head start on everyone in learning some useful and common expressions. à Also, I recommend using Google Maps and the street view feature to become accustomed with a couple streets around your school and housing. à Once youre there, youll recognize key landmarks and decrease your chance of being lost (also is another good trait to have that friends value). 10. Be open to new things. à Your study abroad experience largely depends on your mindset. à Go in with an open attitude and the will to experience new things. During 1. Cycle over.à à You made it to your destination. à The planning and travel is over, and now its time to enjoy it. à Y0u may find this difficult because you are extremely tired and jet lagged. à Try to cycle over and force yourself to go to sleep and wake up at the appropriate hours. à If you arrive during the day, stay awake until its at least dark. à Bring melatoninà and take it for the first week. à It is a natural supplement that helps you stay asleep and get the deep sleep that is crucial to cycling over quickly. à I used this throughout my trip as my sleeping patterns were often inconsistent due to travel. 2. Find the necessities. à Talk to people or walk around and discover a grocery store, dry cleaner/fluff-and-fold, coffee shop, bar, cheap restaurant, late night restaurant, and gym. à Knowing these landmarks from the beginning will give you a general knowledge of places that will come in handy for the rest of your trip. à Also, find a buddy and an emergency contact right away. à Do these things ASAP, or else you will put them off and become too busy to do them later. à I didnt find a gym for a week or so, but my friends and I used things in our room like suitcases and potted plants to get a scrappy at-home workout (pictured to the right). 3. Get comfortable. à For the first couple weeks, just become comfortable with yourself in your new atmosphere. à Be yourself and make friends naturally. à Its okay if these friends mostly are Americansyou can eventually integrate yourself further into the culture and make friends with the natives. à I highly recommend branching out though at some point. à You will surely have the most fun and learn the most about the culture, food, and fun places from native students. à The last third of my trip I really started hanging out with Italians, and it totally changed my experience for the better. 4. Research, again.à Now that youre there, youll start to hear people talk about all the places they want to visit on the weekends. à I recommend planning these trips early. à The advantage to this is that it reduces your stress and helps you save on airfare. à The disadvantage is that its not obvious yet who you want to go on these trips with. à The best way to find cheap flights is skyscanner.net. à Dont use the round-trip option. à You can sometimes find better deals if you get two one-way flights. à Also, coming back early Monday morning (6:00am) before class is often the cheapest option. à Youll end up sleeping at the airport, but saving a bunch of money. à I still remember the four of five early mornings sleeping sprawled out across the terminal floor. à The app TripIt is a great tool to use to organize your trip information. As far as places to go, try to visit a wide variety of destinations. à Coastal trips are attractive, but mix in some that have a different feel as well. à My favorite trips were Ireland and Switzerland. 5. Relax, and enjoy. à This is your time and you can do what you want with it. à Take care of your studies, but really explore this new home and live it to the fullest. à It will be over in the blink of an eye and youll say I cant believe I just spent four months here. à I stopped making to-do lists and really tried to be as free as possible. à Be adventurous and try things you havent before. à Get comfortable, but not too comfortable. à You want to feel at home, but you should also continue to discover new things. à I had a great time and found some beautiful sights just walking around the streets of Trastevere on my own after class. Related articles Another Kind of Green: How Studying Abroad Can Improve Your College Experience ()
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