Application FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for an AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program?
My GPA is below 3.0. Am I still eligible to participate in an AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program?
What is the application process like?
Can I apply for multiple programs?
Who is eligible to apply for an AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program?
Eligible applicants for AMIDEAST Programs
- Are enrolled at an accredited college or university and have completed at least one year of post-secondary study.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale); however, applications will be considered holistically
- Are physically and emotionally prepared to spend one to eight months in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, or Tunisia.
- Are willing to adapt to a new, potentially challenging environment
I will have graduated by the time my AMIDEAST program begins, or I am a graduate student. Am I still eligible to participate?
For summer programs, AMIDEAST welcomes applications from recent graduates and graduate students. The majority of the AMIDEAST student population is comprised of undergraduates, however, graduate students and recent graduates are welcome to apply. We ask all graduate students and recent graduates to contact us at EdAbroad@amideast.org if they are interested in AMIDEAST opportunities in order to make certain that the program is right for them.
My GPA is below 3.0. Am I still eligible to participate in an AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program?
In the past, AMIDEAST has accepted students with GPAs below our 3.0 requirement. Applications are considered holistically, and while GPA will be evaluated as part of the application review, our Admissions Committee also examines a student's academic background as demonstrated by his or her transcript, the quality of recommendations, and the student’s application essay. We ask that all students with a GPA below 3.0 explain these circumstances in the “Additional Information” section of their AMIDEAST application.
What is the application process like?
Applications for AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs are accepted and considered on a rolling basis with the following deadlines: April 15th for fall semester and academic year programs, October 15th for spring semester programs, and March15th for summer programs. Despite the open nature of our application process, we urge students to complete an application as soon as possible in order to ensure space on their preferred program.
Students begin the application process on AMIDEAST’s online application system. Students must submit a completed application online as well as send the following additional documents to AMIDEAST headquarters in Washington, D.C:
- Official Transcript(s) for all college(s) or university(ies) attended
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Study Abroad Advisor Form
After all documents are received, an application is then reviewed by our Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee reviews each application individually and AMIDEAST staff inform students of the acceptance decision within two weeks of receipt of all supporting documents.
Since applications are evaluated on rolling basis, how soon should I submit my application and supporting documents?
AMIDEAST programs are becoming increasingly competitive and some programs often fill before the application deadline. We encourage all interested students to submit their application and supporting documents as soon as possible in order to guarantee their place on their program of choice.
How do I know if you have received my supporting documents (transcript, letters of recommendation, and advisor form)?
After students submit their AMIDEAST online application, they can log in to the system to check on the status of their supporting documents. On the application system homepage a table toward the bottom of the page displays a list of the documents received and the date on which they were processed. Please note that these supporting documents do not display on a student's account unless an application has been submitted. If a student believes that that one of his or her documents should have arrived, but is not displayed, he or she should e-mail DocsEdAbroad@amideast.org.
I am currently applying for a new or renewed passport. Can I exclude this information on my application when I submit it?
Yes, a student can submit an application without a passport number or expiration date. If a student's current passport is expired and he or she is waiting to receive a new passport, the student should leave this section blank. A blank passport section will not negatively affect an application in the application review process. In this case, the student should email docsedabroad@amideast.org the passport number and the expiration date as soon as he or she receives the new passport.
Can I apply for multiple programs?
Yes, a student can begin and submit applications for multiple programs. The student should simply begin an application for the second choice program. The information inserted into the initial application should transfer over to the second choice program. The student should remember to mark the ranking preference on each application so AMIDEAST can properly process your application once it is complete. The same is true if applying to more than two programs.
I am waiting to hear back from study abroad scholarships I applied to (Boren, Gilman, etc.). The scholarship notification date is after the AMIDEAST application deadline. When should I submit my AMIDEAST application? When should I pay the program confirmation deposit and confirm my participation?
As noted previously, AMIDEAST programs are competitive. We suggest students submit the application and supporting material as soon as possible in order to guarantee a place on the preferred program.
While we understand scholarship announcements often occur after our deposit deadline, the increasingly competitive application process for AMIDEAST programs does not allow us to extend confirmation deadlines. Confirmation deadlines vary and are noted in each student's acceptance letter. Students who are accepted into an AMIDEAST program but are waiting to hear back from scholarships must still pay the $500 confirmation deposit in order to hold his or her place in the program. Students must note on their Participation Confirmation Form which scholarships they applied for and the date(s) they expect to hear the results. If a student does not receive the award and is not able to participate in the AMIDEAST program, AMIDEAST will refund the confirmation deposit only if there is another student available to fill the spot in the program that we have reserved.
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