F.A.Q. for Students

Below you will find the most frequently asked questions we receive from students. Hopefully these will help frame more of your understanding of who we are, what we offer, what we expect, and what you can expect.

APPLICATION PROCESS

  1. How do I start with Carpe Diem? What is the process? How competitive is it? What are the deadlines?

    Start by reading the relevant materials and making sure that you at least have a decent sense for the program you're applying for. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to call the office and make sure there's space in the program you're most interested in.

    Complete the application: Fill out the online application and submit it. Please also be sure to include a photo of yourself and the application fee. Within typically 2 business days of receiving the application we will arrange for a phone interview to make sure that you and our program will be a good fit and to answer any questions you have. And, typically, within 2 days of our interview we're able to notify you whether you've been accepted into the program. On some occasions, when warranted, we'll call and do follow up with references and or professional contacts, but in most cases this isn't needed.

    Acceptance manual: We then send you an Acceptance Manual and a link to your online Student Account. In your Student Account you're able to download additional paperwork, documentation, see the most updated itinerary, view your fellow students, your co-leaders, and also even register online for any PSU classes you want to take. you can even submit completed paperwork through this interface ... we know, it's real fancy. After reading the Acceptance Manual, it's decision time.

    Send in the Confirmation Fee: We hold your space in the program upon receipt of the confirmation fee of $2,000 for semester programs, or $6,000 for Latitudes. Payment may be made by check, VISA, MasterCard, or Discover. You can also pay online through your Student Account with a credit card.

    Complete and mail the required forms: The Acceptance Manual contains required forms that need to be sent back to us regarding travel arrangements, health insurance, a waiver, and a copy of your passport.

    Communicate with our Travel Specialist: Global Vision Travel is our travel specialist and sends each accepted student a travel profile asking for your plans before and after the semester, as well as whether you'd like them to arrange your domestic tickets for you. They consistently arrange the best discounted group rates.

    Check your Student Account regularly for updates: We update the participant web pages for each semester with relevant information as it becomes available.

  2. Do I need to be fluent in the language of my chosen program before I apply?

    No, Carpe Diem programs do not require any previous language study. All our programs (with the exception of FANZ) involve language study during the program, so you will have a chance to learn and practice that language of your chosen program during the semester.

  3. Who gets accepted to the program? Do you take whoever applies?

    We do not accept everyone who applies. However, we're pretty sure you'll be a good fit if the following are true:

    • You want to be of service and volunteer while you're overseas
    • This was your idea and you're embarking on this adventure because you want to, not because your parents want you to
    • You want to travel as a part of a group
    • You're willing to "rough it" for up to a week at a time (yes, that means no shower for a week)
    • You're genuinely interested in learning more about their Self and is genuinely willing to challenge their comfort zones
    . . . everything else we can work with, but these are the starting points.

    Please note, however, that our program is NOT a therapeutic one, and our staff are not trained in therapeutic protocols. Students, likewise, actively in the grip of a severe trauma, or otherwise significant medical issue are also not likely good candidates as the rigors of developing-country travel can be intense even under the best of umbrellas.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

  1. What happens if I get sick while I'm traveling overseas?

    Carpe Diem requires that every student have medical insurance and medical evacuation insurance during the course of their program. But of course, that's more of the "if you have it you won't need it ... but if you don't you will."

    So, with that said, usually if you get sick, you HAVE TO remember to tell your leaders. This is the critical first step that students who either don't want to be a hassle or don't understand the potential gravity of even the smallest sickness, forget. From there, your leader will assess the situation and either decide to take you to a doctor/hospital, or, in most cases, let nature take its course and let your body heal itself with diet, rest, and hydration. We'll cover all of this and other details during your in-country orientation too.

    The good news is that you'll rarely be more than about 6 hours away from an emergency doctor, and we've been traveling in these areas long enough now to know whom are the good doctors and clinics and which ones to avoid. That being said, in order to support our leaders (and of course you) we also carry a fairly exhaustive medical kit. In addition, at our HQ office in Portland, Oregon, we have a 24-hour/day emergency cell phone to help coordinate every potential that can happen ... of course including medical. We have on staff two licensed Emergency Room Nurses, a Wilderness EMT, several Wilderness First Responders, and have on speed dial doctors and hospitalists whom we can call when in need.

    While a certain amount of travelers' diarrhea is to be expected, our leaders have the travel experience and training required to determine when an illness is potentially severe and when it is more routine. Should a student ever need to go to the doctor, it's our policy that a leader will accompany them to make sure that the student asks all the relevant questions and gets the best medical care available.

  2. Do I need international travel insurance? Can you recommend any?

    Yes you do. Most people are able to stay under the coverage umbrella of your parents while you're overseas. That being said, you do still need to check to make sure that they'll cover you for medical issues while overseas AND medical evacuation insurance.

    The Travel Specialists from Global Vision Travel do exhaustive research to find add-on packages that can either supplement your normal insurance while you're on your Carpe Diem program, or to act in lieu of a policy if yours doesn't work outside of the US. These cost about $250/semester and will cover for the usual items, but additionally can cover for lost/stolen items that might normally be covered with a high deductible under a homeowners policy or a renters policy. Global Vision Travel will make this offering as part of the normal airline process and, even if you change your mind after the fact, you can still sign up day-of travel.

    Please note that Latitudes students have international health and evacuation insurance purchased on their behalf by Carpe Diem for the entirety of their international Latitudes program.

BUT WHAT'S IT REALLY LIKE?

  1. What are the accommodations like on a group semester?

    Accommodations on a group semester can vary from extremely rural to incredible comfortable. On our programs in developing countries our students should expect to be taken farther out of their comfort zones; while safety is ALWAYS paramount, you may be expected to use a bucket shower at times, hand-wash your own clothes, or go without electricity for some days. We always try and balance these deep cultural experiences, however, with the occasional stay in more comfortable settings.

    Thankfully, having run semester programs for as long as we have, we've learned at what point students typically are needing the comforts of home versus when they're able to better challenge their sense of comfort in exchange for a deeper cultural experience. We consciously structure our itineraries to as much as possible accommodate that often unconscious need.

  2. What is a "typical day" like with Carpe Diem?

    This is a question we get often and there is no one answer for it as your day to day life with Carpe Diem is bound to be full of different adventures, activities, cultural experiences, and so on, thus making a "typical day" drastically different not only from day to day, but from anything you have experienced before. Having said that, in order to provide a small window into what a "typical day" could look like here are how things could shape up. Wake up early to a rooster crowing loudly outside your room and enjoy a home cooked meal from your host mom or meet your group for a communal breakfast in the community building of the village you are staying in. After some scrumptious local food spend the rest of your morning working side by side with the locals on a volunteer project. After a break for lunch and a short siesta your afternoon could involve continuing working on the project, heading out to do a hike with the group, playing with the kids in the village, participating in a group outing to a place of cultural significance or a venture into the city to peruse the markets and test out your haggling skills. You would then reconvene for dinner with your host family or once again eating communally with your group. Nights are often spent playing cards, processing some of what happened that day or throughout the week with your group, dancing with the locals, or doing some sort of fun group activity. This is what a "typical day" could look like while participating in a community service project in a village. It is important to note that as some days are highly rigorous and structured, other days will be free for you to wander in a new city, hang out with your friends, or come up with your own activities. Having so many years of experience running these trips, as an organization we strive to balance the time from being incredibly engaging and culturally authentic, to being more relaxed and easy going for the maximum benefit to each student.

    The amount of free time you have will vary from day to day. Traveling throughout the developing world alone is a huge challenge and often pushes people outside their comfort zones, never mind some of the volunteering and intense cultural situations you may find yourself in. Bearing that in mind Carpe Diem structures our programs to include enough free time for our students to relax and recharge and remain present to engage with their experience throughout the three months. Some days you will be constantly engaged with a work project or outing of some sort, while others will be totally free for you to explore on your own and choose what to do. Regardless of where you are, there will be some sort of down time or free time every day.

  3. What if I don't like my groupmates?

    A large part of any Carpe Diem trip is group dynamics. In addition to the many people, places, and experiences you will have over the course of your three months, the people you are spending the most amount of time with; your group will inevitably play a huge role in your overall experience abroad. Working, living, and traveling for three months with a small group of people, albeit extremely rewarding also provides some very unique challenges that many of our students have not experienced before this. Though you will not be expected to become best friends with everyone in your group (though do not be surprised if this happens), it is expected that you work and spend time together, sometimes whether you like it or not. Fortunately all of the overseas educators hired by Carpe Diem are highly qualified and experienced in working with students overseas. They will help the group form strong bonds and encourage healthy group dynamics through a variety of ways throughout the semester. All groups will form group agreements that aim to help this new community of peers to respect one another boundaries while traveling together and get the most out of their experience. Amongst the many benefits of traveling internationally on a trip such as this, is the ability to engage with you peers in some difficult situations from a place of respect and compassion while learning how to effectively deal with someone whom you may not see eye to eye with. Many of our students come away with a better knowledge of themselves and their ability to work and live successfully with others. If at the end of the day you still do not like your group mates, then you will have to find your own way to engage with them civilly during any time you are with the group while maintaining your own distance in your free time.

  4. What is a typical Carpe Diem student like?

    The vast majority of our students are recent high school graduates from all over the USA whom for any variety of reasons foresee the benefit of having a focused, structured, and transformative experience in the "real world" before going off to college. All of our Carpe Diems programs are fully accredited by Portland State University so most students opt to spend their first semester of college earning credits with us, while experiencing life outside of our all to often "cultural bubble" for their first time. Other students come to us who have already spent some time at a university and either found the experience lacking in some way or are desirous of a structured study abroad program. Though the majority of our students are 18 and in their "Gap Year" we often work with sophomores and juniors in college as well.

  5. Do people ever leave the program mid-stream? If so, where do they go?

    Occasionally, albeit very rarely students do leave the program mid-stream. When this occurs it is generally due to some sort of violation of the rules set forth by Carp Diem where it was clearly outlined that a student will go home for partaking in this particular situation. If a student is to be sent home it is for their best interest as we as an organization do not feel we can adequately keep them safe due to the rule infringement or occasional behavioral misconduct. Due to the high cost involved in removing a student from the program, if a student is asked to leave no refund will be returned for the remainder of the program. On other rare occasions students leave the program mid-stream for personal reasons most often resulting in them returning home.

  6. Is there a way to ask present/past students and/or parents for the REAL skinny?

    Carpe Diem is happy to provide you with the names and emails of former students and their parents who have participated on one of our programs. Not only are they able to give you the REAL skinny, but they are a great resource for some of those specific questions in regards to the program you are interested in, any concerns you have, and a great place to begin interacting with the ever growing Carpe Diem family. Email us at info@carpediemeducation.org for more information.

POLICIES

  1. Am I allowed to drink in a country where the drinking age is 18?

    No. Carpe Diem programs are alcohol free, as we believe this is the safest and most responsible way to experience another country and its culture. Not only is it a statement to the purpose of our being there (namely volunteering, cultural exchange, and self-awareness), but it truly is a safety piece. Regardless of age, students will be asked to abstain from alcohol for the duration of the program. We unfortunately have asked students to leave our programs for alcohol consumption.

MISSION

  1. What is Carpe Diem's relationship with LEAPNOW? How is Latitudes different from LEAPNOW's Leapyear program?

    Many students find us through our partnership with LEAPNOW. LEAPNOW originally ran the programs that Carpe Diem currently does, and in 2007 made the switch of ownership and relocated its headquarters to Portland, Oregon ... only the best place to live in the US :-)

    Many students see that LEAPNOWss programs are very similar to the Latitudes program offered by Carpe Diem, and though there's some similarities in the bones of our two programs, there are some very important differences, ranging from retreat time, to alternative healing processes, to cost and accreditation, but we encourage you to call and or read the appropriate websites for greater depth.

    Aside from that, both organizations share the ethos of deep investment in our earth, nourishing the whole-person in our educational models, and our field staff are consistently in the front of the educational frontier.

  2. So, what does "Carpe Diem" mean anyways?

    Simply put, it's Latin meaning "Seize the Day." Originally it came from an old Horatio poem, but more commonly it's associated with its presence on college campuses and in the famous Robin Williams movie, Dead Poets Society. The gist is that we should seize the moment because we never know what the future will bring.

    The phrase is especially relevant to how we run our programs as we tend to transition from a different activity every few weeks, and inso doing students really HAVE to stay present through every transition or risk "ghosting" through their lives, as a famous Buddhist put it.

  3. Is Carpe Diem religiously affiliated?

    No, Carpe Diem is not religiously affiliated. If anything we try and expose you to as many different perspectives as the program can provide and make every effort to be welcoming of every perspective. We believe that no amount of dogma can truly capture an individual's relationship with the world that surrounds them, and therefore consciously attempt to fold as many regionally-relevant traditions into each program.

  4. What is a "Gap Year" and is Carpe Diem one?

    Ahhhh, this is one of our favorite questions. In theory, a GAP Year is time between two transitions, not necessarily a year in length, but with the common purpose of re-evaluating yourself, your goals, and broadening your horizons. In the US, the term is used almost exclusively to describe that transition between high school and college, but in other folds the experience is equally valuable for those in a deep transition. You might think of it as a quarter-life crisis or mid-life crisis tool -- had people taken the appropriate GAP, they likely would have avoided these crises and turned their focus onto more powerful directions.

    A "Gap Year" was originally created in Europe as a transition year from High School to University. There's a natural transition that happens from High School to University that a Gap Year is designed to cater to, however, the concept is a new one in the USA and is slowly taking seed. For decades certain countries have mandated a period of service before stepping into the ranks of university and in many cases this type of pre-collegiate service only helps to make a more conscious and aware student once they arrive at university. Schools like Harvard, Princeton, and Brown Universities all give great weight to students who take a Gap Year because they know that these incoming students will be more mature and able to contribute to their institutions in a more meaningful way. A Gap Year is also traditionally seen as a way to get some real-world experience for a student who in our American educational system most likely has only read or heard about this amazing planet we all share. Gap Years are great for students who might be burnt out of classroom learning, who may have a good idea what they want to call as their career and are looking to do an internship in that field before committing 4 years and many thousands of dollars to it, or who are looking to break out and really take time to ask the deeper more personal questions that run parallel to this age: Who am I? What do I want to do with my life? What matters to me? How do I choose to define success?

    While Carpe Diem's programs aren't exclusively for Gap Year students, the majority of our students do arrive at our program searching for a "Gap Year experience." Carpe Diem attempts to bridge more adequately the gulf of maturity between a HS graduate and a college graduate by offering our students college credit for their experiential education. However, the vast majority of their learning takes place in small groups volunteering and turn into a good balance been external exploration and internal. With our staff to support and do appropriate pushing where needed, our students tend to walk away from Carpe Diem having experienced a super Gap Year.

  5. Where is Carpe Diem based? Thailand, Portland, where?

    Carpe Diem is based in Portland, Oregon, but we do indeed have a branch office in Thailand and have plans to open another in Peru in 2012. All of our Headquarters are based on North Portland, a slightly more impoverished area of Portland, Oregon with the intention that we might be a lighthouse of opportunity for those who have fewer opportunities. Plus, let's be honest, Portland's a pretty darn amazing place to be and we have a secret motive to recruit all the cool people we know to eventually move to our home town. ... slowly it's working too, and this is a joking motive we have for having the Latitudes orientation here as well. ... that it rains about 8 months of the year here, well, at least that means everything stays green!

    Portland is the United States largest producer of solar cell manufacturing, and known throughout the country as a young, green, place to live where the quality of life supersedes the material trappings of life.

    Our offices in Thailand and Peru are there to support our students regionally should an emergency present itself, but primarily they are there to support the communities in which we volunteer. When we're there for such short term projects, it takes a regional presence to safeguard the long-term interests of the communities. Traditionally one might think that the NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) we work with would be the safeguard, but as is true so often in the developing world, there is a lot of disorganization and enough corruption that the only way to guarantee a positive long-term impact for the community is through our own representatives.

  6. Why should I do a Carpe Diem program instead of something else? ... Why do you run your programs in the way you do? Why have the program constantly travelling?

    Well, we think that the way we run our programs is best suited for students to stay engaged, experience a variety of ways to live and possible careers, and to enjoy their work the most. There's a lot of variety out there in terms of ways to run a program: some will have you sit in a classroom and school you albeit simply in a different place, others will plop you into a roving situation without much purpose but a lot of fun, and then there's programs like ours that are dedicated to contributing to the well being of those communities that we take under our wings.

    We like to get students moving every two weeks on average ... in that way we find that there's no time for the normal complacency of habit to enter. When students are constantly engaged in their time overseas, they tend to get a lot more out of it for some obvious reasons. Besides, it's very important for us that you experience what it's like to be passionately engaged in your own life, and so we adopt the idea that passion is a greater predictor of success than IQ.

    Aside from that, we run a very tight show, and work tirelessly to increase our diversity within our programs. We also work to appropriately be a buffer for you on your journey as we recognize that students need some space from their parents in order to really grow independent. And while parents always have the best of intentions for you, often times the very act of inquiring about you and your status can feel like more of the same parental encroachment.

    We also like to train students on how to travel. Traveling overseas is a difficult and potentially dangerous affair if done irresponsibly, and because we want you all to continue your adventures after your Carpe Diem journey, it's important to us that you have all the skills needed to travel on your own. So, don't expect a tour guide on your CD program ... it's much more hands on than that :-)

  7. Do you have any shameless promotion of GAP Years by your founder?

    Funny you should ask! Of all of life's coincidences, it just so happens that Ethan was caught speaking at a forum in Seattle recently and that video was put on youtube. View it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vRZ_1hyMjs.

UNIVERSITY

  1. How does a GAP Year fit into a four-year Bachelors degree?

    Honestly, very well. When I, (Ethan) did a GAP Year, I did it between my freshman and sophomore years and I think having the experience first-hand of seeing just what a freshman year was like really helped me to make the most of this experience. That being said, most of our students do a GAP Year as a true gap between high school and college, and all of them report that it helped them appreciate the theory they'd been taught over their past MANY years of school in a way that they hadn't ever before. Our schooling does a great job in many aspects, but in applicability it tends to fall short. So going outside of our typical bubbles and having those experiences certainly helps students invest themselves more in their own education.

    I remember before my GAP Year I'd hear a professor tell lots of wonderful stories and share loads of good information that I'd write down for a test. After my GAP Year, however, I actually would write stuff down and then go to the library. I'm not sure if had to do with the fact that I had the experience to ground the theory, or if for the entirety of my life I'd just done the assignments because they were given and so never really paused and wondered WHY I should take the time (ie, have the curiosity) to actually delve into any of the subjects.

    Onto the wilder side, many students spend a majority of their freshman year in college exploring the society of college, (meaning drugs and/or alcohol) at a great expense to their parents. It makes far more sense instead to get college credit for a GAP Year through Carpe Diem, and then take those grades, maturity, and experience onto your next schooling.

    Finally, as an organization, we believe that for the vast majority of humanity, we can only strive for what we've seen and in that way when you're exposed to so many different ways of living it will cause you to quest for your own version of "success" and take a greater ownership in their college careers and life.

  2. What do colleges think about GAP Year programs such as Carpe Diem?

    Almost all colleges appreciate the benefits that GAP Year graduates bring to their campuses. That being said, you can sometimes expect the need to educate an admissions counselor at your school about why you want to do a program like this and how you think it will benefit you.

    The Ivy League schools tend to be very familiar with GAP Year programs and their benefits. In fact, Harvard's Director of Admissions has publicly said that he'd prefer all incoming freshman be 25 years old in order to truly maximize their experience in college. Princeton recently created a gap year program called their Bridge Year and are diverting 10% of their incoming class to take part in it as an experiment.

    As for the benefits, many students apply to and get accepted to universities during their GAP Year that they were previously denied to ... in part that's because schools recognize the maturity differences, but the other part of it is that students actually have much more meaningful experiences to draw from in their admissions essays. If anything, I've heard countless stories of students changing their colleges because the old ones they'd applied to and deferred (to do their GAP Year) no longer fit ... as if they'd out grown that environment and now knew what they were looking for.

  3. How well do Carpe Diem's credits transfer?

    Our credits generally transfer very well as either 'required general credits,' or specific to the departments. Since each of our credits carry a pre-specified department (ie, GEO, INTL, SPAN) most schools fairly easily are able to assign them into the right categories. Only the language credits (all except SPAN) do not carry a letter grade and as such are the few that are most likely to cause a slowing in the process and perhaps even be refused. That being said, the ultimate decision about the transferability of credits lies with the admissions office of the university that you'd like to transfer the credits into, and this is often a financial game that administrations unfortunately need to play. In all cases, we recommend that you contact the school you wish to transfer the credits to and describe our program. We are used to working with universities to help bridge that transition and have spoken to numerous colleges and universities on our students' behalf.

    Portland State University is a fully accredited four-year institution located here in our hometown of Portland, Oregon. They are the largest university in Oregon and are accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities.

    Our collaboration with them has allowed our students to gain access to FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as well as to Portland State's own Financial Aid department. All of our coursework and our grading instructor have been vetted by Portland State University's faculty and board and met their approval. Currently we are able to offer a full semester (18 quarter credit hours) of available coursework time, or a full year's worth of college credit for those students opting to do our Latitudes year or two semesters in back-to-back succession. Typically, between 15-18 quarter-credit hours are equivalent to a traditional "semester."

    To help ease the bureaucracy inherent in any large public system (especially those doling out free Federal dollars) we have a designated liaison in the Office of International Affairs, by the name of Debra Jasperson who has been a wonderful resource for past students. http://www.oia.pdx.edu.

  4. Do I have to take the college credit?

    No, you do not. In fact it costs an additional $900 per semester for up to 18 credits through PSU. In general, however, probably between 50% and 70% of any group opts into the course work. When doing a traditional study abroad it's common to see the last third of your semester spent in a computer lab typing up all your reports. When we set up our courses though, we did them in a way to not take you out of or your program, so almost the entirety of any coursework happens after you get home. Basically, while you're overseas, you'll have to keep one daily journal (whether with 1 class or 6), perhaps interview a few local people (which you'll be doing anyway), and perhaps read a few local/relevant books (which you'll likely be doing anyways). The rest are papers due about 6 weeks after the end of the program.

    It sounds cheezy, but most students also report that doing the papers at the end of the program provides a way to not only bookend their program, but also a way to process through their experiences. It's very common that coming home everyone's really excited to hear your stories but can't really relate to any of them - so there's this sense of loneliness that sometimes ensues. Taking the time to write you papers and explore your thoughts inevitably helps to put the two experiences of overseas and home together.

  5. Is CD part of PSU? or What is the relationship between CD and PSU?

    Carpe Diem and Portland State University have a unique relationship as two separate organizations that allow Carpe Diem students to earn up to 18 quarter-credits on each Carpe Diem semester. There is an additional fee of $900 that students must pay to Carpe Diem to cover the fees we pay to PSU and the grading professor. Latitudes students have the credit option included in their tuition.

    We've developed this relationship over the past many years to both assist our students through their bureaucracies, but also now have a fairly good sense for how to avoid falling into any cracks. A large part of this is the development of a designated liaison at PSU in the Office of International Affairs by the name of Debra Jasperson. She's the go-to person for any issues that pertain to PSU.

    While the vast majority of students have been able to get things set up without much hassle, those who are needing FAFSA dollars can expect to meet with more hurdles. Whether it's that your paperwork wasn't entered correctly into your file, it got lost somewhere, or they're waiting on a particular piece of correspondence, ultimately the best way to ensure that you're not missing any vital details is by remembering to log on to your two main portals: http://my.pdx.edu and www.carpediemeducation.org/myaccount-login.php.

    Unfortunately, Carpe Diem is not able to assist with any details between yourself (the student) and PSU. While we're happy to provide guidance, and connect you with the right people at PSU, ultimately there are Federal laws preventing us from acting on a students' behalf.

    For more information on how the relationship works, please visit our PSU page and our Financial Aid page.

FINANCES

  1. How much extra spending money do I need?

    Carpe Diem recommends that you bring $200 for extra spending money. That money can be spent where ever and however you like though it most often goes towards any gifts that you want to buy for yourself, friends, and family, and any other expenses that crop up that are not covered by the program fees you paid to Carpe Diem. It is important to note that you do not need to bring extra spending money, Carpe Diem will provide you with more than enough money through per diems to allow you to live comfortably and locally in which ever region you are traveling. Often times you will actually be able to save money if you eat locally and do not make frivolous purchases. Your program fees cover everything involved in your group experience while abroad. That includes but is not limited to; food, accommodation, travel, activities, and communication.

  2. What happens if I take the Financial Aid but don't complete my credits?

    Well . . . to be frank, nothing good! Think it about it like this, if the government is giving you funding for you to take classes. But if you don't take classes then they will rightfully want their money back. Check out this link on PSU's page for all sorts of helpful information. http://www.pdx.edu/finaid/undergraduate-students-with-0-45-attempted-psu-credits.

  3. Is the application fee refundable if I am not accepted? Does it count towards my tuition?

    The application fee is not refundable. A considerable amount of work goes into the entire application process from start to finish which is covered by that fee ($100 for single semester applicants and $150 for Latitudes applicants). If accepted the application fee does not count towards your tuition payments.

  4. What do Carpe Diem programs cost? Is airfare covered with my tuition?

    During 2011/2012 the cost to participate in a Carpe Diem program ranges from $8,900 to $11,900. The program fee includes all language classes (where applicable), accommodation, food, all travel while abroad, and all group activities. Each program also has to highly qualified group leaders who's primary responsibility is to the safety of each student. University credit is available for all programs for an additional fee of $900 to receive a full semesters worth of credit.

    Airfare is not covered in the cost of tuition by Carpe Diem. Unfortunately with the volatility of airfares we have to make that a separate cost. However, in our attempt to reduce the cost of airfare, we work with an international travel agency who is experienced in getting group and student discounted airfares to reduce the cost to each student. In some rare cases air miles may be used however this is not recommended due to further restrictions to your travel.

  5. What is the process to get PSU credit? What about Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA)?
    Step one: decide you want to take the coursework and which courses you want to take and login to your myaccount.php page and register for the classes you wish to take by clicking the "edit" button.
    Step two: determine whether there's an issue with your next institution in coming in as a transfer student versus as a freshman
    Step three: rock your semester
    Step four: write your papers and submit them ON TIME
    Step five: wait about 6 weeks from the point we send you an unofficial transcript, and then write to the PSU registrar's office and ask to have an official transcript sent to wherever you want to next attend university

    The process of getting college credit is the same whether you're a FAFSA-dependent student or simply wanting the credits, however, if you are needing Financial Aid, then please refer to our Financial Aid web page for detailed instructions on how to go about this process. It is a much more bureaucratic process, with some very important details starting at applying directly to PSU (and getting accepted) while also submitting your FAFSA to PSU.

    As for getting FAFSA (Federal student aid dollars), the first thing, after getting accepted to Carpe Diem, is to apply online to PSU at www.pdx.edu. On the PSU application it will indicate whether or not you intend on applying for Financial Aid, be sure to mark that as "yes". The other thing to do once the application is in at PSU, is to apply to FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov/). This is the general and clearing house for all of your financial aid and once PSU's accepted you and has received your FAFSA form, they'll start to "package" you with an award offer of grants, loans, etc. Please note that to maximally avail yourself of Federal Student Aid you should apply for FAFSA at least 2 months prior to the departure of your semester.

    All along this process it's not uncommon for PSU to want copies of certain paperwork that will hold or HALT your Financial Aid award; they might have misplaced your SAT scores, or even need to see a HS transcript that you never sent. The best way to do this is online and you should get in the habit of checking your online account regularly. You should check this regularly with regard to admissions, and then once admissions is all settled and you've been officially accepted to PSU this will be how you'll know where you are in the Financial Aid process. my.pdx.edu.

    From there, Financial Aid takes the budget that we've submitted for the year for each program, and "package" you with a financial aid offer. Please note that a financial aid offer is not accepted until you choose to do so via that online banweb system that PDX has. So again, remember that web site and use it frequently.

    Financial Aid is usually disbursed about a week prior to the beginning of the quarter to which you're "attending PSU." For the Fall semesters this lines up pretty well with our existing programs. You can usually have your financial aid disbursed either to your PSU HigherOne card (which is basically a VISA/Debit card) or to you via check. In either case, the easiest thing to do is to have the funds sent to you, then to disburse them to us at Carpe Diem.

    You must complete at least 12 semester credits in order to remain eligible for the FAFSA funding you received, if you do not turn in the course work after your semester in order to receive credit, the government will demand a refund for the money allocated to you."

  6. Aside from Federal dollars, are there other financial aid dollars or scholarships available?

    We highly value the diversity of students on every program and are constantly looking for ways and partnerships to increase the availability of our programs to all students regardless of financial availability. Currently there are a few sources of financial aid in addition to FAFSA available for needs-based students: Carpe Diem itself is able to offer some small scholarships. We encourage students to look at our Financial Aid page. In it we've put together information about the traditional sources of financial aid through FAFSA and Portland State University, but also some of the less-traditional fundraising methods that have worked for past students. Finally, we've had some slideshows and powerpoint presentations created that are near-finished (so you can put your personal touch on them) as a way of encouraging you to get out into your community and share your upcoming journey. Here is our Financial Aid page.

  7. What is a consortium agreement between colleges and how can it help with financial aid?
    Consortium agreements are basically formal arrangements between two universities and will work when there's a student currently attending one university but wanting to do our program. With a Consortium agreement, students basically would remain registered at their existing institution (keeping all scholarships, FAFSA funds, and paying directly to that school), but would attend Carpe Diem through our relationship with PSU. Students will still need to pay the $900 to CD for their PSU transcript, but with a Consortium agreement in hand the credits in theory will transfer straight through to the other school with only a modicum of any fuss.

    To arrange one, students simply go to the Study Abroad office at their institution and request to set one up. In almost all cases there's a little work to do, but typically far less than taking a "Leave of Absence" from their original institution, then applying to PSU, submitting their FAFSA, running the gauntlet with a new Financial Aid department (that packages 70,000 awards a year) and ... well, you get the point.

MISCELLANEOUS

  1. If Carpe Diem was a puppy, what kind would it be?

    This is a great question and one we're asked quite frequently. If there were a two-headed, wizard-of-oz-lion-hearted, super smart dog that occasionally wears lycra and chews mentos ... well, that's what we would be. Something like a Lycra-wearing lovely-smelling Liger from Napoleon Dynamite :-)

  2. I don't live in the Portland area, but I'd love to talk to someone from Carpe Diem in person. Do you ever travel to other parts of the country? Do you have representatives on the East Coast? Midwest?

    We do occasionally travel around the country to present at GAP Year Fairs and national conferences ... and also have alumni and former staff who live throughout the country, and so are able to on occasion arrange a meeting between yourself and a representative. ... but, in the interest of keeping costs low, we're always able to facilitate a video Skype conversation. Just let us know where you live, and depending on where you live we'd be happy to arrange for you to meet with a local representative if we have one in your area.

    Of course, Portland's one of the coolest darn cities in the country, and so if you'd like to make the trek out here, we can pretty much guarantee that you'll be glad you do. In fact, many students look to Portland after the Carpe Diem experience because they hear so much about it and/or have loved their every interaction with the city.

  3. I have friends/family in ______ country, can I visit them?

    This is a question we get fairly regularly, and the simple answer is that yes, you can meet with them. However, we have a rule that students must stay in Carpe Diem housing as it's the only way we have available to make sure you're safe. To be honest, what works really well is if you have the ability to arrange for your friend or family member locally to share a dinner with the entire group ... in that way making everyone feel a part of your connection, and opening a dialogue about what it's like to live locally and/or do the type of work they do overseas.