a city in western central Italy, the capital of Tuscany, on the Arno River; pop. 365,659 (2008). Florence was a leading center of the Italian Renaissance, esp. under the rule of the Medici family during the 15th century. Italian name Firenze.



Florence seems like the perfect fit for me.

I'll be able to take my core Business classes and thankfully stay on track for an early graduation.
I can also take fashion courses. Fashion courses in Europe? Um, yes! Totally heaven sent.

If you're thinking of studying abroad, I would definitely look into the different programs at your school. I also suggest you think of where you would like to be living for a good 4 months of your life.
As I hear, it will be the experience of a lifetime. Choose wisely!

1. Research! What are the closest airports? What's the weather like in the Spring? Where will I be living? Where can I go to study for my exam? What are must-do's in the city? I want to know everything possible so I don't miss any pertinent information. All these questions can be answered by looking at articles and reading travel logs from other study abroad students.
2. Coordinate your classes! Apart from marveling at my surroundings, I am there to study abroad. Thus, my classes are the important above all. Although I am a French minor, I chose Italy. I made sure to meet with my advisor and look over the course catalog of my school abroad and coordinate with my graduation requirements. I have room for some fun electives which I'm totally pumped for. Italy has the perfect combo of Business classes and fashion courses that I want to take full advantage of. Why not learn Italian as well? Make sure to pick a school that fits your interests and major requirements. 
3. Apply! This obviously needs to come first once you have chosen the locale. Go through all the necessary steps and applications so that you can have an acceptance letter in your hand. You will definitely need this to apply for a student visa in Italy. 
4. Visa! No, I am not talking about my CC. In order to study abroad, you need to have the documents to do so. After your application has been processed, your school abroad should send you a lovely acceptance letter that will allow you to go to the nearest consulate and apply for a student visa. I'm most excited about this step since it will make it basically official! 
5. Flights! After I have my visa and acceptance letter in my hand, this will be next. I have yet to decide if I shall stay in Europe for a bit after the semester but irregardless I have to get a great deal on flights. I will be paying the hefty ticket so I will plan on getting a great deal. I hear Tuesdays around 4pm and a month before your departure are the best days to buy flights. 
6. Packing List! I definitely need to make a thorough and organized packing list for this trip. I have a lot of clothing and shoes and a need to have them with me at all times. Since I am packing my life for those months in just a suitcase, I need to regroup. Converters. School supplies. Toiletries. Makeup. I know some things will need to be purchased in Italy but I will bring all that I can to avoid paying for items I do not need to. 
7. Cell Phones and Bank Accounts! Clearly, I need some way to communicate while I'm there and to stay in contact with my family and friends abroad. Also, I need to take into account that I will be using Euros and not American dollars. I am a thrifty gal so I will make sure to figure out the best options to avoid paying crazy transaction fees and insane cell phone charges. So, I may be picking up an Italian cell phone and opening a bank account that will work fee-less while I'm there. 
8. A Bucket List! Apart from studying and immersing myself in culture, I want to travel and explore as much as possible. My weekends will be spent in different countries or exploring new places in Italy. A bucket list will not only serve as a guide of to do's but also help me accomplish all my travel aspirations.