<p>i got a letter in the mail saying that there's a scholarship for students who study abroad.
if i apply for this does that mean i'm bound to U Illinois? and if i get it i must study abroad?</p>
<p>i really would like to spend a semester or two studying abroad, but i don't know if i should make that commitment or not now.</p>
<p>also on a side note, how is the food at U Illinois?</p>
<p>I was planning on doing Japan, but I don't know the details. I'm pretty sure you apply later...I wasn't planning on doing it at LEAST til sophomore year.</p>
<p>they probably just listed it as general information. you probably aren't even allowed to study abroad until 2nd or 3rd semester. also you probably can't even apply for it until you give proof you have been accepted into a study abroad program.</p>
<p>I got the same letter (college of engineering right?). It's for a scholarship. I'm positive that it doesn't require you to commit to UIUC; in fact, I think it's just a way to promote engineers to study abroad.</p>
<p>Yeah I got it too, and I applied. I think that it just means that if you study abroad you can do so with the scholarship. Basically, it's a way to promote study broad and also entice students to attend UIUC.</p>
<p>With the total value of the scholarship, when it said $16,250 total value for OOS applicants, was that for one or two semesters abroad. I did the math, and based on the tuition rate given for abroad ($1117/semester) and the UIUC tuition (around $28k for the year) the total savings would be about $16k for one semester only. However, does anyone with knowledge of the study abroad program know if there are any hidden costs associated with the program?</p>
<p>Yes, we did the math too, and found the numbers to be off. We looked at the uiuc website (links from their blog) and found that the scholarship is presented differently in different places. One time it says $2,500 per semester, another place it says $500 per semester for up to four semesters before you actually study abroad. However, it is really the reduced tuition that is the attraction. An excellent value for students who are planning to study abroad, especially if you are oos.</p>